Particle Astrophysics at TeV Energies with VERITAS

伽玛射线天体物理学是一个快速发展的领域，在过去的五年里，随着新一代地面切伦科夫望远镜的成功，如位于亚利桑那州南部的VERITAS（非常高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统）和费米伽玛射线太空望远镜的发射，伽玛射线天体物理学经历了巨大的发展。高能（VHE，能量超过100 GeV）伽马射线观测以最高的光子能量采样天空，指向最极端的宇宙加速器。粒子被加速并产生VHE伽马射线的机制引起了极大的兴趣，因为这种加速发生的极端环境：强辐射场（脉冲星）、激波加速（SNRs）或吸积驱动的相对论性喷流（blazars）。探测到的源的数量呈指数级增长，加上观测质量的提高，极大地提高了我们对宇宙中最极端过程的认识。该奖项为巴纳德学院的科学家提供了运行资金，用于使用VERITAS进行高能天体物理学研究，VERITAS是一个由四个大型成像大气切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列，自2007年春季以来已全面投入使用。VERITAS代表了宇宙中极端天体物理过程研究的巨大进步，并提供了高质量的伽马射线观测和越来越多的源探测。PI将参与观察活动，开展科学数据分析，并致力于改进VERITAS分析技术的代码开发。特别是，PI将重点研究河外源，如耀斑类的活动星系核（AGN），以及银河系源，以及未识别的GeV-TeV源，包括档案和新的多波长研究，以研究这些物体中粒子加速的本质。更广泛的影响：巴纳德集团希望在推广K-12学生方面发挥重要作用。作为巴纳德学院的教员，PI通过参加学院赞助的科学讲座（如周六科学研讨会），能够接触到对科学感兴趣的广大高中女生。在巴纳德学院（Barnard College），一所四年制女子文理学院，PI的研究对影响物理科学领域的女性产生了重大影响，PI将继续成为天体物理学研究领域本科女性的导师。

Gamma-ray astrophysics is a rapidly evolving field that has experienced a huge development during the last five years with the successes of a new generation of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes, such as VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System), located in southern Arizona, and the launch of the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. Very high energy (VHE, with energies above 100 GeV) gamma-ray observations sample the sky at the highest photon energies, pointing towards the most extreme cosmic accelerators. The mechanisms by which particles are accelerated and produce VHE gamma-rays are of great interest because of the extreme environments where such acceleration takes place: strong radiation fields (pulsars), shock acceleration (SNRs) or accretion powered relativistic jets (blazars).The exponentially increasing numbers of detected sources, together with the improved quality of observations, are dramatically improving our knowledge of the most extreme processes in the universe.This award provides operational funding for scientists at Barnard College to carry out high energy astrophysics studies with VERITAS, an array of four large imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that has been fully operational since spring 2007. VERITAS represents a dramatic step forward in the study of extreme astrophysical processes in the universe, and is providing high-quality gamma-ray observations and an increasing number of source detections. The PI will contribute by participating in observing campaigns, carrying out scientific data analysis, and working on code development for improvements to VERITAS analysis techniques. In particular, the PI will focus on the study of extragalactic sources such as active galactic nuclei (AGN) of the blazar class, as well as Galactic sources, and unidentified GeV-TeV sources, including both archival and new multi-wavelength studies, in order to study the nature of particle acceleration in these objects. Broader Impact: The Barnard Group expects to play a strong role in outreach efforts to K-12 students. As a Barnard College faculty member, the PI is able to reach a broad audience of high school girls interested in science by participating in college-sponsored science lectures such as the Saturday Science Seminars. The PI's research at Barnard College, a 4-year liberal arts school for women, has significant impact in influencing women in the physical sciences, and the PI will continue to be a mentor to undergraduate women in astrophysics research.