New Frontiers in Nuclear Astrophysics

长久以来，人类一直被夜空的壮丽所吸引。 现在，有了强大的科学工具，我们可以更好地观察恒星、星系和宇宙本身。 我们也可以更好地理解这种威严背后的机制。 核物理过程尤其重要。 恒星由聚变反应提供动力，超新星爆炸产生并分散化学元素，这些爆炸的残余物加速了高能宇宙射线。 更好地理解这些核过程将有助于我们理解宇宙的起源、性质和命运。 使用中微子是可能的，中微子是零电荷的微小粒子，几乎没有质量，只有弱相互作用。 中微子在许多天体中大量产生。 探测中微子是非常困难的，但这样做可以揭示这些来源深处的物理条件，超出了光的观测范围。 PI将领导中微子天体物理学理论工作的广泛计划，旨在导致理解天体物理对象和中微子属性的突破。 年轻科学家将接受尖端研究和职业技能的培训。 PI和初级科学家将致力于与公众分享成果，并扩大代表性不足的群体的参与，包括聋人和听力障碍者。该项目有三个主要目标：太阳中微子、超新星中微子和高能中微子。 这项工作的中心原则是，一个基础广泛，紧密结合，理论主导的中微子天文学方法可以决定性地推进核天体物理学。 对于太阳中微子，长期的结果可能包括显着减少探测器的背景，从而提高现有探测器的信号精度，沿着在DUNE探测器中进行高统计太阳中微子测量。 对于超新星中微子，这些可能包括更好地观察银河系超新星和发现弥散超新星中微子背景（DSNB）。 对于高能中微子，这些可能包括新的探测技术，有助于发现天体物理中微子源。 所有这三个推力将受益于在2020年将钆添加到超级神冈，正如Beacom和Vagins最初在2003年提出的那样，以帮助将信号与背景分开。 在整个过程中，PI将利用中微子天文学的进展来推进多信使天体物理学和超标准模型物理学。该项目推进了“宇宙之窗：多信使天体物理学时代”，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Humanity has long been fascinated by the majesty of the night sky. Now, with powerful scientific tools, we can better observe stars, galaxies, and the universe itself. We can also better understand the mechanisms behind this majesty. Nuclear physics processes are especially important. Stars are powered by fusion reactions, supernova explosions produce and disperse chemical elements, and the remnants of these explosions accelerate high-energy cosmic rays. A better understanding of these nuclear processes would help us understand the origin, nature, and fate of the universe. A way forward is possible using neutrinos, tiny particles with zero charge, almost no mass, and only weak interactions. Neutrinos are abundantly produced in many astrophysical objects. Detecting neutrinos is very difficult, but doing so can reveal physical conditions deep within these sources, beyond the reach of observations with light. The PI will lead a broad program of theoretical work in neutrino astrophysics designed to lead to breakthroughs in understanding astrophysical objects and neutrino properties. Junior scientists will be trained on cutting-edge research as well as career skills. The PI and junior scientists will work to share results with the public and to broaden participation by under-represented groups, including the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This project features three main thrusts: solar neutrinos, supernova neutrinos, and high-energy neutrinos. The central tenet of this work is that a broad-based, tightly integrated, theory-led approach to neutrino astronomy can decisively advance nuclear astrophysics. For solar neutrinos, long-term outcomes could include significantly reduced detector backgrounds and thus improvements in the precision of signals from existing detectors, along with a high-statistics solar-neutrino measurement in the DUNE detector. For supernova neutrinos, these could include better observing a Milky Way supernova and the discovery of the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB). For high-energy neutrinos, these could include new detection techniques that facilitate the discovery of astrophysical neutrino sources. All three thrusts will benefit from the addition of gadolinium to Super-Kamiokande in 2020, as originally proposed by Beacom and Vagins in 2003 to help separate signals from backgrounds. Throughout, the PI will use the progress in neutrino astronomy to advance multi-messenger astrophysics and beyond-standard model physics.This project advances the objectives of "Windows on the Universe: the Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics", one of the 10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments.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.