New Frontiers in Nuclear Astrophysics

核天体物理学是将从实验室研究中获得的核物理知识应用于宇宙及其内容。 这对于理解化学元素是如何产生的，恒星是如何被驱动的，是什么导致了被称为超新星的爆炸恒星，宇宙射线的起源等等都是至关重要的。 一个关键的研究前沿是基于使用中微子，亚原子粒子，没有电荷，质量很小，几乎不与物质相互作用。 这使得中微子很难被探测到，但允许它们逃逸，从而揭示天体内部深处的物理条件。 它们携带的独特信息将有助于解决核天体物理学中长期存在的问题。 需要进行研究，以进一步开发检测技术，并从数据中得出结论。 有在这个研究领域培养的学生和博士后的需求很高。 所涵盖的主题，其中还包括黑洞，暗物质和宇宙本身，捕捉公众的想象力，吸引年轻人探索科学事业。该项目旨在使我们对天体物理物体和中微子本身的理解取得重大进展。 理论物理学和天体物理学的知识将被应用于帮助导致天体物理中微子的新探测，并从这些数据中发展新的理解。 该项目的一个中心焦点是漫射超新星中微子背景，即过去数十亿年来大质量恒星爆炸产生的中微子和反中微子的宇宙通量。 这种通量尚未被探测到，但它是触手可及的，需要仔细的工作来帮助隔离这种微弱的信号。 相关的主题包括探测其他天体物理学中微子源，超新星的性质和中微子的性质。 由赠款支持的年轻科学家将在未来职业生涯中取得成功所需的全方位技能方面得到指导。 为了最大限度地扩大影响，这项工作整合了研究，指导，教学和外展工作，重点是代表性不足的人群，包括聋人和听力障碍。该奖项由物理学系的理论核物理计划，天文科学系的恒星天文学和天体物理学计划以及MPS多学科活动办公室共同支持。

Nuclear astrophysics is the application of nuclear physics knowledge obtained from laboratory studies to the universe and its contents. This is essential for understanding how the chemical elements are produced, the ways stars are powered, what causes exploding stars called supernovae, the origin of cosmic rays, and more. A key research frontier is based on using neutrinos, subatomic particles that have no electric charge and very little mass, and which barely interact with matter. This makes neutrinos hard to detect, but allows them to escape from and thus reveal physical conditions in the deep interiors of astrophysical objects. The unique information they carry will help resolve longstanding questions in nuclear astrophysics. Research is needed to further develop detection techniques and to draw conclusions from the data. There is high demand for students and postdocs trained in this research area. The topics covered, which also include black holes, dark matter, and the universe itself, capture the imagination of the public and attract young people to explore careers in science. This project is intended to lead to significant gains in our understanding of astrophysical objects and neutrinos themselves. The knowledge of theoretical physics and astrophysics will be applied to help lead to new detections of astrophysical neutrinos and to develop new understandings from that data. A central focus of this project is on the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background, the cosmic flux of neutrinos and antineutrinos produced by the explosions of massive stars over the past several billion years. This flux has not been detected yet, but it is within reach, and careful work is needed to help isolate this faint signal. Related topics include detecting other astrophysical neutrino sources, the nature of supernovae, and the properties of neutrinos. Junior scientists supported by the grant will be mentored in the full range of skills needed to be successful in their future careers. To maximize broader impacts, the work integrates efforts in research, mentoring, teaching, and outreach, with a focus on underrepresented populations, including the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.This award is supported jointly by the Theoretical Nuclear Physics Program in the Division of Physics, the Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics Program in the Division of Astronomical Sciences and the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities.