LEAPS-MPS: Development, Design and Construction of DUCK (Detector of Unusual Cosmic-Ray CasKades)

LEAPS-MPS：DUCK（异常宇宙射线CasKades探测器）的开发、设计和建造

• 批准号: 2316097
• 负责人: Dmitriy Beznosko
• 金额: $ 13.09万
• 依托单位: Clayton College and State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2316097&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: LEAPS; MPS; Development; Design; Construction

A large mystery that is currently being investigated by the High Energy Physics (HEP) field is the origin and the nature of the Ultra-high energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR). Coming from deep within the Universe, they interact with Earth’s atmosphere and multiply from a single particle with enormous energy to billions of particles with much lower energy, causing what scientists call Extensive Atmosphere Showers (EAS). Another current challenge in HEP and science in general is raising and training new generations of capable scientists to investigate the current mysteries and discover new ones. The shape of the EAS when it reaches the planet’s surface is a disk of varying thickness, similar to magnifying glass – thicker in the center and tapering towards the edges. The main goal of this proposal is to develop a fast-speed detector system that is capable of recording cosmic ray events, digitized at high speed. From that data, the information of the disk thickness can be studied for the purpose of improving current EAS simulation software as well as developing and improving the existing methods for analyzing the data so that we can tell the origin of the particle, its energy, and its species (i.e., was it a neutron, a proton, or a nucleus of some element). Additionally, the capabilities of the detector will assist in the search for the new types of the EAS, such as Cosmic Ray Ensembles proposed by CREDO collaboration, and in the confirmation of the Unusual Events that were observed by the Horizon-T collaboration. Participation of undergraduate students in these activities with support and supervision will provide the training for the future scientists using the real experiment in multiple topics will provide hands-on research experience for a diverse student population supporting the groups underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences.The intent of this proposal is to initiate the scalable research project in physics that can be subsequently extended. The project goal will be the development, design and construction and deployment of core modules of DUCK (Detector system of Unusual Cosmic-ray casKades). The main scientific importance for the DUCK project will be adding the capabilities of the high-speed full wavelength recording of the EAS events with different trigger possibilities, analysis of which would contribute: to general EAS event analysis methodology using the full waveform and detector response width, to CORSIKA simulation development and check of the current and upcoming versions (7 and 8), to the overall cosmic ray flux and space weather monitoring, to the search for the Cosmic Ray Ensembles by CREDO collaboration, and to an independent verification of the detection of the ‘unusual’ cosmic ray events by the Horizon-T detector system. The project will involve computer simulation activities, design and construction, data acquisition system design, data collection and analysis, allowing participation of students pursuing not only physics but also other STEM fields, such as Chemistry, Engineering and Computer Science. The project will extend the research potential and facilities at Clayton State University (CSU). This would serve as strong institutional support and encouragement of first-generation college students for whom there is often little family support for going to graduate schools after graduation from CSU.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.

目前，高能量物理（HEP）领域正在研究的一个大型神秘，是超高能量宇宙射线（UHECR）的起源和性质。它们来自宇宙的深处，与地球大气相互作用，并从具有巨大能量的单个粒子到数十亿个具有较低能量的颗粒，从而导致科学家称之为广泛的大气淋浴（EAS）。总体而言，HEP和科学方面的另一个挑战是提出和培训新一代有能力的科学家研究当前的谜团并发现新的谜团。 EAS到达行星表面时的形状是一个厚度变化的磁盘，类似于放大镜 - 中心较厚，朝着边缘逐渐变细。该提案的主要目标是开发一个能够录制高速数字化宇宙射线事件的快速探测器系统。从该数据中，可以研究磁盘厚度的信息，以改善当前的EAS模拟软件，并开发和改进现有的分析数据的方法，以便我们可以告诉我们粒子的起源，其能量及其物种（即它是中性，质子，质子，或某些元素的核心））。此外，检测器的功能将有助于搜索EAS的新类型，例如Credo协作提出的宇宙射线集合，以及确认Horizo​​n-T协作观察到的不寻常事件。本科生在这些活动中的参与将在支持和监督的情况下为未来的科学家提供多个主题的实际科学家的培训，将为支持数学和物理科学中所代表的小组的动手研究经验提供动手研究经验。该建议的目的是该提案的目的是在物理学中启动可扩展的研究项目，该项目可以随后扩展。项目目标将是鸭子核心模块的开发，设计和构建和部署（不寻常的宇宙射线caskades的检测器系统）。对鸭项目的主要科学重要性将是增加具有不同触发可能性的EAS事件的高速全波长记录的能力，其分析将有助于：使用完整的波形和探测器响应宽度，完整的波形和探测器响应宽度，Corsika sigulation sigulation nove to to Corsika仿真的开发以及当前和即将到来的版本的搜索（7和8），以下（7 and 8和8），以及cosim rayer rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic rayic，通过Credo协作进行合奏，并独立验证Horizo​​n-T检测器系统对“异常”宇宙射线事件的检测。该项目将涉及计算机仿真活动，设计和构造，数据采集系统设计，数据收集和分析，从而使学生不仅参与物理学，还可以参与其他STEM领域，例如化学，工程和计算机科学。该项目将扩大克莱顿州立大学（CSU）的研究潜力和设施。这将是第一代大学生的强烈机构支持和鼓励，他们在CSU毕业后通常很少有家庭支持去研究生院。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的审查标准来评估NSF的法定任务。