WoU-MMA: The Southern Wide-Field Gamma-Ray Observatory (SWGO): R&D for a Next-Generation Ground-Based Survey Instrument for Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy

WoU-MMA：南方广域伽马射线天文台（SWGO）：R

• 批准号: 2012944
• 负责人: Petra Huentemeyer
• 金额: $ 86万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2012944&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: WoU; MMA; Southern; Wide; Field; WoU; MMA; Southern; Wide; Field

With the successful development of facilities for the detection of neutrinos and gravitational waves, as well as the deployment of next-generation gamma-ray detectors, the next decade will provide a wealth of opportunities for multi-messenger astronomy. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) gamma-ray observatory is an extremely successful survey instrument, and has inspired an ambitious Chinese effort, but that will also be sited in the northern hemisphere. This project will be carrying out the essential research and development needed for a next-generation ground-based survey instrument in the southern hemisphere: the Southern Wide-Field Gamma-Ray Observatory (SWGO). The work also contributes to maintaining US leadership in ground-based gamma-ray instruments. The team is committed to increasing the diversity and excellence of the STEM workforce, and will continue efforts to provide a path for predominantly African-American students to continue to graduate school in physics and astronomy. SWGO will be built in a Spanish speaking country, which will enhance outreach to Hispanic communities.A survey instrument provides daily unbiased monitoring for variable sources, as well as near-real-time alerts to other instruments, and the wide field makes it sensitive to particle accelerators in the local Galactic neighborhood. The detection of very extended TeV gamma-ray emission around nearby pulsars is interpreted as halos of gamma rays that are produced by electrons and positrons interacting with the ambient interstellar radiation field outside the classical pulsar wind nebulae. SWGO will be ideally suited to study the acceleration and propagation of particles within them in unprecedented detail. It will also enable studies of the galactic center region and uniquely contribute to the search for and study of sources of cosmic rays with energies in excess of 1 PeV. All gamma-ray data will be made publicly available. Supported by this initial SWGO award the team will focus on detector simulation, air shower data reconstruction algorithm development, and electronics design.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.

随着用于检测中微子和重力浪潮的设施的成功开发，以及下一代伽马射线探测器的部署，接下来的十年将为多日志天文学提供丰富的机会。 高空水切伦科夫（HAWC）伽玛射线天文台是一种非常成功的调查工具，并激发了雄心勃勃的中国努力，但也将在北半球中放置。 该项目将进行南半球下一代地面调查工具所需的基本研究和开发：南部的宽田伽马射线天文台（SWGO）。 这项工作还有助于在基于地面的伽马射线仪器中保持美国领导。 该团队致力于增加STEM劳动力的多样性和卓越性，并将继续努力为主要是非裔美国人学生继续在物理学和天文学的研究生院提供途径。 SWGO将建于一个讲西班牙语的国家，该国家将增强与西班牙裔社区的宣传。一种调查工具为可变来源提供每日无偏见的监控，以及对其他乐器的近实时警报，并且广阔的田野使其对当地银河系社区中的粒子加速器敏感。 检测附近脉冲星周围非常扩展的TEV伽马射线发射，被解释为伽马射线的光环，这些伽马射线是由电子产生的，正电子与环境星际辐射场相互作用。 SWGO将非常适合以前所未有的细节研究其内部粒子的加速和传播。 它还将对银河中心区域进行研究，并有助于搜索和研究以超过1 PEV的能量的宇宙射线来源。 所有伽马射线数据将公开提供。 在该初始SWGO奖的支持下，团队将重点介绍探测器模拟，空气淋浴数据重建算法开发和电子设计。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响来通过评估来支持的。