Studying Cosmic-Ray Acceleration and Propagation, Gas Content and Interstellar Radiation Fields in our Galaxy with the HAWC Observatory

与 HAWC 天文台一起研究银河系中的宇宙射线加速和传播、气体含量和星际辐射场

• 批准号: 1307289
• 负责人: Petra Huentemeyer
• 金额: $ 47.03万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1307289&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Studying; Cosmic; Ray; Acceleration; Propagation

Cosmic rays are produced and accelerated in the most violent environments of our Universe and can have energies that are orders of magnitude larger than the energies produced by the Earth's most powerful accelerators. Teraelectronvolt (TeV) gamma rays can be used to probe the possible sources of cosmic ray acceleration since they are produced in the interactions of cosmic rays with matter and radiation fields, and as neutral particles they can be traced back to their origin. The sensitivity and angular resolution of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes make these devices particularly well suited for point source and morphological studies, while the wide field of view and large duty cycle of extensive air shower arrays are advantageous for detecting diffuse gamma radiation from large areas in the sky. The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory is currently being constructed at the Sierra Negra Plateau, Mexico, and is expected to have a point source sensitivity that is improved by a factor of 10 to 15 over that of previous extensive air shower instruments. The Michigan Technological University group will play a leading role in the collection and analysis of the scientific data of the experiment. Their research focus will be on the study of diffuse and extended very high-energy emission at large scales, which is now possible with unprecedented sensitivity due to the improved performance of HAWC. The group is also responsible for detector calibration and will therefore play a critical role in the HAWC construction and operation. Broader Impacts: The participating students and post-doctoral scientist will receive scientific and educational training in the analysis of large data sets as well as the operation of a complex instrument within the context of a large international collaboration. The outreach component of this project is designed to generate greater community interest in physics through the installation of detector components in a local mine that is open to guided tours. This will expose teachers to modern experimental physics at the very-high energy frontier. The results of the outreach component of the proposed project will be disseminated by publications and conferences presentations.

宇宙射线是在我们宇宙中最激烈的环境中产生和加速的，其能量可能比地球上最强大的加速器产生的能量大几个数量级。 太电子伏特（TeV）伽马射线可以用来探测宇宙射线加速的可能来源，因为它们是在宇宙射线与物质和辐射场的相互作用中产生的，并且作为中性粒子，它们可以追溯到它们的起源。 成像大气切伦科夫望远镜的灵敏度和角分辨率使这些设备特别适合于点源和形态学研究，而广泛的空气簇射阵列的宽视场和大占空比有利于探测来自天空大面积的漫射伽马辐射。目前正在墨西哥Sierra Negra高原建造高海拔水切伦科夫（HAWC）观测台，预计其点源灵敏度将比以前的大面积空气簇射仪器提高10至15倍。密歇根理工大学小组将在收集和分析实验的科学数据方面发挥主导作用。他们的研究重点将是大尺度扩散和扩展的极高能量发射的研究，由于HAWC性能的提高，现在可以以前所未有的灵敏度进行研究。该小组还负责探测器校准，因此将在HAWC的建设和运行中发挥关键作用。更广泛的影响：参与的学生和博士后科学家将接受大型数据集分析以及大型国际合作背景下复杂仪器操作的科学和教育培训。该项目的外联部分旨在通过在一个对导游图尔斯开放的当地矿场安装探测器组件，提高社区对物理学的兴趣。 这将使教师接触到非常高能量前沿的现代实验物理学。拟议项目外联部分的成果将通过出版物和会议介绍加以传播。