Cosmic Ray Analysis and Simulation of IceTop and IceCube Data

自从发现被称为“宇宙射线”的太空高能粒子以来，已经有100多年的历史了。“宇宙射线由各种粒子类型组成，以各种能量到达地球。高能宇宙射线由原子核组成，其质量从质子到铁不等。究竟有多少比例的人口是轻的，有多少比例是重的，仍在积极研究中。由于宇宙射线是带电的，并且它们的轨迹在磁场中弯曲，它们不会指向它们的起源;确定这些粒子的起源是一个100年来未解决的问题。能谱中的特征（如扭结、隆起或斜率的变化）是重要的线索，被认为与成分和起源的变化有关。该项目的目标是利用位于南极洲阿蒙森-斯科特南极站的冰立方观测站的表面组成部分IceTop提供的数据，与冰立方的数据相吻合，测量宇宙射线的组成和能谱。该项目旨在包括适合本科生的独立项目，为UAA本科生提供独特的培训和学习机会，不仅可以参与积极的研究和发现，而且还可以成为大型国际努力的重要组成部分。此外，还计划建造一个μ子望远镜和一个使用反射器的小规模空气簇射阵列，作为粒子天体物理学领域的宣传、教育和培训工具。该项目首先侧重于改进IceTop宇宙射线空气簇射的重建，特别是在目前重建技术表现不佳的高能量下。它将研究雪的衰减、阵雨锋面的曲率和波动，以及在探测器中分别处理重合和孤立的信号。该项目包括模拟研究不同的强子相互作用模型如何影响IceTop中看到的信号。凭借丰富的数据统计和先进的数据分析技术，IceTop能够提供与宇宙射线天体物理学领域相关的结果：详细的宇宙射线能谱，以及宇宙射线的质量组成作为能量的函数。

It has been over 100 years since the discovery of the energetic particles from space known as "cosmic rays." Comprised of a variety of particle types, cosmic rays arrive at Earth with a wide range of energies. High energy cosmic rays are composed of atomic nuclei, ranging in mass from protons up to iron. Just what percentage of the population is light, and what percentage is heavy, is still under active study. Because cosmic rays are charged and their trajectories bend in magnetic fields, they do not point back to their origin; determining the origin of these particles is an unsolved problem with a 100-year heritage. Features in the energy spectrum (such as kinks, bumps, or changes in slope) are important clues, thought to be related to changes in composition and origin. The goal of this project is to measure the composition and energy spectrum of cosmic rays by using data from IceTop, the surface component of the IceCube Observatory located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, in coincidence with IceCube data. The project has been designed to include self-contained projects appropriate for undergraduates, a unique training and learning opportunity for UAA undergraduates not only to participate in active research and discovery, but also to be an important part of a large international effort. In addition, the construction of a muon telescope and small-scale air shower array using scintillators is planned as a tool for outreach, education, and training in the field of particle astrophysics.IceTop is an 81-element extensive air-shower array located on the surface, above IceCube. This project first focuses on improving the reconstruction of cosmic ray air showers with IceTop, especially at high energies where current reconstruction techniques are underperforming. It will study snow attenuation, the curvature and fluctuations of the shower front, and the separate treatment of coincident and isolated signals in the detector. The project includes simulations to study how different hadronic interaction models impact the signals seen in IceTop. With plentiful data statistics and advanced data analysis techniques available, IceTop is capable of delivering results of relevance to the field of cosmic ray astrophysics: a detailed cosmic ray energy spectrum, and the mass composition of cosmic rays as a function of energy.