WoU-MMA: Exploring the Extreme Universe with VERITAS and CTA

对高能伽马射线的高级研究使探索相对论粒子加速的地点和潜在机制成为可能。位于亚利桑那州南部的弗雷德·劳伦斯·惠普尔天文台的非常能量辐射成像望远镜系统(VERITAS)的伽马射线观测为研究银河系和河外粒子加速器的各种研究计划提供了机会。这一奖项再次支持特拉华大学的研究人员对超新星遗迹、新发现的PetaElectronvolt(PeV)伽马射线发射体以及对附近明亮的活动星系核的精确测量进行研究。该团队将继续为Veritas的运行、校准和数据分析以及下一代切伦科夫望远镜阵列(CTA)的开发做出主要贡献。该小组将通过本科生辅导计划，通过大师班让高中生参与，并共同领导为期两周的高能天体物理学费米暑期学校，继续开展教育和外联活动。Veritas和未来的CTA利用成像切伦科夫望远镜对银河系和河外源的非常高能量(100GeV-30TeV)伽马射线观测提供高灵敏度。伽马射线发射已被用来揭示相对论粒子加速发生在哪里，但潜在的加速机制以及加速器与宇宙射线的起源和性质之间的联系仍不清楚。观测目标包括超新星残留物(SNR)，作为多信使事件(伽马射线、宇宙射线和中微子)的来源，以及搜索银河系PeV加速器(PeVatrons)。Veritas在离轴图像处理方面的改进将优化PeVatron目标的高能分析和扩展源搜索。应用这些新技术将使研究TeV明亮的扩展SNR成为可能，其中测量的光谱或上限将测试轻子或强子加速场景的领先模型。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。

Advanced studies of high-energy gamma-rays make it possible to probe the sites of relativistic particle acceleration and the underlying mechanisms. Gamma-ray observations with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System (VERITAS), located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona, provide the opportunity for a diverse research program to study Galactic and extragalactic particle accelerators. This award renews support for researchers at the University of Delaware to conduct studies of supernova remnants, newly identified petaelectronvolt (PeV) gamma-ray emitters, and precision measurements of bright nearby active galactic nuclei. The team will continue providing leading contributions to the VERITAS operations, calibration, and data analyses, and to the development of the next generation Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The group will continue education and outreach activities through mentoring programs of undergraduate students, engagement of high school students through Masterclasses, and co-leading the two-week high-energy astrophysics Fermi Summer School. VERITAS and the future CTA utilize imaging Cherenkov telescopes to provide high-sensitivity to very high-energy (100 GeV – 30 TeV) gamma-ray observations of Galactic and extragalactic sources. Gamma-ray emission has been used to reveal where relativistic particle acceleration occurs, but the underlying acceleration mechanisms and the connections between the accelerators and the origin and properties of cosmic rays remain unclear. Observing targets include supernova remnants (SNRs) as sources of multi-messenger events (gamma-rays, cosmic rays, and neutrinos), and searches for Galactic PeV accelerators (PeVatrons). Improvements in the treatment of off-axis images in VERITAS will optimize high-energy analyses of PeVatron targets and extended source searches. Applying these new techniques will make it possible to study TeV-bright, extended SNRs where the measured spectrum, or upper limit, will test leading models for leptonic or hadronic acceleration scenarios. 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.