Gamma Ray Astronomy and Astrophysics with the VERITAS Observatory

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。它将继续为执行操作和分析来自VERITAS天文台的数据提供支持。它还将支持该小组在位于亚利桑那州阿马多的F.L.惠普尔天文台的VERITAS望远镜的持续维护和升级中所扮演的角色。该天文台使用四个12米直径的成像大气切伦科夫望远镜（IACTs）阵列来记录由极高能量（VHE）伽马射线与地球大气相互作用产生的切伦科夫光的微弱闪光。这些伽马射线提供了与活动星系核相关的喷流的相对论性、非热过程的直接探测。该小组将使用VERITAS的观测来探测天体物理现象，如星暴星系、银河系/仙女座的低表面亮度伴星，以及银河平面的漫射辐射，这是我们银河系中宇宙射线起源的示踪剂。他们还将与其他调查一起对VERITAS数据进行多波长观测和分析。该计划的更广泛影响将包括教育和公共宣传项目。该组织一直是犹他州第一个研究生天文学学位课程创建背后的推动力，并创建了一个区域/国家联盟，以开发和运营犹他州南部的一个新的高空光学/红外天文台。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). It will provide continued support to perform operations and to analyze data from the VERITAS Observatory. It will also support the group's role in the ongoing maintenance and upgrades of the VERITAS telescopes located at the F.L. Whipple Observatory in Amado, AZ. The Observatory uses an array of four 12-meter diameter Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) to record faint flashes of Cherenkov light generated by Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-rays interacting with the Earth's atmosphere. These gamma-rays provide a direct probe of relativistic, non-thermal process in jets associated with Active Galactic Nuclei. The group will use VERITAS observations to probe astrophysical phenomena such as starburst galaxies, low surface brightness companions to the Milky Way/Andromeda, and diffuse emission from the Galactic plane, a tracer of cosmic ray origin in our Galaxy. They will also pursue multi-wavelength observations and analysis of VERITAS data in conjunction with other surveys. The broader impacts of the program will include Education and Public Outreach programs. The group has been the driving force behind the creation of the state of Utah's first graduate Astronomy degree program and has created a regional/national consortium to develop and operate a new high altitude optical/IR observatory in Southern Utah.