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

对能量最高的地外辐射或“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有规律地从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的射线的罕见性的限制。事实上，如果不能找到新的方法来实现对地球表面大部分地区的远程覆盖，那么在目前这一代天文台之外继续进行实地观测可能在财政上和实际上是不可能的。该奖项将支持世界上第一个用于最高能量宇宙射线的双基地雷达天文台的发展，该天文台可用于测量宇宙射线空气阵雨的天体物理学重要特征。新技术涉及通过双基地雷达技术对宇宙射线诱导的大范围空气阵雨进行遥感，并建立在MARIACHI进行的试点研究的基础上，这些研究表明空气阵雨雷达回波是可探测的。更广泛的影响：双基地雷达技术将使高能宇宙射线的研究在大量节省成本的情况下进行。此外，这个项目在将当地社区与目前正在犹他州进行的天体物理学研究联系起来方面具有巨大的潜力。类似于这里提出的用于宇宙射线研究的雷达技术早就被用于研究微流星，这个小组已经举办了公众活动，让游客到米勒德县宇宙射线中心“听”流星雨，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.