RUI: Electromagnetic Spectra from Subatomic Furnaces

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。宇宙中的大多数物体都发射电磁能，我们称之为黑体辐射。物体与其周围的环境处于平衡状态，因此不断地发射和吸收这种能量。通过研究能量，我们可以了解物体的性质。当核科学家使用所谓的原子粉碎器以令人印象深刻的高能量迫使原子核聚集在一起时，高激发的亚原子炉被短暂地创造出来。这些炉子的寿命不够长，不足以悠闲地释放黑体辐射。相反，它们发射出与可见光相似的热和非热电磁辐射，但能量要高得多。对辐射性质的安全而仔细的研究提供了宝贵的线索，帮助科学家了解自然如何在原子核内工作，甚至在质子和中子内部，甚至到在核子内部嗡嗡作响的夸克。该项目的目标是支持寻求生产和研究这些亚原子炉的实验努力。材料科学和计算机技术的进步使核科学家基本上可以利用这些电磁辐射的爆发来拍摄粒子动力学的照片。研究这些微小核系统的理论模型可以通过对初学者进行有意义的指导来提供教育和研究培训。将提供公开演示和技术演示，讨论研究结果，以刺激更多的年轻人对科学感兴趣，特别是通过当地(高二至高二)项目向该地区的高中生介绍，该项目鼓励大学教师与高中师生之间的互动。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Most objects in the universe radiate electromagnetic energy that we call blackbody radiation. The objects are in equilibrium with their surroundings and therefore continually emit and absorb this type of energy. By studying the energy, we can learn about the properties of the objects. When nuclear scientists use the so-called atom smashers to force atomic nuclei together at impressively high energies, highly excited subatomic furnaces are briefly created. The furnaces do not live long enough to leisurely emit blackbody radiation. Instead they emit bursts of thermal and non-thermal electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light, but at much higher energy. Safe and careful study of the properties of the radiation provides precious clues to help scientists understand how nature works within atomic nuclei, within even protons and neutrons, even down to the very quarks that rattle around inside the nucleons. The goal of this project is to support experimental endeavors which seek to produce and study these subatomic furnaces. Advances in material science and computer technology allow nuclear scientists to basically take pictures of the particle dynamics using these bursts of electromagnetic radiation. Studying theoretical models for these tiny nuclear systems provides education and research training through meaningful mentoring of beginning students. Public presentations and technical presentations will be offered discussing the results of the research to stimulate more young people toward science, especially presentations to high-school students in the region through a local (senior-to-sophomore) program which encourages interaction between university faculty and high-school teachers and students.