Particle Astrophysics at the Energy Frontier at Auger South

俄格南能源前沿的粒子天体物理学

• 批准号: 1068658
• 负责人: James Beatty
• 金额: $ 50.5万
• 依托单位: Ohio State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-06-01 至 2014-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1068658&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Particle; Astrophysics; Energy; Frontier; Auger

The southern Pierre Auger Observatory is a 3000 square km hybrid cosmic ray detector located near Malargüe, Argentina. It consists of an array of 1600 water Cherenkov surface detectors together with four fluorescence detector sites, and is now fully completed and commissioned. This award will enable a research program focused on maximizing the scientific payoff from this detector. Key scientific questions that this group is attempting to address include:[1] What astrophysical objects produce the highest energy cosmic rays?[2] What constraints can be derived on Galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields from observations of cosmic rays?[3] What is the composition of the highest energy cosmic rays?[4] Are the interactions of the cosmic ray primaries consistent with existing models of high-energy interactions, or are there hints of new particle physics?One area of emphasis in the group's data analysis includes studies of the effect of Galactic magnetic fields on cosmic ray arrival directions and the implications of this for Galactic field models, cosmic ray origins, and composition. Another area of study is the distribution of the depth of shower maximum and related shower variables as probes of cosmic ray composition and interactions. They are also working on the study of microwave bremsstrahlung from air showers as a possible new detection technique that would enable 24/7 fluorescence-like measurements.The group is involved in outreach efforts to central Ohio high school students, which has contributed to student interest in pursuing college degrees in STEM disciplines. The Auger project is truly international, and contributes to international cooperation and understanding in the sciences.

南方的皮埃尔俄歇天文台是一个3000平方公里的混合宇宙射线探测器，位于阿根廷马拉圭附近。它由1600个水切伦科夫表面探测器阵列和四个荧光探测器站点组成，现已完全完成并投入使用。该奖项将使一项研究计划专注于最大限度地提高该探测器的科学回报。该小组试图解决的关键科学问题包括：[1]哪些天体产生最高能量的宇宙射线？[2]从宇宙射线的观测中，可以推导出银河系和河外磁场的哪些约束条件？[3]最高能量的宇宙射线的组成是什么？[4]宇宙射线原色的相互作用是否与现有的高能相互作用模型一致，或者是否有新粒子物理学的暗示？该小组数据分析的一个重点领域包括研究银河磁场对宇宙射线到达方向的影响，以及这对银河场模型，宇宙射线起源和成分的影响。另一个研究领域是作为宇宙射线组成和相互作用的探测器的簇射最大深度和相关簇射变量的分布。他们还致力于研究来自空气簇射的微波韧致辐射，作为一种可能的新检测技术，可以实现24/7荧光般的测量。该小组参与了对俄亥俄州中部高中学生的外展工作，这有助于学生对攻读STEM学科大学学位的兴趣。Auger项目是真正的国际性项目，有助于科学领域的国际合作和理解。