WoU-MMA: Operations of VERITAS in the Epoch 2019 to 2022

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整个宇宙最极端环境下的物理条件和过程的探测，可用于测试基础物理，并在多信使天体物理学中发挥关键作用。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。该奖项为VERITAS继续运营提供资金。在此期间，天文台将实施一项计划，旨在解决银河系和河外物理学的关键科学驱动因素，以及多信使和时域天体物理学的主题。该合同还为与VERITAS公司共同部署的新型原型望远镜的初始操作提供资源，并将用于验证其性能和优化其最终设计。这个原型将用于下一代伽玛射线天文台，切伦科夫望远镜阵列（CTA）。该奖项还将支持VERITAS的合作努力，使公众参与科学。其中包括与惠普尔天文台游客中心合作，向公众、其他教育工作者、博物馆专业人员和更广泛的社区推广VERITAS科学。VERITAS是一个由4个12米大气切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列。VERITAS寻求确定高能伽马射线的新来源，并对已知来源进行深入研究，以更好地了解其潜在的基本过程。VERITAS星系目录包括超新星遗迹、脉冲星、双星系统、银河系中心和分类未知的来源。VERITAS的星系外目录包括活动星系核、射电星系和星爆星系。VERITAS多信使程序包括搜索与冰立方中微子事件、伽马射线暴和引力波信号相关的源的瞬态发射。除了源物理之外，VERITAS的研究还涉及暗物质、宇宙射线起源和加速、宇宙学等相关问题。这项工作直接解决了NSF的“宇宙之窗：多信使天体物理学时代”大构想的目标。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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, can be used to test fundamental physics, and play a key role in multi-messenger astrophysics. 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 provides funding to continue VERITAS operations. During this time the Observatory will implement a program designed to address key science drivers in Galactic and extragalactic physics, as well as themes in multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics. This award also provides resources to initially operate a novel prototype telescope co-located with VERITAS and will be used to verify its performance and optimize its final design. This prototype is intended for use in the next-generation gamma-ray observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). This award will also support the VERITAS collaboration efforts to engage the public in science. These include collaboration with the Whipple Observatory Visitors Center to promote VERITAS science to the public, other educators, museum professionals and the wider community. VERITAS is an array of four 12-meter atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes. VERITAS seeks both to identify new sources of high energy gamma rays and to perform in-depth studies of the known sources to better understand their underlying fundamental processes. The VERITAS Galactic catalog includes supernova remnants, pulsars, binary systems, the Galactic Center and sources whose classification is unknown. VERITAS's extragalactic catalog includes active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, and starburst galaxies. VERITAS multi-messenger programs include searches for transient emission from sources associated with IceCube neutrino events, gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave signals. Beyond the source physics, VERITAS studies address questions related to dark matter, cosmic-ray origin and acceleration, and cosmology, among others. This work directly addresses the goals of NSF's "Windows on the Universe: The Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics" Big Idea.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.