Particle Astrophysics at TeV Energies with VERITAS

伽马射线是电磁辐射中能量最高的形式。对天体物理伽马射线的观测是对宇宙中最极端环境下的物理条件和过程的探测，可以用来测试基础物理学。位于亚利桑那州南部的高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统（VERITAS）是一个用于研究高能伽马射线的地面天文台。VERITAS具有独特的能力，提供银河系和星系外源的高灵敏度定点观测。该奖项支持巴纳德学院的科学家与VERITAS合作开展研究。该小组将参与支持天文台的技术操作和科学调查，重点研究活动星系、脉冲星风星云和伽马射线暴的发射。巴纳德学院集团大力从事教育和推广工作。它们让本科生参与天体物理学研究，重点是扩大妇女的参与。他们还参与了向纽约市地区的高中生伸出援手的工作。VERITAS已经开始了一个广泛的项目，包括银河系和星系外的源观测，以及对暗物质等新物理学特征的研究。获得该奖项后，巴纳德学院团队将参与VERITAS的观测和校准活动，并致力于代码开发，以改进VERITAS的分析技术。他们的科学计划包括寻找高能发射和耀变体，使用脉冲星风星云和多信使方法来调查宇宙射线的起源，以及研究伽马射线暴。

Gamma-rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation. Observations of astrophysical gamma-rays serve as probes of physical conditions and processes in the most extreme environments throughout the Universe, and can be used to test fundamental physics. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), located in southern Arizona, is a ground-based observatory designed to study high energy gamma-rays. VERITAS has unique capabilities, providing high sensitivity pointed observations of both galactic and extragalactic sources. This award supports scientists at Barnard College to carry out research with VERITAS. The group will participate in both technical operations in support of the observatory and scientific investigations with a focus on studying emission from active galaxies, pulsar wind nebula, and gamma-ray bursts. The Barnard College group is heavily engaged in education and outreach efforts. They involve undergraduate students in astrophysics research with an emphasis on broadening the participation of women. They are also involved in outreach efforts to high-school students in the New York City area. VERITAS has embarked upon a broad program of Galactic and extragalactic source observations, as well as studies of signatures for new physics such as dark matter. With this award the Barnard College group will participate in VERITAS observing and calibration campaigns and work on code development for improvements to VERITAS analysis techniques. Their scientific program includes searching for high energy emission and variability in blazars, using pulsar wind nebula and multi-messenger approaches to investigate the origin of cosmic rays, and studying gamma-ray bursts.