Connecting Particle Physics with Astrophysics

连接粒子物理学与天体物理学

• 批准号: 1417505
• 负责人: Savvas Koushiappas
• 金额: $ 21万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1417505&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Connecting; Particle; Physics; Astrophysics

This award funds part of the research activity of Professor Savvas Koushiappas at Brown University. The main goal of this award is to unite theoretical studies of the physics of dark matter with current and future experimental efforts. The experimentally motivated theoretical projects use observations of high energy photons and other energetic particles such as positrons and neutrinos (into which dark matter might decay or annihilate) in order to tackle fundamental questions about the nature of dark matter, the origin of astrophysical backgrounds, the astrophysical effects of cosmology and most importantly the interplay and connections among these different topics. The primary goal is the interpretation of dark matter indirect detection search data in the context of dark matter properties and the implications for accelerator studies. A secondary goal is the understanding and improvement of systematic uncertainties that arise from astrophysical processes and the cosmological context. The outcome of this work will help understand the confidence at which theoretical dark matter interpretations can be ruled out from null searches, and to establish the confidence to which dark matter's physical properties can be measured in future experimental efforts.Any dark matter experimental technique is ultimately linked to the details of the interplay between particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. For example direct detection experiments depend on the local density and velocity distribution of dark matter, indirect detection experiments depend on the square of the dark matter density along a line of sight, and each of these techniques depends on the cross section of interactions and the mass of the dark matter particle, both of which are probed in accelerator searches. It is therefore imperative that theoretical interpretations of experimental results in the context of particle physics must take into account this amalgamation of information. This research will bridge the gap between these disciplines, making the connection between astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics possible by understanding the uncertainties and connections between different disciplines. These goals will be achieved by sophisticated theoretical modeling, and new and existing statistical and analysis tools. In addition, the broader impact pertains to the synergy between indirect detection, direct detection and Large Hadron Collider (LHC) searches, thus connecting the laboratory to the sky, a necessary link that must be in place for any convincing dark matter interpretation of any signal. Furthermore, graduate and undergraduate education at the PI's institution will benefit from the exposure to cosmology, particle physics and computing, as well as the development and implementation of new computational and analysis tools. And finally, the proposed outreach activities of the PI will allow the public and students within Providence to engage in science-related activities.

该奖项资助布朗大学Savvas Koushiappas教授的部分研究活动。该奖项的主要目标是将暗物质物理学的理论研究与当前和未来的实验努力结合起来。实验动机的理论项目使用高能光子和其他高能粒子，如正电子和中微子（暗物质可能衰变或湮灭）的观测，以解决有关暗物质的性质，天体物理背景的起源，宇宙学的天体物理效应以及最重要的是这些不同主题之间的相互作用和联系的基本问题。主要目标是在暗物质性质的背景下解释暗物质间接探测搜索数据，并对加速器研究产生影响。第二个目标是理解和改善天体物理过程和宇宙学背景下产生的系统不确定性。这项工作的结果将有助于理解理论上的暗物质解释可以从零搜索中排除的置信度，并建立暗物质的物理性质可以在未来的实验努力中测量的置信度。任何暗物质实验技术最终都与粒子物理学，天体物理学和宇宙学之间相互作用的细节有关。例如，直接探测实验依赖于暗物质的局部密度和速度分布，间接探测实验依赖于暗物质密度沿着视线的平方，并且这些技术中的每一种都依赖于相互作用的横截面和暗物质粒子的质量，这两者都在加速器搜索中被探测。 因此，在粒子物理学的背景下，对实验结果的理论解释必须考虑到这种信息的融合。这项研究将弥合这些学科之间的差距，通过了解不同学科之间的不确定性和联系，使天体物理学，宇宙学和粒子物理学之间的联系成为可能。 这些目标将通过复杂的理论建模以及新的和现有的统计和分析工具来实现。 此外，更广泛的影响涉及间接探测，直接探测和大型强子对撞机（LHC）搜索之间的协同作用，从而将实验室与天空连接起来，这是任何令人信服的暗物质解释任何信号的必要联系。 此外，PI机构的研究生和本科生教育将受益于宇宙学，粒子物理学和计算，以及新的计算和分析工具的开发和实施。最后，PI的拟议外展活动将使普罗维登斯的公众和学生能够参与与科学有关的活动。