Solar Neutrino Science with Borexino

Borexino 的太阳中微子科学

• 批准号: 0902140
• 负责人: Laura Cadonati
• 金额: $ 31.64万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-10-01 至 2013-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0902140&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Solar; Neutrino; Science; Borexino

Solar neutrinos have played a crucial role in the experimental confirmation that neutrinos have mass and oscillate, which is evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. Borexino is a large solar neutrino detector in operation at the Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS), Italy. With its proven sensitivity, high radiopurity and low energy threshold, Borexino has the potential to resolve the solar neutrino energy spectrum into its various components and to probe the transition between vacuum and matter-enhanced oscillations in the ~ MeV energy region. Building on their previous experience, the UMass group will contribute to the scientific goals of Borexino in two areas: (1) data analysis: the PI currently coordinates the US Borexino data analysis effort, focused on a deeper understanding of systematic effects, to reduce the uncertainty on the measured rate of Be-7 neutrinos; and (2) detector stability: as members of the vessel working group, the PIs are experts on the stress patterns and vessel deformations and on the laser diffuser system used for calibration and studies of light propagation properties. These skills will be fundamental to monitor the stability of the detector.The broader impact of the program will provide students with the opportunity to experience research at a unique international physics laboratory, and to have an impact on important scientific results. The PIs will continue to participate in an outreach program that brings high school students from a relatively poor region of Italy to Princeton for a summer program in physics. This program has recently been extended to a group of women and minority high school students from South Dakota.

太阳中微子在实验证实中微子具有质量和振荡方面发挥了至关重要的作用，这是超越标准模型的物理学证据。Borexino是意大利Gran Sasso实验室（LNGS）运行的大型太阳中微子探测器。Borexino具有高灵敏度、高放射性纯度和低能量阈值，有可能将太阳中微子能谱分解为各种成分，并探测~ MeV能量区真空和物质增强振荡之间的跃迁。基于他们以前的经验，马萨诸塞大学小组将在两个领域为Borexino的科学目标做出贡献：（1）数据分析：PI目前协调美国Borexino数据分析工作，重点是更深入地了解系统效应，以减少Be-7中微子测量速率的不确定性;和（2）探测器稳定性：作为容器工作组的成员，PI是应力模式和容器变形以及用于校准和研究光传播特性的激光漫射系统的专家。这些技能将是监测探测器稳定性的基础。该计划的更广泛影响将为学生提供在独特的国际物理实验室体验研究的机会，并对重要的科学成果产生影响。PI将继续参与一个推广计划，将意大利一个相对贫困地区的高中生带到普林斯顿参加一个物理学暑期项目。该方案最近已扩大到一群来自南达科他州的妇女和少数民族高中生。