CAREER: Nucleosynthesis in the Early Universe and Early Galaxy

0092939领域这个项目的目标是测试从大爆炸核合成（BBN）理论预测的宇宙重子的原始丰度和从未来的卫星任务“MAP”（2002）和“PLANK”计划的宇宙微波背景（CMB）观测分析中获得的这些丰度的测量之间的一致性。“（2008年）。这项工作分为三个阶段，即“中期评估计划”结果公布之前、期间和之后。在第一阶段，菲尔兹将开发和完善这种比较所需的工具，通过改进计算中涉及的核反应不确定性的处理来改进目前使用的蒙特卡罗方法。他还将改进计算中使用的核数据库，以用户友好的公开形式引入一组热核反应速率和温度相关误差。在第二阶段，菲尔兹将使用MAP对重子密度的测定，准确地比较宇宙重子的BBN和CMB测量，在MAP使命之前已经开发了统计工具来比较结果。最后，在第三阶段，对重子密度的MAP测量将被用来从BBN理论中去除最后一个自由参数，并允许它作为早期宇宙和基本核物理的探测器，方法是对轻中微子种类的数量以及银河系演化速率、AGB星星核合成、矮星系演化、此外，菲尔兹还将为教师开发一门新的天文学课程，专为K-12科学和数学教师设计，其中将包括天文学调查和将这些信息带到课堂的活动。 最初是在校园里举办的夏季课程，最终将以远程学习的形式提供，并将利用网络作为课程材料和参加课程的教师开发的活动的资源。

0092939FieldsThe goals of this project are to test the consistency between predictions of the primordialabundances of cosmic baryons from the big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) theory and the measurement of these abundances obtained from an analysis of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations planned for the future satellite missions "MAP"(2002) and "PLANK." (2008). The work is divided into three phases, before, during, and after the release of the "MAP" results. In Phase 1 Fields will develop and hone the tools needed for this comparison, refining the Monte Carlo methods in current use by improving their treatment of the nuclear reaction uncertainties involved in the calculations. He will also improve the nuclear database used in the calculations, introducing a set of thermonuclear reaction rates and temperature-dependent errors in a user- friendly, publicly available form. In Phase 2, Fields will use the MAP determinations of the baryon density, to accurately compare the BBN and CMB measures of cosmic baryons, having developed the statistical tools to compare the results prior to the MAP mission. Finally in Phase 3 the MAP measurement of the baryon density will be used to remove the last free parameter from the BBN theory and permit its use as a probe of the early universe and basic nuclear physics by setting a limit on such parameters as the number of light neutrino species as well as such astrophysically interesting quantities as the rate of Galactic evolution, AGB star nucleosynthesis, dwarf galaxy evolution, and globular cluster ages and stellar rotation and evolution.In addition, Fields will develop a new course in Astronomy for Teachers, designed for K-12science and mathematics teachers, that will include both a survey of astronomy, and activities to bring this information to the classroom. Initially held as a summer course on campus, it will eventually be offered in a distance learning format, and will use the Web as a resource for curricular material and activities developed by the teachers who take the course.