Particle Astrophysics at TeV Energies with VERITAS

伽马射线天体物理学是一个迅速发展的领域，在过去五年中经历了巨大的发展，新一代地面切伦科夫望远镜的成功，如位于亚利桑那州南部的VERITAS（高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统），以及费米伽马射线空间望远镜的发射。甚高能量（VHE，能量超过100 GeV）伽马射线观测以最高的光子能量对天空进行采样，指向最极端的宇宙加速器。粒子被加速并产生VHE伽马射线的机制非常有趣，因为这种加速发生在极端环境中：强辐射场（耀斑）、激波加速（SNR）或吸积动力相对论喷流（blazar）。探测到的源数量呈指数级增长，加上观测质量的提高，正在极大地提高我们对宇宙中最极端过程的认识。该奖项为巴纳德学院的科学家提供运营资金，与VERITAS一起开展高能天体物理学研究，这是一个由四个大型大气切伦科夫成像望远镜组成的阵列，自2007年春季以来一直在全面运作。VERITAS是在研究宇宙极端天体物理过程方面迈出的一大步，正在提供高质量的伽马射线观测和越来越多的源探测。PI将通过参与观测活动、进行科学数据分析以及开发代码以改进VERITAS分析技术来做出贡献。特别是，PI将专注于研究河外源，如blazar类的活动星系核（AGN），以及银河源和身份不明的GeV-TeV源，包括档案和新的多波长研究，以研究这些物体中粒子加速的性质。更广泛的影响：巴纳德集团希望在K-12学生的推广工作中发挥重要作用。作为巴纳德学院的一名教员，PI能够通过参加学院主办的科学讲座，如星期六科学研讨会，接触到对科学感兴趣的广大高中女生。PI在巴纳德学院（一所四年制女子文科学校）的研究对影响物理科学领域的妇女产生了重大影响，PI将继续担任天体物理学研究领域女本科生的导师。

Gamma-ray astrophysics is a rapidly evolving field that has experienced a huge development during the last five years with the successes of a new generation of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes, such as VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System), located in southern Arizona, and the launch of the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. Very high energy (VHE, with energies above 100 GeV) gamma-ray observations sample the sky at the highest photon energies, pointing towards the most extreme cosmic accelerators. The mechanisms by which particles are accelerated and produce VHE gamma-rays are of great interest because of the extreme environments where such acceleration takes place: strong radiation fields (pulsars), shock acceleration (SNRs) or accretion powered relativistic jets (blazars).The exponentially increasing numbers of detected sources, together with the improved quality of observations, are dramatically improving our knowledge of the most extreme processes in the universe.This award provides operational funding for scientists at Barnard College to carry out high energy astrophysics studies with VERITAS, an array of four large imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that has been fully operational since spring 2007. VERITAS represents a dramatic step forward in the study of extreme astrophysical processes in the universe, and is providing high-quality gamma-ray observations and an increasing number of source detections. The PI will contribute by participating in observing campaigns, carrying out scientific data analysis, and working on code development for improvements to VERITAS analysis techniques. In particular, the PI will focus on the study of extragalactic sources such as active galactic nuclei (AGN) of the blazar class, as well as Galactic sources, and unidentified GeV-TeV sources, including both archival and new multi-wavelength studies, in order to study the nature of particle acceleration in these objects. Broader Impact: The Barnard Group expects to play a strong role in outreach efforts to K-12 students. As a Barnard College faculty member, the PI is able to reach a broad audience of high school girls interested in science by participating in college-sponsored science lectures such as the Saturday Science Seminars. The PI's research at Barnard College, a 4-year liberal arts school for women, has significant impact in influencing women in the physical sciences, and the PI will continue to be a mentor to undergraduate women in astrophysics research.