WoU-MMA: Teraelectronvolt Astrophysics of Relativistic Jets

活动星系核（AGN）中的相对论喷流是宇宙中最强大的粒子加速器之一。由超大质量黑洞的物质吸积提供动力，从无线电波长到太电子伏特（TeV）伽马射线能量都可以观察到AGN的喷流。最近观测到的高能天体物理中微子和AGN之间的空间和时间相关性为极端射流环境中涉及的粒子和加速机制提供了新的指示。该奖项支持华盛顿大学的研究人员通过VERITAS（亚利桑那州惠普尔天文台的高能辐射成像望远镜系统）和IXPE卫星同时进行TeV伽玛射线观测和x射线观测来进行AGN的研究。该团队将完成并提供AGN观测的公共遗留数据集，包括对TeV能量下通量有限样本的首次无偏调查。该团队还将为圣路易斯公立学校的当地高中生提供暑期研究实习机会，并建立一个由地区科学教师和辅导员组成的网络，以支持学生参与STEM领域。了解超大质量黑洞（活动星系核- AGN）在星系演化中的天体物理学和宇宙学作用可以作为一个探路者来推进我们对河外科学的认识。确定与AGN相关的主要粒子加速机制将建立一个基准，以此为基准，在这些极端环境中产生高能伽马射线、宇宙射线和中微子的模型可以进行测试。利用TeV伽玛射线对x射线观测的耀变体（喷流与地球方向对齐的AGN）进行观测，有可能区分相互竞争的粒子加速机制，这些机制为AGN喷流的发射提供动力。此外，该奖项将对AGN的TeV伽马射线发射进行传统调查，将建立一个独特的数据集，用于执行模型测试，并最终探测AGN喷流中中微子和伽马射线亮度之间的可能联系。这个项目推进了NSF宇宙大构想窗口的目标。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

Relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are some of the most powerful particle accelerators in the Universe. Powered by accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole, the AGN jets have been observed from radio wavelengths to teraelectronvolt (TeV) gamma-ray energies. Recent tentative spatial and temporal correlations between observations of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos and AGN have provided new indications of the particles and acceleration mechanisms involved in the extreme jet environment. This award supports researchers at Washington University to conduct studies of of AGN with simultaneous TeV gamma-ray observations with VERITAS (the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System at the Whipple Observatory in Arizona) and X-ray observations with IXPE satellite. The team will complete and deliver a public legacy dataset of AGN observations, including a first unbiased survey of a flux-limited sample at TeV energies. The team will also create summer research internships for local high school students from the St. Louis public schools and establish a network of regional science teachers and counselors to support student engagement in the STEM fields. Understanding the astrophysical and cosmological roles of supermassive black holes (active galactic nuclei – AGN) in the evolution of galaxies serves as a pathfinder to advance our knowledge of extragalactic science. Identifying the dominant particle acceleration mechanisms associated with AGN would establish a benchmark against which the models that produce high-energy gamma-rays, cosmic rays, and neutrinos in these extreme environments may be tested. Utilizing TeV gamma-ray observations of X-ray observed blazars (AGN with the jet aligned with the direction of the Earth) holds the potential to discriminate between competing postulated particle acceleration mechanisms that power the emission of the AGN jets. In addition, a legacy survey of TeV gamma-ray emission from AGN, resulting from this award, will establish a unique dataset with which to perform the model tests and ultimately probe the possible links between the neutrino and gamma-ray luminosity in AGN jets. 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.