Particle Astrophysics with VERITAS and Development for CTA

伽马射线是电磁辐射的最高能量形式。对天体物理伽马射线的观测可以作为宇宙中最极端环境中的物理条件和过程的探测器，并可用于测试基本物理。该奖项支持加州大学洛杉矶分校的科学家利用操作天文台开展伽马射线天体物理研究，并参与下一代伽马射线天文台的规划和开发。位于亚利桑那州南部的高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统(VERITAS)旨在对银河系和银河系外的源进行高灵敏度的定点观测。加州大学洛杉矶分校的小组将为Veritas的运行和维护做出贡献，并致力于分析和解释科学数据。该小组还参与了切伦科夫望远镜阵列(CTA)的开发，这是一个目前处于规划阶段的国际伽马射线天文台。该团队领导了Schwarzschild-Couder望远镜(SCT)的开发，这是一项将在CTA上实施的新技术。他们将在Veritas现场运行一台SCT原型。该小组将继续他们现有的针对高中生的教育和外联活动，通过实际操作研究，涉及VERITAS和原型SCT的数据。他们还将开发一个公民科学项目，让公众参与探索SCT原型的数据。加州大学洛杉矶分校的研究小组将使用VERITAS研究银河源，重点放在天鹅座区域和银河中心，并在宇宙空洞中搜索磁场。他们将与Veritas一起并与Veritas协调操作原型SCT，以表征和改进其性能。该集团将继续通过技术开发和顶级项目管理角色参与CTA的定义和领导。

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. This award supports scientists at the University of California Los Angeles to carry out gamma-ray astrophysics research using an operating observatory and participate in the planning and development of the next generation gamma-ray observatory. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), located in southern Arizona, is designed to perform high sensitivity pointed observations of both galactic and extragalactic sources. The University of California Los Angeles group will contribute to the operation and maintenance of VERITAS and work on analysis and interpretation of the scientific data. The group is also involved in the development of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), an international gamma-ray observatory currently in planning stages. The group leads the development of the Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT), a new technology to be implemented on CTA. They will operate a prototype SCT at the VERITAS site. The group will continue their existing education and outreach activities to high-school students with hands-on research involving data from VERITAS and the prototype SCT. They will also develop a citizen science program that will engage the public in exploring the data from the prototype SCT.The University of California Los Angeles group will use VERITAS to study Galactic sources, focusing on the Cygnus region and the Galactic Center, and to search for magnetic fields in cosmic voids. They will operate the prototype SCT alongside and in coordination with VERITAS to characterize and improve its performance. The group will continue to be involved in the definition and leadership of CTA through the technology development and top-level project management roles.