Neutrinos and New Particles in High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology

高能物理学和粒子天体物理学是非常动态的领域，通过中微子振荡，暗物质和暗能量的发现，揭示了超越粒子物理学标准模型的物理学证据。该项目旨在通过考虑新的分析框架和探索不同现象之间的新联系，推动对标准模型之外的物理学这些方面的理论理解，并最大限度地增加从实验数据中获得的信息量。该项目整合了一个针对高中教师的教育推广计划。中微子实验是粒子物理学探索的强度和宇宙前沿的一个重要组成部分。该研究涵盖了几个不同科学主题的理论方面，可以使用大型中微子探测器进行研究。更具体地说：PI将致力于优化下一代中微子实验，并开发更好的框架来理解数据及其对理论模型的影响。将对目前和未来的大型中微子探测器中的大气中微子振荡进行广泛的研究，扩展冰立方深核探测器中这种振荡的PI调查。将探讨的主题包括：中微子在物质中的非标准相互作用;检验新的无菌中微子种类的存在;大气中微子数据的价值，其中涵盖了大范围的能量和传播距离，加上从长基线中微子实验和其他观测中获得的精确中微子数据。现在和未来的中微子探测器将观测到大量来自星系爆炸的超新星中微子。PI将通过采用用于研究其他科学领域集体效应的方法，探索超新星中中微子流的味振荡方程的可能解析解，特别是中微子-中微子散射的影响。这样的解决方案可以帮助简化非常复杂的超新星中微子传播的数值模拟，从而更好地理解可以从超新星中微子探测中获得的信息。该项目将解决在大型中微子探测器中间接探测暗物质的潜力。调查的背景下，一般的理论框架，并与其他暗物质的搜索和潜在的发现，它的价值也提出了。高能物理学、天体物理学和宇宙学以及他们试图解决的问题非常令人兴奋，吸引了更多公众的兴趣，提供了极好的外联机会。宾夕法尼亚州立大学和宾夕法尼亚空间赠款联合会每年协调一系列针对中学教师的教育工作者暑期科学讲习班。PI和她的实验者同事们已经成功地在粒子天体物理学中开发了这样一个研讨会。今后，他们将继续组织这种暑期学校，并扩大互动活动。

High energy physics and particle astrophysics are very dynamical fields that have revealed evidence of physics beyond the standard model of particle physics through the discovery of neutrino oscillations, dark matter and dark energy. This project is aimed at advancing the theoretical understanding of such aspects of physics beyond the standard model and at maximizing the amount of information that can be obtained from the experimental data by considering new analysis frameworks and exploring new connections between different phenomena. The project integrates an educational outreach program aimed at high school teachers. Neutrino experiments are a large component of both the intensity and cosmic frontiers of exploration in particle physics. The research covers theoretical aspects of several different science topics that can be studied using large neutrino detectors. More specifically: The PI will work on optimizing the next generation of neutrino experiments and developing a better framework for understanding the data and its implications for theoretical models. An extensive study of atmospheric neutrino oscillations in present and future large neutrino detectors will be performed, extending the PIs investigation of such oscillations in the Ice-Cube Deep Core detector. Topics to be explored include: non-standard neutrino interactions in matter; tests for the existence of new species of sterile neutrinos; the value of the atmospheric neutrino data, which covers a large range of energies and propagation distances, in combination with precise neutrino data from long baseline neutrino experiments and other observations. Supernova neutrinos from a galactic explosion would be observed in very large numbers by present and future neutrino detectors. The PI will explore possible analytic solutions to the flavor oscillation equations for streaming neutrinos in a supernova, especially the effects of neutrino-neutrino scattering, by employing methods used to study collective effects in other fields of science. Such solutions could help in simplifying the very involved numerical simulations of supernova neutrino propagation and thus lead to a better understanding of the information that can be obtained from a supernova neutrino detection. The project will address the potential for indirect dark matter detection in large neutrino detectors. Investigation of its value in the context of a general theoretical framework and in connection with other dark matter searches and potential discoveries is also proposed. High energy physics, astrophysics and cosmology and the questions they are trying to address are very exciting and capture the interest of a larger public, providing excellent outreach opportunities. Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium coordinate an annual series of summer Science Workshops for Educators aimed at secondary school teachers. The PI and her experimenter colleagues and have successfully developed such a workshop in particle astrophysics. For the future they will continue organizing such summer schools and expand the interactive activities.