Cosmic-ray Antinuclei as Messengers of New Physics

这个项目将使用宇宙射线反核作为新物理学的信使，包括寻找暗物质。 这需要分析目前在国际空间站运行的阿尔法磁谱仪实验（AMS-02）的数据。 这项工作将利用欧洲粒子研究实验室（CERN）的现有数据和实验分析结果，提高对宇宙射线数据解释的（反）核形成和相互作用的理解。 首次探测到低能宇宙反氘和反氦核将是变革性新物理学的明确信号。 证明宇宙反氦的存在将彻底改变对大爆炸核合成的理解。 该组织通过UH Manoa的学生公平、卓越和多样性办公室，为来自经济弱势背景的代表性不足的高中生提供了一个动手的计算机编程推广计划。 他们还将与Osher终身学习研究所合作，为年长的成人学习者调整这一既定课程。AMS-02令人惊讶地探测到了几个宇宙射线反氦候选事件，但与理论预期相反，无法识别任何强反氘候选事件。 因此，将反质子、反氘核和反氦核放在一起研究是至关重要的。 通过提高对（反）核形成和相互作用的理解，减少宇宙射线数据解释的系统误差也很重要。 这项工作使用了欧洲核子研究中心超级质子同步加速器（SPS）的固定目标SPS重离子和中微子实验（NA 61/SHINE）的现有数据和分析结果。 这种结合允许深入研究宇宙射线反核的新物理学。 一个独特的方面是AMS-02数据分析之间的无缝信息交换和减少数据解释的不确定性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will use cosmic-ray antinuclei as messengers of new physics, including searches for dark matter. This requires analysis of data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Experiment (AMS-02), now operating on the International Space Station. The work will improve understanding of (anti)nuclei formation and interactions for the cosmic-ray data interpretation, using existing data and analysis results of an experiment at the European Laboratory for Particle Research (CERN). First-time detections of low-energy cosmic antideuterons and antihelium nuclei would be unambiguous signals of transformative new physics. Confirming the existence of cosmic antihelium would revolutionize the understanding of Big Bang nucleosynthesis. The group provides a hands-on computer programming outreach program for underrepresented high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds through UH Manoa's Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity. They will also adapt this established course for older adult learners in collaboration with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.AMS-02 surprisingly detected several cosmic-ray antihelium candidate events, but could not identify any strong antideuteron candidates, in contrast to theoretical expectations. It is thus crucial to study antiprotons, antideuterons, and antihelium nuclei together. It is also important to reduce systematic errors for the cosmic-ray data interpretation by improving understanding of (anti)nuclei formation and interactions. That work uses existing data and analysis results from the fixed-target SPS Heavy Ion and Neutrino Experiment (NA61/SHINE) at the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN. This combination allows deep searches for new physics with cosmic-ray antinuclei. One unique aspect is the seamless exchange of information between the AMS-02 data analysis and the reduction of uncertainties for the data interpretation.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.