CAREER: WoU-MMA: PeVatrons and Beyond: Tackling the Century-old Problem with the New Messengers

宇宙射线是由质子、氦和较重元素组成的带电粒子，以接近光速的速度传播。它们携带的能量可能超过1Peta-Electronvolt(PeV)，远远超过人造加速器的能力。一种能够将质子加速到PeV能量的宇宙射线源被称为“PeVatron”。PeVatrons的性质是粒子天体物理学中最基本的问题之一。这个项目旨在通过观察和理论研究来增进我们对PeVatrons的了解。这项研究将通过以下活动与教育推广联系起来：(1)主办一系列跨学科讨论活动，作为连接国际物理、天文学和统计项目研究领域的桥梁；(2)让威斯康星州麦迪逊和附近地区的高中生参加动手课程，展示科学家如何使用现代技术解决复杂的物理问题；以及(3)开展外联和辅导活动，让传统上科学代表性不足的群体的学生参与进来。该团队将使用高效的联合分析框架和新的源寻找算法分析来自冰立方中微子天文台(IceCube)和高海拔水切伦科夫伽马射线天文台(HAWC)的数据。他们还将通过数值模拟宇宙环境中的粒子传输和相互作用来研究宇宙射线源理论。该奖项与NSF关于宇宙之窗的大想法一致：多信使天体物理学时代，因为它协调了利用来自HAWC的高能伽马射线和来自冰立方的高能中微子的多信使观测，并将改进理论建模以更好地解释数据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cosmic rays are charged particles composed of protons, helium, and heavier elements that travel at nearly the speed of light. They may carry energy above 1 Peta-electronvolt (PeV), well beyond the reach of man-made accelerators. A cosmic-ray source capable of accelerating protons up to the PeV energy is called a “PeVatron”. The nature of PeVatrons is among the most fundamental questions in Particle Astrophysics. This program aims to advance our understanding of PeVatrons through observational and theoretical studies. The research will be connected to educational outreach through activities including: (1) hosting a series of inter-disciplinary discussion events that serve as a bridge in connecting research areas in the physics, astronomy, and statistics programs at the PI’s institution; (2) engaging high school students in Madison, WI and nearby regions in hands-on classes that show how scientists use modern techniques to solve complicated physics problems; and (3) conducting outreach and mentoring activities to involve students from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in science. The team will analyze data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (IceCube) and the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-ray Observatory (HAWC) using an efficient joint-analysis framework and new source-finding algorithms. They will also research the theory of cosmic ray sources by numerically simulating particle transport and interaction in cosmic environments.The award is aligned with the NSF Big Idea of Windows on the Universe: the Era of Multi-messenger Astrophysics as it coordinates the use of multi-messengers observations utilizing high energy gamma rays from HAWC with high energy neutrinos from IceCube and will improve theoretical modeling to better interpret the data.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.