High Energy Astrophysics with STACEE and VERITAS

科学/智力价值：极高能量（VHE）伽玛射线天体物理学为了解宇宙中最高能量的天体物理加速器提供了最直接的方法之一。在该提案中，PI要求资金用于(a)继续在太阳塔大气切伦科夫效应实验（STACEE）项目中的合作工作，以及(b)通过加入高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统（VERITAS）合作来扩大巴纳德学院小组的努力。STACEE是一种地面探测器，对能量范围在50到1000 GeV之间的伽马射线敏感。STACEE的一个独特之处在于它的工作能量低于250 GeV，这是目前大多数大气切伦科夫望远镜（ACTs）无法达到的。STACEE的测量旨在探测已知最强大的天体物理源（包括活动星系和伽马射线暴）中高能粒子加速的物理现象。VERITAS合作项目正在为地面伽玛射线天文学建造一系列成像大气切伦科夫望远镜。该项目的第一阶段包括四个12米望远镜，位于亚利桑那州基特峰的马蹄峡谷。VERITAS代表了宇宙中极端天体物理过程研究的显著进步，预计将大大增加高能（E 100 GeV）伽玛射线源的目录。预计在2006- 2007年期间，STACEE天文台将继续其观测计划，并在2007- 2008年结束其运行。巴纳德小组打算在本提案的第二年将其关于STACEE的工作仅限于数据分析（即不开展业务）。PI参与的实验在过去得到了NSF的三笔资助，这为研究生和本科生提供了强有力的支持，并为关注STACEE校准系统和数据分析的积极研究项目提供了基础。PI在此建议继续该计划，参与持续的STACEE观测阶段，探测器校准和数据分析。PI的一个科学重点是来自STACEE的与活动星系相关的数据，以及在AGN发射模型背景下的分析。PI还要求通过以下方式为VERITAS工作提供资金：(1)支持一名研究VERITAS的科学家，(2)参与VERITAS观测计划、模拟研究和科学数据分析，以及(3)对VERITAS发现的不明TeV源进行多波长研究。在接下来的几年里，VERITAS将提供全面而丰富的科学计划，这将为巴纳德集团提供一个保持强大的高能研究计划的机会。更广泛的影响：PI继续在向K-12学生推广的努力中发挥强大的作用。活动包括指导当地公立学校的学生，以及通常涉及天体物理学主题的公开讲座。巴纳德学院（Barnard College）是一所四年制女子文理学院，PI的研究对吸引女性从事天体物理学研究产生了重大影响。具有更广泛影响的与stacee相关的技术工作包括(1)设计和实施新型非成像光学系统，(2)开发用于太阳能应用的镜面测量技术，以及(3)开发用于高速数据采集的软件。

Science/Intellectual Merit: Very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray astrophysics provides one of the most direct ways to learn about the highest energy astrophysical accelerators in the Universe. In this proposal the PI requests funds to (a) continue collaborative work in the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) project, and (b) expand the efforts of the Barnard College group by joining the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) collaboration. STACEE is a ground-based detector sensitive to gamma-rays in the energy range between 50 and 1000 GeV. A unique feature of STACEE is that it operates at energies below 250 GeV, a regime that is out of the scope of most current atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACTs). STACEE measurements are intended to probe the physics of high energy particle acceleration in the most powerful astrophysical sources known, including active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts. The VERITAS collaboration is building an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes for ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. Phase-I of the project consists of four, 12m telescopes to be sited at Horseshoe Canyon on Kitt-Peak, Arizona. VERITAS represents a marked step forward in the study of extreme astrophysical processes in the universe, and is expected to substantially increase the catalog of very high energy (E 100 GeV) gamma-ray sources.The STACEE observatory is expected to continue its observational program during 2006-7, winding down its operations in 2007-8. The Barnard group intends to limit its work on STACEE to data analysis only (i.e., no operations) in year two of this proposal. The PI's involvement on the experiment has been supported in the past by three prior NSF grants, which have provided the basis for strong support of graduate and undergraduate students and an active research program focusing on the STACEE calibration system and data analysis. The PI proposes here to continue this program, participating in the continuing STACEE observing phase, detector calibration, and data analysis. A scientific focus of the PI is the data related to active galaxies from STACEE, and its analysis in the context of AGN emission models.The PI also requests funds to work on VERITAS by (1) supporting a research scientist on VERITAS, (2) participating in the VERITAS observing program, simulation studies and scientific data analysis, and (3) carrying out multi-wavelength studies of unidentified TeV sources discovered by VERITAS. The full and rich scientific program that can be expected from VERITAS for the next several years will give offer the Barnard group the opportunity to maintain a strong high energy research program.Broader Impact: The PI continues to play a strong role in outreach efforts to K-12 students. Activities have included the mentoring of students at local public schools, and public lectures, usually involving topics in astrophysics. The PI's research at Barnard College, a four-year liberal arts school for women, has significant impact on attracting women to astrophysical research. Example of STACEE-related technical work that have had broader impact include (1) design and implementation of new types of non-imaging optical systems, (2) the development of mirror measurement techniques for solar energy applications, and (3) software development for high speed data acquisition.