Particle Astrophysics with VERITAS and pSCT Pathfinder towards 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是对宇宙中最极端环境中的物理条件和过程的探测，可以用来测试基本物理。该奖项支持加州大学洛杉矶分校的科学家利用两个地面伽马射线实验开展伽马射线天体物理学研究，这两个实验是非常高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统(VERITAS)和新投入使用的施瓦茨希尔德库德望远镜(PSCT)原型，这两个实验都位于亚利桑那州南部的弗雷德·惠普尔天文台。该小组将参与银河系和银河系外天体物理源的业务和科学调查的技术方面。此外，该奖项还支持集团成员在开发下一代国际伽马射线观测站切伦科夫望远镜阵列(CTA)方面的领导作用和活动。该组织通过让高中生参与天体物理研究，并吸引亚利桑那州和洛杉矶地区的公众对宇宙进行科学探索，深入参与教育和推广工作。加州大学洛杉矶分校小组将为VERITAS和PSCT的操作和维护以及对数据的科学分析作出贡献。通过这一奖项，该小组将专注于对具有显著角度延伸的银河系和河外源的研究，包括天鹅座区域、银河中心、星系团和活动星系核，其中原始磁场的特征可能在其伽马射线发射中被检测到。针对角度扩展或局部化较差的源的新的数据分析技术的发展利用了pSCT和未来的CTA提供的新能力，对于推进多波长和多信使研究以及时间域天体物理的进步是至关重要的。该组织通过为天文台推进pSCT技术，通过发展其核心科学计划，以及通过为这一全球项目提供的顶级管理，显著地参与了CTA。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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 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 with two ground-based gamma-ray experiments, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) and the newly commissioned prototype Schwarzschild Couder Telescope (pSCT), both located at the Fred Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona. The group will participate in both technical aspects of operations and scientific investigations of Galactic and extragalactic astrophysical sources. In addition, the award supports the leadership roles and activities of the group members in the development of a next-generation international gamma-ray observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The group is deeply engaged in education and outreach efforts by involving high school students in astrophysics research and attracting the public, both in Arizona and in the Los Angeles area, to scientific exploration of the Universe. The University of California, Los Angeles group will contribute to the operations and maintenance of VERITAS and the pSCT and to the scientific analysis of the data. With this award the group will focus on studies of Galactic and extragalactic sources with significant angular extension including the Cygnus region, the Galactic Center, galaxy clusters and active galactic nuclei, in which the signatures of primordial magnetic fields might be detectable in their gamma-ray emission. The development of novel data analysis techniques for sources with angular extension or poor localization capitalizes on the new capabilities offered by pSCT and the future CTA and is essential for the advancement of multi-wavelength and multi-messenger research as well as progress in time-domain astrophysics. The group is notably involved in CTA through the advancement of the pSCT technology for the observatory, through the development of its core science program, and through the top-level management provided to this worldwide project.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.