WoU-MMA: Very-High-Energy Gamma-Rays as a Unique Probe of Multimessenger Astrophysics

对电磁波谱、引力波和中微子中的天体物理“信使”的观测，为研究宇宙中一些最极端的现象提供了一个独特的机会。 极高能（VHE）伽马射线在这些测量中发挥着独特的作用，因为它们探测天体物理环境，在这些环境中粒子被加速到观察到的最高能量。 该奖项支持亚拉巴马大学的研究人员利用高能辐射成像望远镜系统（VERITAS）和未来的切伦科夫望远镜阵列（CTA）天文台研究多信使天体物理学。 该研究计划进行了两次专门的搜索。第一个搜索是通过将VERITAS VHE伽马射线观测与IceCube中微子天文台探测到的高能中微子相结合来寻找天体物理中微子的来源。 第二个是寻找VHE伽马射线对应的引力波事件。 此外，该小组将提供一个专门的培训计划，其中包括本科生，将开发一个大师班在高能伽马射线为当地高中，并生成西班牙语材料，介绍广大公众多信使天体物理学。在TeV-PeV能量范围内对中微子和伽马射线天空的联合研究可以为高能天体物理学中一些最紧迫的问题提供重要的见解，包括宇宙射线的加速和传播，紧凑物体合并的表征和定位，超大质量黑洞系统的研究，以及伽马射线爆发等能量瞬变的性质。 由于许多潜在的过程预计将负责同时发射伽马射线和中微子，联合研究受益于多信使通道之间的相互联系。 这包括VERITAS观测与实时高能天体物理中微子事件，候选活动星系核的长期观测，以及对明亮的耀变体和其他类型的河外源的全面研究，以探测潜在中微子发射器的机制。该项目推进了NSF宇宙大创意窗口的目标。该奖项反映了NSF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。

The observation of astrophysical “messengers” across the electromagnetic spectrum, gravitational waves, and neutrinos, provides a unique opportunity to study some of the Universe’s most extreme phenomena. Very high-energy (VHE) gamma-rays play a unique role in these measurements as they probe astrophysical environments where particles are accelerated to some of the highest energies observed. This award supports researchers at the University of Alabama to study multi-messenger astrophysics with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System (VERITAS) and the future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory. The research program carries out two dedicated searches. The first search is for sources of astrophysical neutrinos by combining VERITAS VHE gamma-ray observations with high-energy neutrinos detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The second is searches for VHE gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational wave events. In addition, the group will provide a dedicated training program that includes undergraduate students, will develop a Masterclass in high-energy gamma rays for local high schools, and generate Spanish-language materials that introduce the broad public to multi-messenger astrophysics. The combined study of the neutrino and gamma-ray sky in the TeV – PeV energy range can provide important insight into some of the most pressing questions in high-energy astrophysics, including the acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays, the characterization and localization of compact object mergers, the study of supermassive black hole systems, and the properties of energetic transients like gamma-ray bursts. As many of the underlying processes are expected to be responsible for simultaneous gamma-ray and neutrino emission, joint studies benefit from the interconnection between multi-messenger channels. This includes VERITAS observations coincident with real-time high-energy astrophysical neutrino events, long-term observations of candidate active galactic nuclei, and comprehensive studies of bright blazars and other types of extragalactic sources to probe the mechanisms of potential neutrino emitters. 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.