RUI: WoU-MMA: VERITAS Analysis Software and Active Galaxy Discovery Science

天体物理伽马射线是电磁辐射的最高能量形式，它们的观测提供了研究整个宇宙最极端环境中的物理条件和过程的能力。超高能辐射成像望远镜系统(VERITAS)位于亚利桑那州南部的弗雷德·劳伦斯·惠普尔天文台，旨在提供对超高能伽马射线的领先地面观测。该奖项支持加州理工州立大学的科学家利用Veritas和共同定位的切里科夫望远镜阵列原型施瓦茨柴尔德-库德望远镜(PSCT)进行研究。该小组将对VERITAS数据进行分析，以提高对活动星系产生的VHE伽马射线的理解，这些星系是多个天文信使的有利来源。得到支持的本科生研究小组将开发和应用VERITAS探测算法的扩展，以进行机会目标观测，包括与高能天体物理中微子警报有关的观测，以及使用事件地平线望远镜对活动星系核(AGN)的同期观测。此外，该小组将与工程、科学和数学教育中心合作，通过专门的课程与该州的高中教师建立联系，该课程通过研究光谱和活动星系形态来培养科学能力。VERITAS和PSCT利用成像切伦科夫望远镜提供对银河系和河外来源的高灵敏度尖端VHe(100GeV-30TeV)伽马射线观测。活动星系核的核心有一个超大质量黑洞，周围环绕着一个吸积盘，对VHE伽马射线的研究特别感兴趣。人们对吸积盘和黑洞之间的相互作用知之甚少，黑洞可以产生一些宇宙中最强大的高能粒子和辐射的光束喷流。将VHE伽马射线的测量与对中微子和宇宙射线的多信使观测相结合，可以扩展活动星系核的科学，以约束当前的加速过程模型。这个项目推进了NSF宇宙大理想之窗的目标。这一奖项反映了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。

Astrophysical gamma-rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation, and their observations provide the ability to study physical conditions and processes in the most extreme environments throughout the Universe. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System (VERITAS), located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona, is designed to provide leading ground-based observations of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-rays. This award supports scientists at the California Polytechnic State University to carry out research with VERITAS and the co-located Cherekov Telescope Array prototype Schwartzchild-Couder Telescope (pSCT). The group will conduct analyses of VERITAS data to improve the understanding of VHE gamma-rays produced in active galaxies, which are favored sources of multiple astronomical messengers. The supported team of undergraduate researchers will develop and apply extensions of the VERITAS detection algorithms to conduct target-of-opportunity observations, including those associated with high-energy astrophysical neutrino alerts and contemporaneous observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) with the Event Horizon Telescope. In addition, the group will partner with the Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics Education to connect with high school teachers in the state via a dedicated curriculum that builds scientific abilities through investigations of spectra and active galaxy morphology. VERITAS and the pSCT utilize imaging Cherenkov telescopes to provide high-sensitivity pointed VHE (100 GeV – 30 TeV) gamma-ray observations of galactic and extragalactic sources. AGNs harbor a super-massive black hole at their core surrounded by an accretion disk and are of particular interest in VHE gamma-ray studies. Little is yet known about the interaction between the accretion disk and the black hole, which can produce some of the Universe's most powerful beamed jets of highly energetic particles and radiation. Combining the measurements of VHE gamma-rays with multi-messenger observations of neutrinos and cosmic rays makes it possible to extend AGN science to constrain current models of acceleration processes. This project advances the goals of the NSF Windows on the Universe 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.