Astroparticle Physics with the VERITAS and CTA Gamma-Ray Observatories

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。该奖项支持特拉华大学的科学家利用目前正在运行的天文台进行伽马射线天体物理学研究，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）旨在对银河系和河外源进行高灵敏度的定点观测。特拉华大学的研究小组将负责VERITAS的硬件和校准任务，以及对来自银河系伽马射线源的科学数据的分析和解释。该小组还参与切伦科夫望远镜阵列（CTA）的技术开发和科学规划，这是一个目前处于原型阶段的国际伽玛射线天文台。该小组将继续组织和主持“费米暑期学校”，这是一个为研究生和博士后提供的为期两周的高能天体物理学课程。他们还将继续在教育和公众宣传方面进行广泛的努力。特拉华大学小组将进行科学分析和硬件相关活动。他们将使用VERITAS的伽玛射线观测来研究超新星遗迹、伽玛射线双星系统，以及由互补的高海拔水切伦科夫天文台确定的新伽玛射线源。他们还将进行及时的VERITAS后续观测，以搜索由冰立方识别的天体物理中微子源发出的伽马射线，并挖掘VERITAS档案中与神秘的快速射电暴对应的伽马射线。该小组将负责VERITAS的维护和校准工作。他们参与升级相机的硬件维护，以及开发新的校准设备。最后，该小组将参与在VERITAS现场调试CTA原型望远镜。他们还将领导用CTA进行银河系伽马射线研究的科学规划。

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 Delaware to carry out gamma-ray astrophysics research using a currently operating observatory and participate in the planning and development of a 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 Delaware group will work on hardware and calibration tasks for VERITAS as well as analysis and interpretation of the scientific data from Galactic gamma-ray sources. The group is also involved in the technology development and scientific planning for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), an international gamma-ray observatory currently in the prototyping stage. The group will continue to organize and host the "Fermi Summer School," a two-week high energy astrophysics course for graduate students and post-docs. They will also continue to engage in a broad range of efforts in education and public outreach.The University of Delaware group will conduct both scientific analysis and hardware-related activities. They will use gamma-ray observations with VERITAS to study supernova remnants, gamma-ray binary systems, and new gamma-ray sources identified by the complementary High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory. They will also conduct prompt VERITAS follow-up observations to search for gamma-ray emission from sources of astrophysical neutrinos identified by IceCube, and mine the VERITAS archive for gamma-ray counterparts to the enigmatic Fast Radio Bursts. The group will work on the maintenance and calibration of VERITAS. They are involved with the hardware maintenance of the upgraded camera, and the development of a new calibration device. Finally, the group will participate in commissioning of the CTA prototype telescope at the VERITAS site. They will also lead the scientific planning for Galactic gamma-ray studies with CTA.