RUI: Analysis of TeV Gamma-rays and Pulsars Observed by VERITAS

建议编号：0758085投资：加州理工州立大学基金会NSF计划：PHY粒子ASTROPHYSICSPRINCIPAL研究员：Christian ansen，Jodi L.TITLE：RUI：VERITAS ABSTRACTS观测到的TeV伽马射线和脉冲星的分析这笔RI赠款将为加州理工州立大学圣路易斯奥比斯波分校带来天体物理学经验。VERITAS是一种能量非常高的辐射成像望远镜阵列系统，位于亚利桑那州南部的惠普尔天文台大本营，是一组成像大气切伦科夫望远镜，旨在探测在地球上的S大气中淋浴的超高能伽马射线(100GeV？50TeV)。活动星系(AGN)的核心有一个超大质量黑洞，周围环绕着一个吸积盘。人们对吸积盘和黑洞之间的相互作用知之甚少，这种相互作用会产生强大的高能粒子和辐射的光束喷流。这种辐射的光谱是所涉及的加速机制的一个强有力的指标。结合VHE、X射线和UV光谱可以测试和帮助调整当前活动星系加速过程的模型。该奖项的目标是改进Veritas伽马射线探测算法，并使用改进后的算法来研究活动星系核和脉冲星的加速机制。在更广泛的影响下，本科生将被给予广泛的科学接触，同时致力于适合高级论文的专注和易于处理的研究项目。这笔助学金将为所有165名物理专业的学生带来两名高级人员的专业知识，并每年支持两个学生研究项目。PI将通过科学和数学教育卓越中心(CESAME)与中学教师建立联系，开发可用于教授科学和天文学的6年级和8年级课程的补充材料。

PROPOSAL NUMBER: 0758085INSTITUTION: California Polytechnic State University FoundationNSF PROGRAM: PHY - PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICSPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Christiansen, Jodi L.TITLE: RUI: Analysis of TeV Gamma-rays and Pulsars Observed by VERITAS ABSTRACTThis RUI grant will bring astrophysics experiences to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, located in Southern Arizona at the Whipple Observatory Base camp, is an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes designed to detect very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays (100 GeV ? 50 TeV) that shower in the earth?s atmosphere. Active galaxies (AGN) harbor a super-massive black hole at their core surrounded by an accretion disk. Little is known about the interaction between the accretion disk and the black hole, an interaction that produces powerful beamed jets of highly-energetic particles and radiation. The spectrum of this radiation is a strong indicator of the acceleration mechanisms involved. Combined VHE, X-ray, and UV spectra can test and help to tune current models of the acceleration processes of active galaxies. The goals of this award are to improve the VERITAS gamma ray detection algorithms and to use the improved algorithms to study the acceleration mechanisms in AGN and pulsars. Under Broader Impacts, undergraduate students will be given broad exposure to the science while working on a focused and tractable research project suitable for a senior thesis. This grant will bring the expertise of two senior personnel to all 165 physics majors and support two student research projects each year. The PI will connect with middle school teachers through the Center for Excellence In Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) to develop supplements that can be used in 6 and 8th grade curricula where Science and Astronomy are taught.