Particle Astrophysics with VHE Gamma-Ray Detectors

该奖项继续支持芝加哥大学的粒子天体物理学小组参与非常能量辐射成像望远镜阵列系统(VERITAS)的数据操作和分析。Veritas是一个由四个12米长的切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列，它们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50千兆电子伏特(GeV)到50太电子伏特(TeV)光子的流量。VERITAS项目在过去几年的运作中非常成功，提供了对超新星遗迹、脉冲星风星云、伽马射线双星和活动星系核的高能发射的重要测量。最近完成的升级更新了望远镜相机和触发系统，应该会带来更高的灵敏度，并有望进一步加快该项目的科学成果。芝加哥大学的团队自VERITAS项目开始以来一直是该项目的关键参与者。从设计和施工到调试和运营，再到现在的分析和解释，芝加哥在Veritas的所有方面都发挥了领导作用。该小组的具体科学兴趣涉及研究银河系来源，包括超新星遗迹和脉冲星风星云，以及粒子天体物理中更一般的问题。此外，该小组还将致力于开发适用于下一代地面TeV伽马射线观测站的新硬件和技术。广泛的影响：TeV天文学领域对许多其他科学领域都有影响，从高能粒子加速的研究到暗物质性质等基本物理问题。来自VERITAS的数据已经与其他波长的数据结合在一起，提供了对驱动天体的高能过程的独特见解。VERITAS项目涉及研究生和本科生担任重要角色。芝加哥大学在当地开展了一项强有力的推广活动，其中包括与阿德勒天文馆成功合作，为高中教师制作公开讲座和课程。最后，TeVCat资源的持续开发将扩大TeV天体物理学的能见度，超越高能伽马射线社区。

This award provides continued support for the particle astrophysics group at the University of Chicago 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-meter Cherenkov telescopes that use the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique to detect and characterize the flux of 50 Gigaelectronvolt (GeV) to 50 Teraelectronvolt (TeV) photons from astrophysical sources. The VERITAS project has been very successful over the past few years of operations providing important measurements of high-energy emission from supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, gamma-ray binaries, and active galactic nuclei. A recently completed upgrade, which updates the telescope cameras and trigger systems, should lead to even greater sensitivity and promises to further accelerate the scientific output of the project.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. The specific scientific interests of the group involve the study of Galactic sources, including supernova remnants and pulsar wind nebulae, as well as more general questions in particle astrophysics. In addition, the group will work to develop new hardware and technologies suitable for use in the next generation of ground-based TeV gamma-ray observatory.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 data from VERITAS have been combined with data at other wavelengths to provide unique insights into the high-energy processes powering astrophysical objects. The VERITAS project involves both graduate and undergraduate students in significant roles. There is a strong local outreach effort at the University of Chicago, which involves a successful partnership with Adler Planetarium for producing public lectures and classes for high school teachers. Finally, the continued development of the TeVCat resource will expand the visibility of TeV astrophysics beyond the high energy gamma-ray community.