WoU-MMA: Teraelectronvolt Astrophysics of Relativistic Jets

活动星系核(AGN)中的相对论喷射是宇宙中最强大的粒子加速器之一。由超大质量黑洞上的物质吸积提供动力，从射电波长到太电子伏(TeV)伽马射线能量都观察到了活动星系核喷流。最近观测到的高能天体物理中微子和活动星系核之间的暂定空间和时间相关性为极端喷流环境中涉及的粒子和加速机制提供了新的迹象。该奖项支持华盛顿大学的研究人员利用Veritas(亚利桑那州惠普尔天文台的高能辐射成像望远镜系统)同时进行的TeV伽马射线观测和IXPE卫星的X射线观测，对活动星系核进行研究。该团队将完成并提供AGN观测的公共遗留数据集，包括对TeV Energy的流量限制样本进行的第一次无偏见调查。该团队还将为圣路易斯公立学校的当地高中生创造暑期研究实习机会，并建立一个由地区科学教师和顾问组成的网络，以支持学生参与STEM领域的工作。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和宇宙学作用，有助于推动我们对河外科学的了解。确定与活动星系核相关的主要粒子加速机制将建立一个基准，可以用来测试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。利用X射线观测的TeV伽马射线观测blazar(喷流与地球方向对齐的AGN)有可能区分为AGN喷流提供动力的相互竞争的假定粒子加速机制。此外，这一奖项产生的对活动星系核的TeV伽马射线辐射的传统调查将建立一个独特的数据集，用来进行模型测试，并最终探索活动星系核喷流中中微子和伽马射线光度之间的可能联系。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。

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.