RUI: TeV Observations of Galactic Sources with VERITAS

宇宙包含能够将粒子加速到数十或数百TeV能量的物体。伽马射线是研究这些宇宙加速器中极端物理的重要探测器。高能伽马射线已经从各种来源探测到，如星系中心的超大质量黑洞、脉冲星风星云、超新星遗迹和双星系统。对高能伽马射线的详细测量，结合对其他波长的观测，将极大地增强我们对这些天体中的加速和发射机制的了解。该RUI奖将为大谷州立大学(GVSU)的科学家们提供支持，以开展VERITAS的研究，VERITAS是位于亚利桑那州南部的弗雷德·劳伦斯·惠普尔天文台的非常高能量的辐射成像望远镜阵列系统。VERITAS是一个由四个大气切伦科夫成像望远镜组成的阵列，旨在通过成像极高能量的伽马射线(100GeV-50TeV)，对这些光子撞击地球大气层时产生的切伦科夫光的闪光进行成像。GVSU的研究工作将集中在银河系TeV源，特别是致密双星、脉冲星和不明伽马射线源，以及对这些天体的多波长研究。该项目将致力于改善VERITAS指向监视器系统的性能，提高VERITAS望远镜的指向精度和光学性能。在更广泛的影响下，该项目将为GVSU的本科生提供在高能天体物理方面进行重点研究的机会，并获得广泛的研究技能。乔治华盛顿州立大学的本科生群体多样，其中许多是第一代大学生或来自传统上代表性较低的群体的学生。

The universe contains objects capable of accelerating particles to energies of tens or hundreds of TeV. Gamma rays are an important probe to study the extreme physics in these cosmic accelerators. High-energy gamma rays have been detected from a variety of sources such as supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies, pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, and binary star systems. Detailed measurements of high-energy gamma rays, in conjunction with observations at other wavelengths, will greatly enhance our understanding of the acceleration and emission mechanisms in these objects.This RUI award will provide support for scientists at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to conduct research with VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona. VERITAS is an array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes designed to detect very-high-energy gamma rays (100 GeV - 50 TeV) by imaging the flashes of Cherenkov light produced when these photons impact the Earth's atmosphere. The research efforts at GVSU will focus on Galactic TeV sources, in particular compact binaries, pulsars, and unidentified gamma-ray sources, and on multi-wavelength studies of these objects. Service efforts will be directed towards improving the performance of the VERITAS Pointing Monitor system and improving the pointing accuracy and optical properties of the VERITAS telescopes.Under Broader Impacts, this project will provide undergraduate students at GVSU with the opportunity to conduct focused research in high-energy astrophysics and acquire a broad range of research skills. GVSU has a diverse population of undergraduate students many of which are first-generation college students or students from traditionally underrepresented groups.