NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center

广义相对论预言了引力波的存在，但尚未直接探测到。除了检验广义相对论之外，引力波的发现还将为解释宇宙加速膨胀的起源和调和量子力学与引力的理论提供新的检验，这是基础物理学、天体物理学和宇宙学面临的两个最深刻的挑战。 通过这个物理前沿中心（PFC）奖，北美纳赫兹引力波天文台（NANOGrav）将专注于探测和表征具有纳赫兹频率的引力波-频率比激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）探测的频率低11个数量级。 NANOGrav将使用毫秒脉冲星（以毫秒为周期旋转的脉动中子星）的观测来搜索这些低频波。如果引力波的通过使辐射的到达时间发生扭曲，那么来自这些恒星的辐射的到达时间将偏离它们的规律。将不同的引力波和监测脉冲到达时间之间的观测相关联，将使NANOGrav能够以不同于LIGO但与LIGO互补的方式搜索这些低频引力波。NANOGrav还将让中学生和本科生参与他们的研究工作，包括数据收集、分析和表征，以及在数据中寻找引力波。该中心将有针对性地提高妇女和传统上代表性不足的群体的学生参与度。NANOGrav物理前沿中心将监测毫秒脉冲的脉冲到达时间（MSP），以检测和表征低频引力波（GW）。除了已知的MSP之外，该中心还将寻找新的MSP。研究目标和活动包括：低频GW的探测和表征，包括算法开发，GW源的电磁对应物的研究，以及GW重力测试; GW数据集的创建和管理，包括创建分析以搜索GW的时间序列，数据集及其误差预算的完整表征，创建新的，独立的软件包来创建GW数据集，以及数据挖掘和分发;以及通过增加检测臂的数量，表征它们的反射器，该奖项由物理学系的物理学前沿中心计划和天文科学系的中型创新计划共同资助。

General Relativity predicts the existence of gravitational waves, but none have yet been directly detected. In addition to testing General Relativity, the discovery of gravitational waves will make possible new tests of theories that explain the origin of the acceleration of the universe's expansion and that reconcile quantum mechanics with gravity, two of the most profound challenges facing fundamental physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. Through this Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) award the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) will focus on the detection and characterization of gravitational waves with nanohertz frequencies-frequencies eleven orders of magnitude lower than those probed by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). NANOGrav will use observations of millisecond pulsars (pulsating neutron stars spinning with a period on the order of a millisecond) to search for these low frequency waves. The arrival times of the emissions from these pulsars will stray from their regular pattern if distorted by the passage of a gravitational wave. Correlating observations between different pulsars and monitoring pulse arrival times will enable NANOGrav to search for these low frequency gravitational waves in a way different from but complementary to LIGO. NANOGrav will also engage middle school and undergraduate students in their research efforts, including data collection, analysis, and characterization, as well as the search for gravitational waves in the data. The Center will have a targeted approach to increase student participation of women and traditionally underrepresented groups.The NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center will monitor the pulse arrival times of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in order to detect and characterize low frequency gravitational waves (GWs). In addition to known MSPs, the Center will search for new ones. Research goals and activities involve: the detection and characterization of low frequency GWs, including algorithm development, the study of electromagnetic counterparts to GW sources, and GW tests of gravity; the creation and curation of a GW dataset, including the creation of the time series analyzed to search for GWs, full characterization of the data set and its error budget, creation of a new, independent software package to create the GW data sets, as well as data mining and distribution; and the further enhancement and characterization of their low frequency GW detection method with increased sensitivity resulting from adding to the number of detection arms, characterizing their pulsars, and developing algorithms to increase the efficiency of their searches for new MSPs.This Physics Frontiers Centers award is co-funded by the Physics Frontiers Centers Program in the Division of Physics and the Mid-scale Innovations Program in the Division of Astronomical Sciences.