Galactic Particle Accelerators

宇宙中包含了天体物理物体，它们可以将粒子加速到人类尚未建造的任何设备所无法企及的能量，但是什么驱动了这些加速器，仍然是天体物理学中的一个主要问题。这项研究使用超高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统(VERITAS)来研究我们银河系中的超高能粒子加速器。该小组将继续操作和维护VERITAS定点监测器，并为阵列作业作出贡献，并牵头创建VERITAS高水平科学成果档案。科学成果将加深对高能粒子如何在我们的银河系中加速的理解。该小组制定了一项计划，每年夏天接待来自代表不足的少数族裔(URM)的本科生暑期实习生，作为增加URM学生参与天体物理研究的一种方式。长期以来，人们一直认为宇宙射线在年轻的超新星遗迹中加速，但VERITAS的观测出人意料地显示，在高能时缺乏必要的发射。深度观测的目标包括伽马射线源和其他加速器候选天体，它们需要能够产生能量为10^15 eV的宇宙射线，即所谓的Pevatrons。该团队还将观察费米天文台最近发现的硬光谱和扩展壳型超新星遗迹，以及其他超新星遗迹，以更好地了解它们如何加速高能粒子。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，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。

The universe contains astrophysical objects that accelerate particles to energies beyond the reach of any device yet built by humans, but what drives these accelerators remains a major question in astrophysics. This study uses the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) to study very high energy particle accelerators in our Milky Way Galaxy. The group will continue to operate and maintain the VERITAS pointing monitors and contribute to array operations, and lead in the creation of an archive of high-level science results from VERITAS. The science results will deepen understanding of how energetic particles are accelerated in our Galaxy. This group has developed a program to host an undergraduate summer intern from an under-represented minority (URM) every summer, as a way to increase the participation of URM students in astrophysics research.It had long been thought that cosmic rays are accelerated in young supernova remnants, but VERITAS observations unexpectedly showed a lack of the necessary emission at high energies. Targets for deep observation include gamma-ray sources and other accelerator candidate objects, which need to be capable of producing cosmic rays with energies of 10^15 eV, the so-called Pevatrons. The team will also observe a hard spectrum and extended shell-type supernova remnant recently discovered with the Fermi observatory, along with other supernova remnants, better to understand how they could accelerate energetic particles.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.