Particle Astrophysics with VERITAS

该奖项为粒子天体物理学小组参与高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统（VERITAS）数据的操作和分析提供了持续的支持。VERITAS是一个由4个12米切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列，它使用成像大气切伦科夫技术来探测和表征来自天体物理源的~50 GeV至~50 TeV光子的通量。VERITAS阵列已经在惠普尔天文台的新永久基地成功运行了两年，并且已经探测或发现了21个高能伽玛射线源，包括M82，这是一个典型的星爆星系，VERITAS今年探测到它代表了一种全新类型的伽玛射线发射器的发现。自VERITAS项目开始以来，芝加哥大学小组一直是该项目的主要参与者。从设计和建造到调试和运行，再到现在的分析和解释，芝加哥在VERITAS的各个方面都扮演着领导角色。该奖项将使该集团继续以这种身份工作。在更广泛的影响领域，TeV天文学领域对许多其他科学领域产生了影响，从高能粒子加速的研究到基本物理问题，如暗物质的性质。VERITAS项目一直有研究生和本科生的大力参与。今年夏天望远镜的搬迁大部分是由本科生暑期学生完成的。虽然VERITAS的大部分外展活动集中在望远镜现场的史密森尼设施，但当地也有很强的努力。在芝加哥，他们继续从与阿德勒天文馆的成功合作中获利，为高中教师制作公开讲座和课程。VERITAS集团的成员经常参与这些努力。

This award provides continued support for this particle astrophysics group to participate in the operation and analysis of data from the Very Energetic Radiation-Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). VERITAS is an array of four 12-m Cherenkov telescopes which use the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique to detect and characterize the flux of ~50 GeV to ~50 TeV photons from astrophysical sources. The VERITAS array has successfully operated for two years at its new permanent site at the Whipple Observatory basecamp and has already detected or discovered 21 sources of very-high-energy gamma-rays, including M82, the prototypical starburst galaxy whose detection by VERITAS this year represents the discovery of an entirely new class of gamma-ray emitter. The University of Chicago group has been a key participant in the VERITAS project since its inception. From design and construction to commissioning and operation and now to analysis and interpretation, Chicago has assumed leadership roles in all aspects of VERITAS. This award will allow the group to continue in this capacity. In the area of Broader Impacts, the field of TeV astronomy has impacts on many other fields of science, from the study of the high-energy particle acceleration to fundamental physics questions such as the nature of Dark Matter. The VERITAS project has always had a strong involvement of both graduate and undergraduate students. The telescope relocation this summer was accomplished in large part by undergraduate summer students. While much of the VERITAS outreach activity is concentrated at the Smithsonian facility at the telescope site, there is also a strong local effort. At Chicago, they continue to profit from a successful partnership with Adler Planetarium for producing public lectures and classes for high school teachers. Members of the VERITAS group frequently participate in these efforts.