CAREER: Dark Matter Identification with Cosmic-Ray Antideuterons

暗物质的性质目前尚不清楚。宇宙射线是来自太空的高能亚原子粒子，以接近光速的速度传播，可以帮助识别暗物质粒子。这是因为一种可能的宇宙射线产生机制是暗物质粒子的湮灭。 宇宙射线反氘粒子是暗物质湮灭的一个特别有趣的潜在特征。 这个CAREER奖支持夏威夷大学的科学家通过首次测量宇宙射线反氘通量来研究暗物质。 该小组将利用目前在国际空间站上运行的阿尔法磁谱仪（AMS）的数据，以及正在开发的气球实验通用反粒子谱仪（GAPS）的数据。 该奖项将支持利用两个实验的互补能力进行宇宙射线反氘核的高灵敏度测量的科学研究。 该组织还在开发一个暑期课程，向当地高中生教授计算机编程。 学生将学习使用Raspberry Pi计算机的编程技能。 模仿科学气球操作，这些设备将安装在风筝上测量温度和湿度，并拍摄空中照片。计划中的方案包括反氘产生物理模拟的发展，AMS数据的分析，模拟和校准的GAPS探测器，并最终分析GAPS数据。 这些实验使用不同的技术来探测宇宙射线。 利用这两种方法为该小组提供了补充数据，扩大了拟议研究的能量范围，并改善了对系统效应的控制，这些系统效应限制了对这些罕见事件的搜索灵敏度。 该奖项由物理部和刺激竞争性研究实验计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。

The nature of dark matter is currently unknown. Cosmic rays, which are energetic sub-atomic particles from space that travel at velocities near the speed of light, can help to identify dark matter particles. This is because one possible cosmic ray production mechanism is the annihilation of dark matter particles. Cosmic ray antideuteron particles are a particularly interesting potential signature of dark matter annihilation. This CAREER award supports scientists at the University of Hawaii to study dark matter by performing the first measurements of the cosmic-ray antideuteron flux. The group will utilize data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), currently operating onboard the International Space Station, and data from the General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS), a balloon experiment that is under development. This award will support scientific investigations that utilize the complementary capabilities of both experiments to perform high-sensitivity measurements of cosmic-ray antideuterons. The group is also developing a summer course to teach computer programming to local high school students. Students will be taught programming skills using Raspberry Pi computers. Mimicking scientific ballooning operations, the devices will be mounted on kites to measure temperatures and humidity, and take aerial pictures. The planned program includes the development of antideuteron production physics simulations, analysis of AMS data, simulations and calibration of the GAPS detectors, and ultimately analysis of GAPS data. These experiments use different technologies to detect cosmic rays. Utilizing both provides the group with complementary data, extending the energy range of the proposed study and improving the control of the systematic effects that limit the sensitivity of the search for these rare events. This award is jointly funded by the Physics Division and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).