High Energy Experimental Particle Astrophysics with Auger and TOTEM

皮埃尔俄歇天文台是世界上最大的测量能量超过10^20 eV的宇宙射线性质的实验。这些宇宙射线的起源在粒子天体物理学中仍然是一个深刻而令人信服的谜团。俄歇探测器是一种混合探测器，由两个重合但不同的探测器系统组成：（1）由1，660个水-切伦科夫表面探测站组成的阵列，分布在3，000平方公里的区域内，用于探测地面上的空气簇射粒子;以及（2）一套四个荧光探测器望远镜，提供宇宙射线簇射在大气中传播时发展的量热测量。 在过去的几年里，Auger报告了几个重要的结果，这些结果对理论产生了重大的限制，并为最高能量宇宙射线的起源和性质提供了重要的线索。该奖项将支持凯斯西储大学高能粒子天体物理学（HEA）小组的研究活动。 该小组主要负责全球定位系统事件的定时和校准，以及每天监测电信系统的性能。PI还担任俄歇天文台技术委员会的电信任务负责人。更广泛的影响：该小组在定制无线通信系统、非成像光学系统和精确的纳秒GPS计时方面的专业知识，导致了几种可能应用于其他科学、技术和工业领域的方法和仪器。 在过去的九年里，该小组与大约30名本科生研究助理合作。PI还积极参与各种教育和推广计划，如课后计划。

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world's largest experiment to measure the properties of cosmic rays with energies above 10^20 eV. The origin of these cosmic rays remains a profound and compelling mystery in particle astrophysics. Auger is a hybrid detector consisting of two coincident but distinct detector systems: (1) an array of 1,660 water-Cherenkov Surface Detector stations spread over an area of 3,000 square kilometers for detecting air shower particles on the ground; and (2) a set of four Fluorescence Detector telescopes which provide calorimetric measurements of the development of cosmic ray showers as they propagate through the atmosphere. During the past few years, Auger has reported several important results that place significant constraints on theory and provide essential clues as to the origin and nature of the highest energy cosmic rays. This award will support the research activities of the High Energy Particle Astrophysics (HEA) group at Case Western Reserve University. The group has central responsibility for GPS event timing and calibration, and for monitoring the performance of the telecommunications system on a daily basis. The PI also serves on the Auger Observatory Technical Board as Task Leader for telecommunications.Broader Impact: The group's expertise in custom wireless communication systems, non-imaging optical systems, and precise nanosecond GPS timing has led to several methods and instrumentation that may have applications to other scientific, technical and industrial fields. The group has worked with approximately 30 undergraduate research assistants over the past nine years. The PI is also active in a variety of education and outreach programs such as after school programs.