Baseline Support of the University of Utah Cosmic Ray Physics Group Including Analysis of the Telescope Array

犹他大学宇宙射线物理组在研究宇宙中最高能量粒子的光谱、组成和来源方面有着悠久的历史。他们的实验所在的犹他州西部沙漠是进行宇宙线实验的绝佳地点。他们目前的实验是望远镜阵列(TA)，这是北半球最大的宇宙线实验。该小组是TA实验的主办机构。物理问题(来源的性质是什么？它们是如何将粒子加速到如此高的能量的？)是当今天体物理学中最重要的问题之一。测量宇宙射线的光谱和成分是回答这些问题的基础，而搜索宇宙射线到达方向的各向异性是识别来源的直接方法。该奖项为该小组提供了基线支持，包括工资、旅行和数据分析。未来三年资助期的目标包括：用表面探测器和荧光探测器测量宇宙射线光谱，以立体和混合模式研究宇宙线组成，以及搜索各向异性。对于更广泛的影响，该组织的主要推广部门是ASPIRE项目，该项目创建和维护了一些最吸引人和最具互动性的网络科学课程和实验室。Aspire为地区教师提供直接联系，为学生举办暑期讲习班，并访问农村学校。位于犹他州德尔塔的朗和玛丽·沃森宇宙射线中心(犹他州大学所有)是助教外展工作和现场作业的中心。

The University of Utah Cosmic Ray Physics Group has a long history of studying the spectrum, composition, and sources of the highest energy particles in the universe. The west desert of Utah, where their experiments have been located, is an excellent site for cosmic ray experiments. Their current experiment is the Telescope Array (TA), which is the largest cosmic ray experiment in the northern hemisphere. This group is the host institution of the TA experiment. The physics issues (what is the nature of the sources? and how do they accelerate particles to such high energies?) are among the most important questions in astrophysics today. Measurements of the spectrum and composition of cosmic rays are basic to answering these questions, and searching for anisotropy in their arrival directions is a direct way of identifying sources.This award provides the baseline support of the group, covering salaries, travel and data analysis. The goals of the coming three-year grant period include: measuring the cosmic ray spectrum with both surface and fluorescence detectors and making cosmic ray composition studies in stereo and hybrid modes, as well as searching for anisotropy.For Broader Impacts, the group's main outreach arm is the ASPIRE Project, which creates and maintains some of the Web's most engaging and interactive science lessons and labs. ASPIRE provides direct outreach to area teachers, runs summer workshops for students, and makes visits to rural schools. The Lon and Mary Watson Cosmic Ray Center (owned by the University of Utah) in Delta, Utah, is the center of the TA outreach work and for the field operations.