Studies in Nuclear Physics and Fundamental Interactions at Indiana University

印第安纳大学核物理和基本相互作用研究

• 批准号: 0969490
• 负责人: William Snow
• 金额: $ 220万
• 依托单位: Indiana University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0969490&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Studies; Nuclear; Physics; Fundamental; Interactions

This award derives its intellectual merit from our leadership in addressing the following scientific questions: (1) How the angular momentum of the proton is distributed among its parts. The spinning of the three quarks inside the proton only accounts for a small part of the proton's angular momentum. The rest must be somewhere: we search for it in the "gluons" which hold the quarks inside the proton. (2) Why the Big Bang left the universe with the surplus of matter over anti-matter that we see today. Instead of an equal mixture of matter and antimatter, the universe has much more matter: this is not understood. If extremely small separations of the positive and negative electrical charges within the neutron or electron are discovered, it could give an important clue. (3) Whether neutrinos behave oddly at low energy. Hints have been seen in earlier experiments: we will pursue the leads and develop new technologies to measure neutrinos. (4) How strong the weak force really is. We will use neutrons to precisely calibrate the weak force. As broader impacts of our work, our research activities educate the next generation of skilled and innovative PhD scientists for jobs in research and teaching universities, industry and national labs, and medical and computer technology. We have participated in the NSF REU program for 22 years and in addition we host several undergraduate students and visiting faculty from undergraduate institutions who conduct collaborative research. We mentor our postdocs to facilitate their future entry into teaching and research institutions and the scientific community. We develop undergraduate laboratories emphasizing nuclear technology, bring undergraduates on field trips to IUCF and assist with programs that encourage pre-college participation in the Indiana University science curriculum. We reach out to the local community through a variety of activities that awaken the interest of students in our local public school system, by visiting local high school science classes, acting as judges in local science fairs and for the State Science Olympiad, and presenting physics demonstrations at the Indiana State Fair. We actively recruit female and minority applicants for positions at all levels within the group and the physics department and serve on selection committees for graduate research fellowships for women and for faculty searches. We work to make our activities known to the public at large through laboratory tours and Open Houses, science café discussions, and items of public interest in the media.

这一奖项的学术价值来自于我们在解决以下科学问题方面的领导能力：(1)质子的角动量如何在其各部分之间分配。质子内部三个夸克的自转只占质子角动量的一小部分。其余的一定在某个地方：我们在“胶子”中寻找它，“胶子”将夸克保持在质子内部。(2)为什么大爆炸给宇宙留下了我们今天看到的物质超过反物质的盈余。宇宙中有更多的物质，而不是物质和反物质的等量混合物：这一点还没有被理解。如果在中子或电子内部发现极小的正负电荷分离，这可能会给出重要的线索。(3)中微子在低能时是否表现出奇怪的行为。在早期的实验中已经看到了一些暗示：我们将追求领先地位，并开发测量中微子的新技术。(4)弱力到底有多强。我们将使用中子来精确地校准弱力。作为我们工作的更广泛的影响，我们的研究活动培养了下一代熟练和创新的博士科学家，他们将在研究和教学大学、工业和国家实验室以及医疗和计算机技术领域工作。我们已经参与了NSF REU项目22年，此外，我们还接待了几名本科生和来自本科机构的客座教师，他们开展了合作研究。我们指导我们的博士后，为他们未来进入教学和研究机构以及科学界提供便利。我们发展以核技术为重点的本科实验室，带本科生到IUCF进行实地考察，并协助开展鼓励大学前参与印第安纳大学科学课程的项目。我们通过各种活动接触到当地社区，这些活动唤起了学生对我们当地公立学校系统的兴趣，我们参观了当地的高中科学课堂，在当地的科学博览会和州科学奥林匹克竞赛中担任评委，并在印第安纳州博览会上展示了物理。我们积极招募女性和少数族裔申请者担任集团和物理系的所有级别的职位，并在为妇女提供研究生研究奖学金和寻找教员的遴选委员会中服务。我们致力于通过实验室参观和开放参观、科学咖啡馆讨论以及媒体上的公众感兴趣的项目，向广大公众宣传我们的活动。