MRI: Development of a Radar Observatory for Cosmic Ray Air Showers

对能量最大的地外辐射或“宇宙射线”的研究是当前天体物理学研究的一个主要方向。具有巨大能量的粒子经常从我们的银河系内外撞击地球。然而，高能宇宙射线领域的进展目前受到撞击地球的最有趣射线的稀有性的限制。事实上，如果不找到新的方法来实现对地球表面大部分地区的远程覆盖，那么在目前这一代观测站之后继续维持这一领域在财政上和实际上都是不可能的。该奖项将支持开发世界上第一个最高能量宇宙射线双基地雷达观测站，可用于测量宇宙射线空气簇射的天体物理学重要特征。这项新技术涉及通过双基地雷达技术对宇宙射线引起的大范围空气簇射进行遥感，并以MARIACHI进行的试点研究为基础，这些研究表明空气簇射雷达回波是可以探测到的。更广泛的影响：双基地雷达技术将使高能宇宙射线研究能够以大幅节省成本的方式进行。此外，该项目在将当地社区与犹他州目前正在进行的天体物理学研究联系起来方面具有很大的潜力。类似于这里提出的用于宇宙射线研究的雷达技术长期以来一直用于微流星的研究，该小组已经举办了公开活动，让米勒德县宇宙射线中心的游客“听”流星雨并了解宇宙射线项目。

The study of the most energetic extraterrestrial radiation or "cosmic rays" is a major thrust of current astrophysics research. Particles with enormous energies regularly strike the Earth from within our galaxy and beyond. However, progress in the field of high-energy cosmic rays is currently limited by the rarity of the most interesting rays striking the Earth. Indeed, the continuation of the field beyond the current generation of observatories may become financially and practically impossible if new ways are not found to achieve remote coverage over large portions of the Earth's surface. This award will support the development of the world's first bistatic radar observatory for the highest-energy cosmic rays that can be used to measure the astrophysically important characteristics of cosmic ray air showers. The new technique involves the remote sensing via the bistatic radar technology of cosmic ray induced extensive air showers and builds on pilot studies performed by MARIACHI which have demonstrated that air shower radar echoes are detectable. Broader Impacts: The bistatic radar technique will allow high-energy cosmic ray research to proceed at a substantial savings in cost. In addition, this project has great potential for connecting the local community to the astrophysics research currently being conducted in Utah. Radar techniques similar to those being proposed here for cosmic ray studies have long been utilized in the study of micrometeors, and this group has already hosted public events in which visitors to the Millard County Cosmic Ray Center "listen" to meteor showers and learn about the cosmic ray project.