Cosmic Ray Isotopic Composition Studies in Antarctica

这个项目将建造一个气球载仪器，并在南极洲上空飞行，以测量从氖到镍的宇宙射线的同位素丰度。元素和同位素的起源和演化仍然是天体物理学的中心问题之一。该仪器的数据将用于研究宇宙射线的起源和传输问题，并寻找正在进行的核合成对星系化学成分的影响。该项目将由美国国家科学基金会的极地项目和物理部以及美国国家航空航天局的空间物理部共同支持。美国国家科学基金会将在南极洲提供后勤支持，美国国家航空航天局将提供气球发射服务。

This project will build and fly, over Antarctica, a balloon borne instrument to measure the isotopic abundance of cosmic rays with masses from neon through nickel. The origin and evolution of elements and isotopes remains one of the central problems of astrophysics. The data which this instrument will be used to investigate questions of cosmic ray origins and transport, and to look for effects of ongoing nucleosynthesis on the chemical composition of the galaxy. This project will be jointly supported by NSF's Division of Polar Programs and Physics and NASA's Space Physics Division. NSF will provide logistical support in Antarctica and NASA will provide balloon launch services.