CAREER: Advancing the Search for Ultra-High-Energy Tau Neutrinos with High-Elevation Radio Detectors

超高能中微子是独特的天体物理信使，因为它们与中间物质只有微弱的相互作用，因此可以用来探测整个宇宙的高能来源和极端条件，并在标准模型以外的能量下测试物理。该奖项将支持开发一种探测最高能量的tau中微子的新概念。加州理工州立大学的研究小组将为山顶望远镜设计和部署一个原型探测器，该探测器对高能tau中微子在地球上相互作用时产生的射电辐射敏感。本科生将参与该项目的各个方面，从最初的模拟到探测器的设计、部署和操作。该小组还将通过新的和现有的计划，如加州-亚利桑那州少数群体天文学研究和教育伙伴关系(CAMPARE)和路易斯·斯托克斯少数群体参与联盟(LSAMP)，努力扩大未被充分代表的群体在物理学领域的参与。该奖项将支持对位于地平线上的高海拔山脉上的射频tau中微子望远镜的灵敏度和能量阈值的全面优化研究。中微子望远镜将瞄准中微子的弥散天体物理通量，以及最高能量宇宙射线在宇宙中传播时产生的中微子。模拟和现场特征研究将指导原型望远镜的设计。原型将被部署，宇宙射线速率的测量将用于估计全尺寸中微子望远镜的预期曝光量。这一奖项将支持来自传统上代表性不足的群体的学生，目标是增加大学物理专业的多样性。除了参加CAMPARE和LSAMP计划外，该组织还将设计和举办一个新的研讨会，为低年级学生提供实验研究所需的技能，并为高年级学生提供教学经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Ultra-high-energy neutrinos are unique astrophysical messengers as they interact only weakly with intervening matter and can therefore be used to probe high energy sources and extreme conditions throughout the universe, and to test physics at energies beyond the standard models. This award will support the development of a novel concept for the detection of the highest energy tau neutrinos. The group at the California Polytechnic State University will design and deploy a prototype detector for a mountaintop telescope sensitive to the radio emission generated when high-energy tau neutrinos interact in the Earth. Undergraduate students will be engaged in all aspects of the project from the initial simulations to detector design, deployment and operation. The group will also engage in efforts to broaden participation among underrepresented groups in physics through both new and existing programs such as the California-Arizona Minority Partnership for Astronomy Research and Education (CAMPARE) and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP).This award will support comprehensive optimization studies of the sensitivity and energy threshold of a radio-frequency tau neutrino telescope located on a high-elevation mountain pointed at the horizon. The neutrino telescope will target both the diffuse astrophysical flux of neutrinos as well as neutrinos generated by the highest energy cosmic rays as they propagate through the universe. Simulations as well as site characterization studies will guide the design of the prototype telescope. The prototype will be deployed and a measurement of cosmic ray rates will be used to estimate the expected exposure of a full-scale neutrino telescope. This award will support students from traditionally underrepresented groups with the goal of increasing the diversity of physics majors at the University. In addition to participating in the CAMPARE and LSAMP programs, the group will design and conduct a new workshop to provide lower division students with the skills needed for experimental research and upper division students with teaching experience.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.