Measurement of Iron Group Isotopic Composition in the Cosmic Rays with a Lightweight Balloon-Borne Spectrometer Launched from Antarctica

该项目将把一个被动玻璃探测器作为有效载荷的一部分，搭载在一个将从南极洲麦克默多发射的大气球上。目的是测量中重（近铁）宇宙射线核的各种同位素的丰度，以区分对同位素丰度比敏感的恒星演化模型。这种特殊的玻璃在12万英尺的高空暴露在辐射中几天，回收后用强酸蚀刻。这一过程揭示了高能宇宙射线穿透玻璃后留下的轨迹。对蚀刻轨迹的研究可以准确地确定产生这些轨迹的原子核的质量、电荷和能量。该项目由美国国家科学基金会极地计划部和物理部以及美国国家航空航天局亚轨道计划共同支持。

This project will fly a passive glass detector as part of the payload on a large balloon to be launched from McMurdo, Antarctica. The purpose is to measure the abundance of various isotopes of moderately heavy (near iron) cosmic ray nuclei, to distinguish between models of stellar evolution which are sensitive to the isotopic abundance ratios. The special glass is exposed for several days at 120,000 feet altitude to the radiation and, after recovery, it is etched with a strong acid. This process reveals the tracks left by energetic cosmic rays that penetrate the glass. Study of the etched tracks can accurately determine the mass, charge and energy of the nuclei that caused them. This project is jointly supported by NSF's Division of Polar Programs and Division of Physics and by NASA's Sub-orbital Program.