Galactic Particle Astrophysics

伽马射线是电磁辐射的最高能量形式。对天体物理伽马射线的观测可以作为宇宙中最极端环境中的物理条件和过程的探测器，并可用于测试基本物理。位于亚利桑那州南部的高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统(VERITAS)旨在对银河系和河外光源进行高灵敏度的定点观测。该奖项支持爱荷华大学的科学家在Veritas方面的工作。该小组将为天文台的运作做出贡献，并对来自高能星系伽马射线源的数据进行科学分析。他们还将领导建立一个长期可访问的Veritas数据档案的努力。每年夏天，该小组将通过爱荷华大学暑期研究机会项目接待一名来自少数族裔群体的本科生暑期实习生。爱荷华大学小组将使用VERITAS研究超高能银河粒子加速器，以探索它们的加速机制。他们将与Veritas一起观测新的脉冲星风星云和扩展的贝壳型超新星遗迹，这些遗迹最初是由互补的伽马射线观测天文台探测到的。他们将继续操作和维护VERITAS定点监视器，并为阵列作业作出贡献。该小组还将领导一项新的努力，将来自VERITAS的高级科学成果存档到NASA HEARSAC系统中。

Gamma-rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation. Observations of astrophysical gamma-rays serve as probes of physical conditions and processes in the most extreme environments throughout the Universe, and can be used to test fundamental physics. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), located in southern Arizona, is designed to perform high-sensitivity pointed observations of both galactic and extragalactic sources. This award supports scientists at the University of Iowa in their work on VERITAS. The group will contribute to operations of the observatory and conduct scientific analysis of data from highly-energetic galactic gamma-ray sources. They will also lead an effort to establish a long-term accessible archive of the VERITAS data. Each summer, the group will host an undergraduate summer intern from an underrepresented minority group through the University of Iowa Summer Research Opportunities Program.The University of Iowa group will use VERITAS to study very high energy galactic particle accelerators to probe their acceleration mechanisms. They will observe with VERITAS the new pulsar wind nebulae and extended shell-type supernova remnants originally detected by complementary gamma-ray survey observatories. They will continue to operate and maintain the VERITAS pointing monitors and to contribute to array operations. The group will also lead a new effort to archive the high-level science results from VERITAS within the NASA HEARSAC system.