Collaborative Research: Askaryan Radio Array Ultra-high Energy Neutrino Detector

在高能（10 PeV）下，中微子可以通过阿斯卡扬效应在密集的射频（RF）透明介质中最有效地检测到。覆盖着地理南极的丰富的冷冰，其特殊的射频清晰度，已经成为开发这种方法的几项开创性努力的主机。在过去的几年里，一个分两阶段的实验？结合冰立方项目的钻探和后勤经验，以及RICE实验的现场射频经验和长时间气球项目ANITA的亚纳秒级数据采集，最终旨在积累数百个高能GZK中微子的阿斯卡扬无线电阵列（ARA）已经在南极站启动。ARA第一阶段的目标(2010？2013年)的任务是部署几个试验台类型的工作站，这些工作站使用由nsf资助的MRI奖设计和建造的设备。下一阶段是继续使用这些试验台站进行观测，以积累有关南极冰盖上层射频特性的知识，并为未来部署在冰站开发可靠的硬件和软件。最近部署的三个试验台站目前正在收集数据。虽然三个测试台站的部署总体上是成功的，但是在整个37个台站阵列部署计划中发现了一些问题。该合同将提供过渡性资金，以保证部署的测试台站再运行12个月，同时项目团队重新设计他们的提案，为整个阵列部署设计一个分阶段的方法。

At high energies ( 10 PeV), neutrinos can be most efficiently detected in dense, radio frequency (RF) transparent media via the Askaryan effect. The abundant cold ice covering the geographic South Pole, with its exceptional RF clarity, has been host to several pioneering efforts to develop this approach. Within the last years, a two-phased experiment ? the Askaryan Radio Array (ARA), designed to ultimately accumulate hundreds of high-energy GZK neutrinos - has been initiated at the South Pole Station, combining the drilling and logistics experience of the IceCube project, as well as the in-situ RF experience of the RICE experiment and the sub-nanosecond-scale data acquisition of the long-duration balloon project ANITA. The goal of ARA's Phase 1 (2010?2013) was to make deployment of a few testbed-type stations that used equipment designed and built under the NSF-funded MRI award. The next phase is to continue observations with these testbed stations to accumulate knowledge about RF properties of the upper layers of the ice sheet at South Pole and develop reliable hardware and software for deployable in-ice stations in the future. Recently-deployed three testbed stations are currently operational collecting data. Although the deployment of three testbed stations was generally successful, a number of problems were found in the full, 37-stations array deployment plans. This award is to provide bridge funds to keep the deployed testbed stations operational for another 12 months, while the project team reworks their proposal devising a staged approach for the full array deployment.