Probing Solar Axions with X-ray Optics for BabyIAXO

使用 BabyIAXO 的 X 射线光学器件探测太阳轴子

• 批准号: 2309980
• 负责人: Kerstin Perez
• 金额: $ 48.6万
• 依托单位: Columbia University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-06-01 至 2027-05-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2309980&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Probing; Solar; Axions; ray; Optics

The nature of dark matter is a driving question of 21st century physics. Axions are among the best motivated candidates for dark matter, as they could solve underlying problems in our understanding of fundamental particle interactions, and other axion-like particles are a generic prediction of many new physics theories, in particular string theory. Axions would alter the processes taking place within the extreme environments of stellar interiors, such as within our own Sun. The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) will search for axions from our Sun, opening novel sensitivity to axions and axion-like particles across a broad range of masses. The goal of this proposal is to construct a focusing X-ray telescope and take leadership in analysis for BabyIAXO, the pathfinder to IAXO. This work will also expand instructor training in methods to promote “belonging” in undergraduate courses, in line with recommendations from the American Institute of Physics and the National Academies, as well as provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on expertise in instrumentation, facilitating broader applications of this X-ray telescope technology.The IAXO instrument is a next-generation axion helioscope, designed to search for axions from the Sun that are reconverted into X-ray photons via a strong laboratory magnetic field. BabyIAXO will advance technology for all IAXO subsystems at relevant scale while also offering novel physics reach and discovery potential. BabyIAXO and IAXO are the only experiments beyond the R&D phase sensitive to QCD axions in the meV to eV mass range, which is motivated by many dark matter scenarios, as well as a broad range of ALPs that could constitute all of dark matter. The goals of this proposal are to construct the inner core X-ray optic for BabyIAXO; lead implementation of the optics response into the simulation and analysis chain; and contribute to commissioning and initial analysis of BabyIAXO data. Cost-effective, large-area X-ray optics are key to reducing detector size and background while still exploiting large magnet areas, allowing a leap forward in axion helioscope sensitivity. This work will leverage the expertise and facilities from construction of the NuSTAR X-ray optics, on which the BabyIAXO and IAXO optics are based. Thus, a modest investment in student training and materials can establish the US as a leader of the IAXO X-ray optics system and the next generation of solar axion searches. The broader impacts of this work include (i.) educating a new generation of instrumentalists, helping ensure the US builds a globally competitive STEM workforce, (ii.) expanding the PI’s established collaborations with educational researchers on methods that foster “belonging” in undergraduate STEM classrooms, helping ensure that this workforce better reflects the diversity of the nation, and (iii.) enabling broader applications of segmented glass X-ray optics.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.

暗物质的性质是21世纪物理学的驱动问题，我们对基本粒子相互作用的理解和其他类似轴的粒子是许多新物理学理论的通用预测。太阳。这项工作还将扩大在地下课程中促进“归属”的方法，并按照美国物理研究所和国家的建议。下一代的Helioscope实验室磁场。阿尔卑斯山的深色物质。大型磁铁区域，这项工作将利用Nustar X射线光学的构造的专业知识和设施。 IAXO Y光学系统和下一代太阳轴搜索的更广泛的影响包括（i。）教育新一代的乐器演奏家与教育研究人员融合了有关养育“地下教室”的方法的教育研究人员有助于确保这项劳动力更好地反映国家的反映，并（iii。）实现更广泛的分段玻璃X射线光学的应用。该奖项反映了Sf'Statututory Miss Beanend Wortes Wortes suthy评估，使用Toundation的智力优点和更广泛的影响。