High Energy Gamma-Ray Astrophysics with STACEE

科学/智力价值：超高能(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途径之一。在这份提案中，国际和平研究所要求提供资金，以便(A)继续在太阳塔大气切伦科夫效应实验(STACEE)项目中开展合作，以及(B)通过加入非常活跃的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努力。Stacee是一种地面探测器，对能量范围在50到1000 GeV之间的伽马射线很敏感。Stacee的一个独特特征是它在低于250GeV的能量下工作，这一区域超出了目前大多数大气切伦科夫望远镜(ACTS)的范围。Stacee的测量旨在探索已知的最强大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的合作正在建造一系列成像大气切伦科夫望远镜，用于地面伽马射线天文。该项目的第一阶段包括四个12米的望远镜，将安装在亚利桑那州基特皮克的马蹄峡谷。VERITAS代表着在宇宙极端天体物理过程研究方面迈出的显著一步，预计将大幅增加甚高能量(E 100GeV)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年结束其运行。Barnard小组打算在本提案的第二年将其在Stacee上的工作仅限于数据分析(即，不进行操作)。过去，PI参与这项实验得到了NSF之前的三笔拨款的支持，这为研究生和本科生提供了强有力的支持，并为专注于Stacee校准系统和数据分析的积极研究计划奠定了基础。PI在这里建议继续这一计划，参与持续状态观测阶段、探测器校准和数据分析。PI的一个科学重点是来自Stacee的与活动星系有关的数据，以及它在AGN发射模型中的分析。PI还请求资金通过(1)支持VERITAS上的研究科学家，(2)参与VERITAS观测计划，模拟研究和科学数据分析，以及(3)对VERITAS发现的不明TeV源进行多波长研究来研究VERITAS。VERITAS在未来几年可以预期的全面而丰富的科学计划将为Barnard集团提供机会，以保持强大的高能量研究计划。更广泛的影响：PI继续在K-12学生的外联工作中发挥强大的作用。活动包括在当地公立学校指导学生，以及公开讲座，通常涉及天体物理学的主题。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大影响。巴纳德学院是一所面向女性的四年制文理学院。具有更广泛影响的STACEE相关技术工作的例子包括(1)设计和实施新型非成像光学系统，(2)开发用于太阳能应用的镜面测量技术，以及(3)用于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.