RUI: TeV Observations of Galactic Sources with VERITAS

宇宙中有一些物体能够将粒子加速到数十或数百TeV的能量。伽马射线是研究这些宇宙加速器中极端物理的重要探测器。高能伽马射线已经从各种各样的来源被探测到，比如星系中心的超大质量黑洞、脉冲星风星云、超新星遗迹和双星系统。高能伽马射线的详细测量，结合其他波长的观测，将极大地增强我们对这些物体的加速和发射机制的理解。该RUI奖将为大山谷州立大学（GVSU）的科学家提供支持，使他们能够利用位于亚利桑那州南部弗雷德劳伦斯惠普尔天文台的高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统VERITAS进行研究。VERITAS是一个由四个成像大气切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列，旨在通过成像切伦科夫光在光子撞击地球大气层时产生的闪光来探测高能伽马射线（100 GeV - 50 TeV）。GVSU的研究工作将集中在银河TeV源，特别是紧凑型双星、脉冲星和不明伽玛射线源，以及对这些物体的多波长研究。服务工作将针对提高VERITAS指向监视系统的性能，提高VERITAS望远镜的指向精度和光学性能。在更广泛的影响下，该项目将为GVSU的本科生提供进行高能天体物理学重点研究的机会，并获得广泛的研究技能。GVSU拥有多元化的本科生，其中许多是第一代大学生或来自传统上代表性不足的群体的学生。

The universe contains objects capable of accelerating particles to energies of tens or hundreds of TeV. Gamma rays are an important probe to study the extreme physics in these cosmic accelerators. High-energy gamma rays have been detected from a variety of sources such as supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies, pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, and binary star systems. Detailed measurements of high-energy gamma rays, in conjunction with observations at other wavelengths, will greatly enhance our understanding of the acceleration and emission mechanisms in these objects.This RUI award will provide support for scientists at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to conduct research with VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona. VERITAS is an array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes designed to detect very-high-energy gamma rays (100 GeV - 50 TeV) by imaging the flashes of Cherenkov light produced when these photons impact the Earth's atmosphere. The research efforts at GVSU will focus on Galactic TeV sources, in particular compact binaries, pulsars, and unidentified gamma-ray sources, and on multi-wavelength studies of these objects. Service efforts will be directed towards improving the performance of the VERITAS Pointing Monitor system and improving the pointing accuracy and optical properties of the VERITAS telescopes.Under Broader Impacts, this project will provide undergraduate students at GVSU with the opportunity to conduct focused research in high-energy astrophysics and acquire a broad range of research skills. GVSU has a diverse population of undergraduate students many of which are first-generation college students or students from traditionally underrepresented groups.