The Highest Energy Astroparticle Physics

超高能量宇宙射线（UHECR）的起源一直是个谜。因为它们的通量如此之小，一个广泛的国际合作建立了世界上最大的宇宙射线探测器，皮埃尔·奥格天文台，在阿根廷占地3000平方公里。Auger已经明确地建立了各种UHECR特征，但新兴的图像是复杂的，需要改进的测量AugerPrime升级，目前正在进行中。该奖项延续了芝加哥大学奥格小组的研究活动。在UHECR难题上取得进展可能会从根本上改变我们对宇宙中最极端天体、渗透宇宙的磁场或粒子物理学的理解。计划中的沉浸式研究体验以及当地社区和伙伴关系的参与将把UHECR科学带给正式和非正式的受众。与关注代表性不足群体的项目合作开发的研究经验将增强学生的多样性。其他活动包括与The Array of Things合作，将少数族裔高中生纳入太空探索计划，以及通过终身学习计划向老年人传播科学。一个特别有趣的想法是用3d打印的盲文天空地图作为展览。这项研究通过精确的测量解决了UHECR难题的关键部分，用一种新的方法寻找源来研究各向异性，该方法采用成分敏感的可观测值。成分辅助各向异性研究的新分析方法将使用来自AugerPrime的新数据。在俄歇和北方望远镜阵列UHECR天文台运行一种新型设计的荧光探测器，允许对两个实验进行交叉校准，可能解决北半球和南半球有不同UHECR天空的建议。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The origin of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) is a long-standing mystery. Because they have such a tiny flux, an extensive international collaboration built the world’s largest cosmic ray detector, the Pierre Auger Observatory, covering 3000 square kilometers in Argentina. Auger has unequivocally established various UHECR features, but the emerging picture is complex and requires the improved measurements of the AugerPrime upgrade, currently under way. This award continues the research activities of the University of Chicago Auger group. Making progress on the puzzles of UHECR may radically change our understanding of the most extreme astrophysical objects in the Universe, of the magnetic fields which permeate it, or of particle physics. Planned immersive research experiences and engagement of the local community and partnerships will bring UHECR science to both formal and informal audiences. Research experiences developed in collaboration with programs focused on under-represented groups will enhance student diversity. Other activities include partnership with The Array of Things, integrating under-represented minority high school students into the Space Explorers Program, and communicating science to older adults via the Life-long Learning Program. An especially interesting idea is a 3D-printed sky map in Braille as an exhibit.This research addresses crucial pieces of the UHECR puzzle by precise measurements, searching for sources with a new method to study anisotropy which employs composition-sensitive observables. Novel analysis methods for composition-assisted anisotropy studies will use new data from AugerPrime. Operating fluorescence detectors of a novel design at Auger and also at the northern Telescope Array UHECR observatory allows for cross-calibration of the two experiments, potentially resolving suggestions that the northern and southern hemispheres have different UHECR skies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.