Experimental Particle Astrophysics

这是一个奖励，以支持宇宙射线天体物理学的研究和教育计划，其目标是促进我们对迄今为止观测到的最高能量粒子的起源和性质的理解；发展对高能粒子物理更丰富的理解；并积极开展面向学生、其他学科同事和公众的推广项目。实验项目将集中在皮埃尔·奥格天文台，这是一个建在阿根廷的仪器，用于研究能量超过10^19电子伏特的宇宙射线的起源和本质，也就是所谓的“超高能宇宙射线”（UHECRs）。来自天文台的数据将有助于回答关于宇宙射线起源、组成、加速机制和传播效应的最基本问题，并可能阐明质量中心能量高达~ 400 TeV的强子物理，远远超出了大型强子对撞机的范围。该小组在合作中发挥着突出的作用：他们目前领导离线软件程序，该程序构成了俄歇分析的核心，并对物理分析做出了重大贡献，特别是在强相互作用物理的组成和研究领域。该奖项将使他们能够继续在软件和计算以及与组成和强子相互作用相关的分析方面发挥领导作用。更广泛的影响：为天文台合作开发的软件已被证明适用于其他实验。PI积极开展外联项目，包括指导学生，定期撰写报纸和杂志专栏，并在若干国家以多种语言进行广播和电视节目。

This is an award to support a research and education program in cosmic ray astrophysics with the goals of furthering our understanding of the origin and nature of the highest energy particles ever observed; developing a richer understanding of particle physics at high energies; and pursuing a vigorous program of outreach to students, colleagues from other disciplines and the general public.The experimental program will focus on the Pierre Auger Observatory, an instrument built in Argentina to investigate the origin and nature of cosmic rays with energies above about 10^19 eV, so called "Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays" (UHECRs). Data from the Observatory will help to answer the most fundamental questions about cosmic ray origins, composition, acceleration mechanisms, and propagation effects and may shed light on hadronic physics at center-of-mass energies up to ~ 400 TeV, well beyond the reach of the Large Hadron Collider. The group plays a prominent role in the collaboration: they currently lead the offline software program, which constitutes the centerpiece of Auger analysis and have made significant contributions to physics analysis, especially in the fields of composition and studies of strong interaction physics. This award will enable them to continue their lead role in software and computing and in analyses related to composition and hadronic interactions.Broader Impact: The software co-developed for the Observatory has proven to be applicable to other experiments. The PI maintains a vigorous outreach program including mentoring students, writing regular newspaper and magazine columns, and making radio and television appearances in several countries conducted in several languages.