High Energy Astrophysics with STACEE and VERITAS

科学/智力成绩：甚高能（VHE）伽马射线天体物理学提供了了解宇宙中最高能量天体物理加速器的最直接方法之一。在该提案中，PI要求资金（a）继续太阳塔大气切伦科夫效应实验（STACEE）项目的合作工作，以及（B）通过加入高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统（VERITAS）合作来扩大巴纳德学院小组的工作。 STACEE是一个地面探测器，对50至1000 GeV能量范围内的伽马射线敏感。STACEE的一个独特之处是它的能量低于250 GeV，这是目前大多数大气切伦科夫望远镜（ACTs）的范围。STACEE测量的目的是探测已知最强大的天体物理源中高能粒子加速的物理学，包括活动星系和伽马射线爆发。VERITAS合作项目正在为地基伽马射线天文学建造一系列大气切伦科夫成像望远镜。 该项目的第一阶段包括四个12米的望远镜，将设在亚利桑那州基特峰的马蹄峡谷。VERITAS是研究宇宙极端天体物理过程的一个标志性步骤，预计将大大增加甚高能量（E 100 GeV）伽马射线源的目录，STACEE天文台预计将在2006- 2007年继续其观测计划，在2007- 2008年结束其业务。 巴纳德小组打算将其关于STACEE的工作仅限于数据分析（即，（二）在这一年内，不开展业务活动。PI对实验的参与在过去得到了三个先前的NSF赠款的支持，这些赠款为研究生和本科生的大力支持以及专注于STACEE校准系统和数据分析的积极研究计划提供了基础。 PI在此建议继续这一计划，参与STACEE观测阶段、探测器校准和数据分析。 PI的一个科学重点是STACEE提供的活动星系相关数据及其在活动星系核发射模型背景下的分析。PI还要求通过以下方式为VERITAS工作提供资金：（1）支持VERITAS的研究科学家，（2）参与VERITAS观测计划，模拟研究和科学数据分析，（3）对VERITAS发现的未知TeV源进行多波长研究。 VERITAS在未来几年内将提供全面而丰富的科学计划，这将为巴纳德集团提供保持强大的高能研究计划的机会。更广泛的影响：PI继续在K-12学生的推广工作中发挥重要作用。活动包括指导当地公立学校的学生，以及通常涉及天体物理学主题的公开讲座。 PI在巴纳德学院（Barnard College）的研究对吸引女性从事天体物理学研究具有重要影响，巴纳德学院是一所四年制女子文科学校。与STACEE相关的具有广泛影响的技术工作的例子包括：（1）新型非成像光学系统的设计和实现，（2）太阳能应用的镜面测量技术的开发，以及（3）高速数据采集的软件开发。

Science/Intellectual Merit: Very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray astrophysics provides one of the most direct ways to learn about the highest energy astrophysical accelerators in the Universe. In this proposal the PI requests funds to (a) continue collaborative work in the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) project, and (b) expand the efforts of the Barnard College group by joining the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) collaboration. STACEE is a ground-based detector sensitive to gamma-rays in the energy range between 50 and 1000 GeV. A unique feature of STACEE is that it operates at energies below 250 GeV, a regime that is out of the scope of most current atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACTs). STACEE measurements are intended to probe the physics of high energy particle acceleration in the most powerful astrophysical sources known, including active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts. The VERITAS collaboration is building an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes for ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. Phase-I of the project consists of four, 12m telescopes to be sited at Horseshoe Canyon on Kitt-Peak, Arizona. VERITAS represents a marked step forward in the study of extreme astrophysical processes in the universe, and is expected to substantially increase the catalog of very high energy (E 100 GeV) gamma-ray sources.The STACEE observatory is expected to continue its observational program during 2006-7, winding down its operations in 2007-8. The Barnard group intends to limit its work on STACEE to data analysis only (i.e., no operations) in year two of this proposal. The PI's involvement on the experiment has been supported in the past by three prior NSF grants, which have provided the basis for strong support of graduate and undergraduate students and an active research program focusing on the STACEE calibration system and data analysis. The PI proposes here to continue this program, participating in the continuing STACEE observing phase, detector calibration, and data analysis. A scientific focus of the PI is the data related to active galaxies from STACEE, and its analysis in the context of AGN emission models.The PI also requests funds to work on VERITAS by (1) supporting a research scientist on VERITAS, (2) participating in the VERITAS observing program, simulation studies and scientific data analysis, and (3) carrying out multi-wavelength studies of unidentified TeV sources discovered by VERITAS. The full and rich scientific program that can be expected from VERITAS for the next several years will give offer the Barnard group the opportunity to maintain a strong high energy research program.Broader Impact: The PI continues to play a strong role in outreach efforts to K-12 students. Activities have included the mentoring of students at local public schools, and public lectures, usually involving topics in astrophysics. The PI's research at Barnard College, a four-year liberal arts school for women, has significant impact on attracting women to astrophysical research. Example of STACEE-related technical work that have had broader impact include (1) design and implementation of new types of non-imaging optical systems, (2) the development of mirror measurement techniques for solar energy applications, and (3) software development for high speed data acquisition.