Experimental Particle Astrophysics with the Pierre Auger and HAWC Observatories

该奖项将使该粒子天体物理学小组能够继续分析皮埃尔俄歇天文台的数据，并参与高海拔水切伦科夫（HAWC）伽马射线天文台的建设。超高能宇宙射线在最基本的层面上携带着物质结构的信息。然而，它们的起源和与宇宙微波背景相互作用的机制尚不清楚。获取这类知识的局限性与这类粒子很少穿过地球高层大气有关。俄歇天文台是目前世界上领先的超高能宇宙射线探测器，使这类测量成为可能。对俄歇天文台数据的分析已经产生了有趣的结果，旨在解决自然界中最高能量粒子的奥秘。该小组将继续在最高能量下进行成分和各向异性研究，其中俄歇数据是独特的，对科学界具有很高的价值和兴趣。寻找可能的银河系来源也是拟议工作的一部分。HAWC天文台将是一个独特的甚高能伽马射线天文观测仪器，补充切伦科夫望远镜。它非常适合于测绘扩展的伽马射线源，例如来自MilkyWay的漫反射辐射，以及探测爆发的河外（和银河系）源。CSU小组将通过制造探测器的关键部件之一（坦克囊）来帮助建造HAWC。更广泛的影响将是继续接触公众，并促进本科生的研究和教育。拟议的工作利用研究计划的资源，以加强本科教育的质量，提供只有在研究机构提供宝贵的本科经验。

This award will enable this particle astrophysics group to continue their analysis of data from the Pierre Auger Observatory, and to participate in the construction of the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma Ray Observatory. Ultra high energy cosmic rays carry information on the structure of matter at its most fundamental level. Yet their origin and mechanisms of interaction with the cosmic microwave background are unknown. The limitations to acquiring such knowledge are related to the rarity of such particles intersecting the Earth's upper atmosphere. The Auger Observatory is currently the world's leading detector of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, and makes these kinds of measurements possible. The analysis of data from the Auger Observatory has already yielded interesting results toward the goal of solving the mystery of the highest energy particles in nature. The group will continue their composition and anisotropy studies at the highest energies where the Auger data are unique and of high value and interest to the scientific community. A search for possible Galactic sources is also part of the proposed work. The HAWC Observatory will be a unique survey instrument for very-high energy gamma ray astronomy, complementing Cherenkov telescopes. It is ideal for mapping extended sources of gamma rays such as diffuse emission from the MilkyWay, and for detecting bursting extragalactic (and galactic) sources. The CSU group will contribute to the construction of HAWC with the fabrication of one of the key components of the detector (the tank bladders). The Broader Impacts will be to continue to reach out to the general public, and to promote undergraduate research and education. The proposed work takes advantage of the resources of the research program to strengthen the quality of undergraduate education, providing a valuable undergraduate experience only available at a research institution.