On February 13th, the Tianfu Cosmic Ray Research Center was established and its inaugural ceremony was held in Chengdu Science City. Experts and scholars from 21 cooperating units for Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory(LHAASO), including the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Development and Reform Commission of Sichuan Province, the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau, Chengdu New Economy Bureau, Sichuan Tianfu New Area, Sichuan Innovation-Driven Development Center, Bureau of Frontier Science and Education of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Science and Technology Innovation Development Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Library and Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, High Energy Physics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Southwest Jiaotong University attended the event.
The center, established by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and headed by chief scientist of LHAASO, Cao Zhen, will set up cutting-edge research platforms such as cosmic ray research laboratories, detection technology research laboratories, and high-altitude observation and verification laboratories. Based on LHAASO, the center will mainly carry out internationally cutting-edge cosmic ray physics research and the application and promotion of related technologies, becoming another important high-level innovation platform in Chengdu.
As one of the important units in the field of cosmic ray research in China, Southwest Jiaotong University has participated in the Tibetan Yangbajing cosmic ray observation experiment since the 1980s and is a core member construction unit of LHAASO. In March 2016, the Modern Physics Research Institute and Experimental Physics Center of Southwest Jiaotong University were integrated to establish the Southwest Jiaotong University - Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Joint Laboratory for Cosmic Ray Physics. In recent years, the Particle Astrophysics Center of Southwest Jiaotong University and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have fully utilized their respective advantages, strengthened cooperation, carried out research on LHAASO related detection technology, advanced astrophysics research, and conducted pre-research on next-generation cosmic ray detection technology. The laboratory is also a base for undergraduate and graduate internships and popularization of astronomical science, which is an important support for the newly established Tianfu Cosmic Ray Research Center, effectively promoting the development of basic disciplines in Sichuan and contributing to the realization of high-quality self-reliance in science and technology.
