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

在高能量（10 PeV）下，中微子可以通过Askaryan效应在密集的射频（RF）透明介质中最有效地检测到。覆盖地理南极的丰富的冷冰，以其卓越的RF清晰度，已经成为开发这种方法的几项开创性努力的所在。在过去的几年里，一个两阶段的实验？在南极站启动了旨在最终积累数百个高能GZK中微子的Askaryan射电阵列（ARA），该阵列结合了IceCube项目的钻探和后勤经验，以及RICE实验的现场射频经验和长期气球项目ANITA的亚纳秒级数据采集。ARA的第一阶段（2010年？2013年）是部署一些试验台型台站，这些台站使用根据NSF资助的MRI奖设计和建造的设备。下一阶段是继续利用这些试验台台站进行观测，以积累关于南极冰盖上层射频特性的知识，并为今后可部署的冰中台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。虽然三个试验台台站的部署总体上是成功的，但在全部37个台站的阵列部署计划中发现了一些问题。 该合同将提供桥梁资金，以使已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.