Experimental Particle Cosmology

实验粒子宇宙学

• 批准号: 1102841
• 负责人: Bernard Sadoulet
• 金额: $ 120万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 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: 2011-07-15 至 2015-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1102841&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Experimental; Particle; Cosmology

A broad range of cosmological observations tells us that about 85% of the matter in the universe is not made of ordinary particles, but exists in some dark form. Deciphering the nature of this dark matter is of fundamental importance to cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics. A leading hypothesis is that it is comprised of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, that were produced moments after the Big Bang. Such particles would represent an extension of the Standard Model of particle physics, such as supersymmetry or additional dimensions. If WIMPs exist and are the dark matter, then their presence in our Milky Way may be detectable via scattering from atomic nuclei in a terrestrial detector.The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) Collaboration has pioneered the use of low-temperature phonon-mediated devices to detect the rare scattering of WIMPs on nuclei and to distinguish them from backgrounds. This award will provide funds for the base program of UCB to support the scientific aspects of this program in the following ways, fully coordinated with the CDMS collaboration: (a) scientific support of the SuperCDMS Soudan experiment (monitoring of Soudan operation, characterization of detector performance, reconstruction, and analysis); (b) contribution to the design of SuperCDMS SNOLAB (proof of concept of various detector configurations, detector testing, optimization of cold hardware and electronics); and (c) scientific support to SuperCDMS SNOLAB construction (SNOLAB production detector testing and characterization, cold hardware design validation, optimization of analysis methods to maximize efficiency).Broader Impacts: This program's technological development will push the envelope of phonon-mediated detectors, whose applications are increasingly widespread. The project will contribute to the training of undergraduates, graduates, and research scientists. A formal mentoring structure of the research scientists is in place to help develop their scientific leadership and their career. Furthermore, within the SuperCDMS collaboration, the PI will continue to support the public outreach program at Soudan. At Berkeley, he will continue his support of Bay Area high school students from underserved communities through his successful contribution to the SMASH academy.

广泛的宇宙学观测告诉我们，宇宙中约85%的物质不是由普通粒子组成，而是以某种暗形式存在。破译这种暗物质的本质对宇宙学、天体物理学和粒子物理学具有根本的重要性。一个主要的假设是，它是由相互作用很弱的大质量粒子组成的，这些粒子是在大爆炸后不久产生的。这样的粒子将代表粒子物理标准模型的扩展，例如超对称性或额外维度。如果WIMP存在并且是暗物质，那么它们在银河系中的存在可能会通过地球探测器中原子核的散射而被探测到。低温暗物质搜索(CDMS)合作开创了使用低温声子介导的设备来探测WIMP在原子核上罕见的散射并将它们与背景区分开来的先河。该奖项将为UCB的基础计划提供资金，以支持该计划的科学方面，并与CDMS的协作完全协调：(A)对SuperCDMS Soudan实验的科学支持(监测Soudan操作、表征探测器性能、重建和分析)；(B)对SuperCDMS SNOLAB的设计作出贡献(各种探测器配置的概念验证、探测器测试、冷硬件和电子设备的优化)；以及(C)对SuperCDMS SNOLAB建设的科学支持(SNOLAB生产探测器的测试和表征、冷硬件设计验证、优化分析方法以最大限度地提高效率)。广泛影响：该计划的技术发展将推动声子中介探测器的发展，其应用日益广泛。该项目将有助于培养本科生、研究生和研究科学家。研究科学家的正式指导结构已经到位，以帮助他们发展科学领导能力和他们的职业生涯。此外，在SuperCDMS的协作下，PI将继续支持苏丹市的公众推广计划。在伯克利，他将通过对SMASH学院的成功贡献，继续支持湾区来自服务不足社区的高中生。