Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmic-Ray Physics with HAWC

利用 HAWC 进行河外天体物理学和宇宙射线物理学

• 批准号: 1707635
• 负责人: Michael DUVERNOIS
• 金额: $ 38.4万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-07-01 至 2021-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1707635&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Extragalactic; Astrophysics; Cosmic; Ray; Physics

Gamma-rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation. Observations of astrophysical gamma-rays serve as probes of physical conditions and processes in the most extreme environments throughout the Universe, and can be used to test fundamental physics. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory, located on the slopes of the Sierra Negra in Mexico, is a ground-based facility designed with unique capabilities to observe very high energy gamma-rays. HAWC is also capable of observing cosmic-rays, which are highly energetic sub-atomic particles that travel near the speed of light. The origin and acceleration mechanisms of cosmic rays are unknown. The highest energy cosmic rays likely originate in extreme astrophysical phenomena outside our galaxy. This award supports scientists at the University of Wisconsin in the analysis of gamma-ray and cosmic-ray data collected with HAWC. They will study flares from extragalactic gamma-ray sources and measure the anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays. The group will partner with the "El Universo es Tuyo" program in outreach and education programs for local Spanish-speaking students. With its large instantaneous field of view and continuous operations HAWC surveys two-thirds of the sky every day. The University of Wisconsin group will study flaring activity in extragalactic gamma-ray sources and measure the cosmic-ray anisotropy in the TeV to PeV energy range. The group has developed and implemented a flare monitor program that analyzes HAWC data in real-time to search for flaring activity. Rapid alerts are sent out to trigger searches by other telescopes at other wavelengths or facilities that observe cosmic rays or neutrinos. The group will continue to operate and further develop the flare monitor, and they will analyze the data taken during flaring events. Using new methods and combining HAWC skymaps with maps from the IceCube neutrino observatory at the South Pole, the group will study cosmic-ray anisotropy across the northern and southern hemispheres to address the long-standing discrepancy in the observed and expected dipole strength.

伽马射线是电磁辐射的最高能量形式。对天体物理学伽马射线的观测可以作为整个宇宙中最极端环境中的物理条件和过程的探测器，并可用于测试基础物理学。高海拔水切伦科夫（HAWC）天文台位于墨西哥Sierra Negra的斜坡上，是一个地面设施，具有观测极高能量伽马射线的独特能力。 HAWC还能够观测宇宙射线，宇宙射线是以接近光速传播的高能亚原子粒子。 宇宙射线的起源和加速机制尚不清楚。 最高能量的宇宙射线可能起源于我们星系外的极端天体物理现象。 该奖项支持威斯康星州大学的科学家分析HAWC收集的伽马射线和宇宙射线数据。 他们将研究来自河外伽马射线源的耀斑，并测量宇宙射线到达方向的各向异性。 该组织将与“El Universo es Tuyo”计划合作，为当地讲西班牙语的学生提供外展和教育计划。凭借其巨大的瞬时视野和连续的操作，HAWC每天可以观测三分之二的天空。 威斯康星州大学小组将研究河外伽马射线源的耀斑活动，并测量TeV至PeV能量范围内的宇宙射线各向异性。 该小组开发并实施了一个火炬监测程序，该程序实时分析HAWC数据，以搜索火炬活动。发出快速警报，以触发其他波长的其他望远镜或观测宇宙射线或中微子的设施的搜索。 该小组将继续运行并进一步开发火炬监测器，他们将分析火炬事件期间采集的数据。该研究小组将使用新方法，并将HAWC天空图与南极IceCube中微子天文台的地图相结合，研究整个北方和南方半球的宇宙射线各向异性，以解决观测到的和预期的偶极强度之间长期存在的差异。