Correlative Radio Observations of Cosmic Gamma-Ray Sources: A Partnership Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics between Southern University and the University of Massachusetts

南方大学巴吞鲁日(SuBR)的John Stacy博士和Laurence Henry博士将与马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的F.Peter Schloerb博士和Grant Wilson博士合作，协助将于2009年上线的大毫米望远镜(LMT)的校准和初步科学使用。LMT将用于跟踪NASA伽马射线大面积太空望远镜(GLAST)的伽马射线观测，以便对活动星系核(AGN)和强高能瞬变进行相关的射电观测。该计划的主要研究活动是LMT硬件的仪器开发和测试、数据分析和天文科学。天文科学项目的主要重点是伽马射线源的监测，不明GLAST探测源的射电特性表征，以及伽马射线暴的对应研究。该计划的目标是在子黑洞建立一支经验丰富的多波长观测员团队，他们将能够在未来的LMT相关项目中发挥带头作用。PI将针对本科生和硕士学生进行该项目的工作。无线电科学课程将与学生实际操作的仪器和电子项目一起开发。除了学年的项目外，学生还可以获得暑期研究助学金。马萨诸塞州大学和洛城理工大学的科学家将访问南方大学校园，参加正在进行的一系列研讨会，一些南加州大学的教职员工将前往该院参加研究活动，并报告合作进展。该项目还将让马萨诸塞州大学的研究人员和学生有机会与南加州大学的教职员工和学生合作，并更多地了解一些历史障碍，这些障碍阻碍了历史上的黑人学院和大学(HBCU)开发目前正在开发的那种研究项目。此外，由于SuBR位于2005年受卡特里娜和丽塔飓风严重影响的地区附近，这样的计划也将有助于激励有才华的学生返回该地区，为那些受到风暴严重影响的学生提供经济支持。

Dr. John Stacy and Dr. Laurence Henry at Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) will partner with Dr. F. Peter Schloerb and Dr. Grant Wilson at University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) to assist in the calibration and initial scientific usage of the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT), coming online in 2009. The LMT will be used to follow gamma ray observations from NASA's Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) in order to make correlative radio observations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and strong high-energy transients. The primary research activities of the program are instrumentation development and testing of LMT hardware, data analysis, and astronomical science. The main focuses of the astronomical science projects are monitoring of gamma-ray sources, characterizing radio properties of unidentified GLAST-detected sources, and gamma-ray burst counterpart studies.The goal of the program is to build an experienced group of multi-wavelength observers at SUBR who will be able to take the lead in future correlative projects at LMT. The PI will target undergraduate and masters students to the work on the project. Radio science courses will be developed along with hands-on instrumentation and electronics projects for students. In addition to the programs in the academic year, there will also be a summer research assistantship available to students. UMass and LMT scientists will visit the Southern University campus for an ongoing seminar series, and some SUBR faculty will make trips to UMass/LMT for participation in research activities and to report on progress of collaborations. The program will also give researchers and students at UMass the opportunity to work with faculty and students from SUBR and learn more about some of the historical barriers that have prevented historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from developing the kind of research programs now being developed. Additionally, as SUBR is located near areas significantly affected in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, programs such as this will also help to build incentives for talented students to return to the area to provide financial support for those students significantly impacted by the storms.