Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics with IceCube DeepCore Data

使用 IceCube DeepCore 数据进行中微子物理和天体物理

• 批准号: 1205403
• 负责人: Douglas Cowen
• 金额: $ 113.23万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1205403&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neutrino; Physics; Astrophysics; IceCube; DeepCore

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, embedded in the ice cap at the South Pole, is the world's largest and most sensitive high energy neutrino telescope. The recent addition of the DeepCore low energy extension allows IceCube to address fundamental questions in particle physics through the observation of atmospheric neutrinos at energies from 10 to 100 GeV. With this award the Penn State group will continue to use DeepCore data to address fundamental questions of neutrino physics, including testing whether the observed muon neutrino oscillations lead to tau neutrino appearance, or whether extra, sterile neutrino flavors are involved in neutrino oscillations. The Penn State group will also use IceCube and DeepCore to facilitate searches for astrophysical neutrinos from accelerators of cosmic rays. DeepCore will enhance IceCube's ability to identify tau neutrino events at energies of around 1 PeV. Real-time searches for such events can be used to identify astrophysical transient events associated with cosmic ray acceleration. In addition, the group is studying the feasibility of implementing an even more powerful atmospheric neutrino detector in the Antarctic ice cap, known as PINGU, which might have the ability to probe the neutrino mass hierarchy. This could provide extremely valuable input to fundamental theories of particle physics beyond the Standard Model.Broader Impact: The Penn State group offers a summer professional development workshop for secondary school teachers, which exposes them to forefront research in particle astrophysics. They have developed a version of the workshop focused on giving the educators a hands-on experience in operating state-of-the-art particle detectors, as well as on simpler activities and materials which can be easily used in the high school classroom. In addition, the group provides opportunities for young physicists at all levels to become involved in particle astrophysics, with a particular emphasis on encouraging participation among women and underrepresented groups.

冰立方中微子天文台位于南极冰盖上，是世界上最大、最灵敏的高能中微子望远镜。最近增加的DeepCore低能扩展使IceCube能够通过观察能量从10到100 GeV的大气中微子来解决粒子物理学中的基本问题。 有了这个奖项，宾夕法尼亚州立大学的研究小组将继续使用DeepCore数据来解决中微子物理学的基本问题，包括测试观测到的μ子中微子振荡是否会导致τ中微子的出现，或者中微子振荡中是否涉及额外的无菌中微子味道。宾夕法尼亚州立大学的研究小组还将使用IceCube和DeepCore来促进从宇宙射线加速器中搜索天体物理中微子。 DeepCore将增强IceCube识别能量约为1 PeV的τ中微子事件的能力。 对这类事件的实时搜索可用于识别与宇宙射线加速有关的天体物理瞬态事件。 此外，该小组正在研究在南极冰盖上安装一个更强大的大气中微子探测器的可行性，该探测器被称为PINGU，它可能有能力探测中微子质量等级。更广泛的影响：宾夕法尼亚州立大学的研究小组为中学教师提供了一个暑期专业发展研讨会，让他们接触到粒子天体物理学的前沿研究。 他们开发了一个版本的研讨会，重点是让教育工作者在操作最先进的粒子探测器方面获得实践经验，以及更简单的活动和材料，这些活动和材料可以很容易地在高中课堂上使用。 此外，该小组为各级年轻物理学家提供参与粒子天体物理学的机会，特别强调鼓励妇女和代表性不足的群体参与。