Collaborative Research: 2016-2019 Development of the Askaryan Radio Array Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Detector at the South Pole

合作研究：2016-2019年南极Askaryan射电阵列超高能中微子探测器的研制

• 批准号: 1404262
• 负责人: David Seckel
• 金额: $ 8.99万
• 依托单位: University of Delaware
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1404262&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; 2016; 2019; Development

Ultra-high-energy neutrinos are unique astrophysical messengers that interact weakly with intervening matter and can therefore be used to probe the distant universe. A small but theoretically observable flux of these ultra-high-energy neutrinos is expected to be produced by the interaction between high-energy "cosmic ray" charged particles and cosmic microwave background photons as the cosmic rays travel through the Universe. Observing these cosmogenic neutrinos would allow physicists to begin to study physics at energies beyond the standard models. The large volume of radio transparent ice covering the geographic South Pole in Antarctica has hosted several pioneering efforts to detect these high energies neutrinos using a radio Cherenkov "Askaryan effect." The Askaryan effect describes the process by which ultra-high-energy neutrinos traversing the dense polar ice generate observable radio waves. The Askaryan Radio Array (ARA), located at the South Pole Station, was designed to exploit this phenomenon to first detect and ultimately study these ultra-high-energy neutrinos. This award provides funding to deploy two more ARA stations to the existing suite of three stations, and to continue observations. The award will support the involvement of students, including undergraduate students, who will be engaged in on-site activities at the South Pole. It will also support outreach efforts including activities with QuarkNet.ARA is designed to be implemented in phases. During the initial phase the ARA project deployed a testbed and three full stations that used equipment designed and built for the co-located IceCube Neutrino Observatory. With this award the project will deploy two more stations and continue observations with all stations to demonstrate the technology, accumulate knowledge about radio frequency 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.

超高能中微子是独特的天体物理使者，与中间物质相互作用弱相互作用，因此可以用于探测遥远的宇宙。 这些超高能量中微子的小但理论上可观察到的通量有望通过高能“宇宙射线”带电颗粒与宇宙微波背景光子之间的相互作用产生，因为宇宙射线穿过宇宙。观察这些宇宙基因中微子将使物理学家能够开始在标准模型以外的能量上研究物理学。覆盖南极地理南极的大量无线电透明冰已经进行了几项开创性的努力，以使用无线电Cherenkov“ Askaryan效应”来检测这些高能量中微子。 Askaryan效应描述了超高能中微子穿越致密的极性冰的过程。 位于南极站的Askaryan无线电阵列（ARA）旨在利用这种现象，以首先检测并最终研究这些超高能量中微子。 该奖项为将两个ARA电台部署到现有的三个电台套件并继续观察提供了资金。 该奖项将支持包括本科生在内的学生的参与，他们将在南极从事现场活动。 它还将支持宣传工作，包括与Quarknet.ara的活动，旨在分阶段实施。 在初始阶段，ARA项目部署了一个测试台和三个完整的电台，这些设备使用了为共同设定的Icecube Neutrino天文台设计和制造的设备。 通过该奖项，该项目将再部署两个站点，并继续与所有电台进行观察，以展示该技术，积累有关南极冰盖上层射频属性的知识，并开发可靠的硬件和软件，用于将来可部署的ICE内部冰上站。