Baseline Support of the University of Utah Cosmic Ray Physics Group (including the Telescope Array)

犹他大学宇宙线物理小组的基线支持（包括望远镜阵列）

• 批准号: 0848320
• 负责人: Pierre Sokolsky
• 金额: $ 227.1万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-10-01 至 2011-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0848320&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Baseline; Support; University; Utah; Cosmic

This award will provide funds for the base support for the Utah Cosmic Ray group that serves as host to the Telescope Array (TA) experiment. TA is a large international endeavor, located in central Utah near the town of Delta, aimed at the study of Ultra?High Energy Cosmic Rays. The High Resolution Fly?s Eye (HiRes), the previous successful enterprise of this group, has observed the long anticipated GZK cut?off in the spectrum due to interactions with the microwave background. The first data from the Auger Observatory now appear to confirm this. However, the sources of the highest energy particles and questions about how they are accelerated in the first place are among the most important topics in particle astrophysics today. One suspected source is Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) which are among the most energetic objects known in the Universe. There are tantalizing hints of correlations with BL Lac objects which are AGNs with their jets pointed towards us. The TA experiment draws on the highly successful experience of HiRes and utilizes fluorescence telescopes, a technique developed by the Utah group. TA is a hybrid experiment with the world?s largest surface scintillator array measuring the footprint of the extensive air shower when it reaches the Earth and with multiple fluorescence telescope observatories measuring the shower in the space above.After commissioning finishes later this year, TA will be the most sensitive cosmic ray detector in the Northern Hemisphere. This group plans to continue their activities in support of detector installation, commissioning and operation. With extensive experience with HiRes, the group is also taking a lead role in the analysis of TA data, especially the fluorescence analysis.ASPIRE is the Astrophysics Science Project Integrating Research and Education. Since 1997, ASPIRE has been creating some of the Web?s most engaging and interactive science lessons and labs and provides direct outreach to area teachers, students, and the public. Efforts include providing outreach and support to local groups, running summer workshop sessions for students, and visits to rural schools such as those in Millard and Delta, UT. As an outreach program, ASPIRE has been able to effectively and affordably have a great impact for a number of students and educators.

这项奖励将为作为望远镜阵列(TA)实验东道主的犹他州宇宙射线小组提供基地支持资金。TA是一个大型的国际项目，位于犹他州中部靠近德尔塔镇的地方，旨在研究超高能宇宙线。高分辨率苍蝇S眼(HIRES)是该团队之前的成功企业，由于与微波背景的相互作用，它观察到了期待已久的GZK光谱截断。来自俄歇天文台的第一批数据现在似乎证实了这一点。然而，最高能量粒子的来源以及它们最初是如何加速的问题，是当今粒子天体物理学中最重要的话题之一。一个可疑的来源是活动星系核(AGN)，它是宇宙中已知的能量最高的天体之一。有诱人的迹象表明与BLLac天体有关联，这些天体是活动星系核，它们的喷流指向我们。TA实验借鉴了HERRES非常成功的经验，并利用了犹他州小组开发的荧光望远镜技术。TA是一项与世界的混合实验？S最大的地表闪烁体阵列测量了广泛的空气簇射到达地球时的足迹，并有多个荧光望远镜天文台测量上面太空中的簇射。今年晚些时候调试完成后，TA将成为北半球最灵敏的宇宙线探测器。该小组计划继续开展活动，支持探测器的安装、调试和运行。凭借在HIRE方面的丰富经验，该小组还在TA数据分析方面发挥着主导作用，特别是荧光分析。ASPIRE是整合研究和教育的天体物理科学项目。自1997年以来，Aspire一直在创建一些最具吸引力和互动性的科学课程和实验室？S网站，并为该地区的教师、学生和公众提供直接的联系。这些努力包括向当地团体提供外展和支持，为学生举办暑期讲习班，以及访问乡村学校，如德克萨斯州米勒德和德尔塔的学校。作为一项外展计划，ASPIRE已经能够有效地和负担得起地对许多学生和教育工作者产生巨大影响。