| Grant number: | 14/19946-4 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | September 01, 2015 |
| End date: | February 28, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields |
| Agreement: | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) |
| Principal Investigator: | Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato |
| Grantee: | Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato |
| Principal researcher abroad: | Mário João Martins Pimenta |
| Institution abroad: | Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Portugal |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil |
| Associated researchers: | Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho ; Paulo Jorge Ribeiro da Fonte |
Abstract
During the 20th century, new physics scales were systematically explored at accelerators. The beautiful Standard Model of particle physics was discovered and impressively tested. The universe is, we are now convinced, full of mysterious dark matter and dark energy and even in the remaining 5\% of "ordinary'' matter, great secrets may still be hidden. The way towards the Planck energy scale is {\it terra incognita}. Due to fundamental limitations of accelerators, only cosmic rays can give access to centre-of-mass energies more than one order of magnitude above those reached at the LHC. In fact, extreme energy cosmic rays ($E>10^{18}$~eV) are the only possibility to explore the 100 TeV energy scale in the years to come.This proposal aims at preparing the path for the full exploration of the electromagnetic, muon and light components of air showers in the next generation of extreme energy cosmic ray experiments. The work involves the development, construction, deployment and operation of new detectors. While a long path has been walked by the proponent teams, well defined R\&D challenges remain to be addressed. In addition, an important task of industrial redesign and preparation for production will have to be carried on. The project has an approved test site at the Pierre Auger Observatory. It also foresees the development of highly performing analysis tools allowing to fully explore the data of new detectors, enabling a breaktrough in the understanding of the nature of high-energy cosmic rays and of air-shower development;This project offers excellent opportunities for cooperation between São Paulo - Brazil and Portugal in the development of technology in partnership with companies of both countries, education of high level students (master and PhDs), advanced training of technicians and outreach. The instruments which we proposed to study, build and test have promising future application in cosmic ray physics, particle physics and other domains. In fact, large area, low cost, low gas flux detectors would be a unique, innovative, detector and would find application in any low count rate application such as muon radiography and many nuclear physics experiments. The PIs of the present project lead top-level teams in the technological and scientific areas, with their transnational collaboration, the PIs of the project put together unique expertise, creating the conditions for a breakthrough in detector R\&D and for a deep contribution for the future of extreme energy cosmic-ray physics.The specific objectives of the present proposal are thus: a) Develop large-area, low cost, low gas flux Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC), ideal for deployment in remote locations; b) Design and construct an engineering array of RPC detectors at the Pierre Auger Observatory site; c) Develop high-performance analysis tools allowing the exploration of multi-component data, contributing to a breakthrough in high energy cosmic ray physics and d) offer a platform of excellence for exchange and cooperation between Portugal and Brazil, including technology transfer, advanced training, education and outreach. (AU)
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