RUI: Investigating Extragalactic Gamma Ray Propagation

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。该奖项支持加州州立大学东湾分校(CSUEB)的科学家们在Veritas方面的工作。弗尼斯博士和她的团队将分析Veritas的数据，以研究发射高能伽马射线的星系，并探测渗透宇宙的河外磁场。这个项目将直接让本科生参与粒子天体物理研究。参与该项目的学生将参观VERITAS天文台，并为现场操作和数据收集做出贡献。CSUEB小组将收集和利用VERITAS观测到的非常高能量发射的活动星系来研究河外伽马射线光子传播。该小组将为这些来源的第一个Veritas河外星表做出贡献。将测试伽马射线星系的各向同性，并将使用公开可用的星表来描述源相对于源视线的综合质量密度的位置。银河系外磁场视线与探测到的源之间的理论联系将通过使用河外伽马射线启动级联的模拟来研究。这一奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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 California State University East Bay (CSUEB) in their work on VERITAS. Dr. Furniss and her group will analyze VERITAS data to study high-energy gamma-ray emitting galaxies and probe the extragalactic magnetic fields that permeate the Universe. This project will directly engage undergraduates in particle astrophysics research. Students involved in the project will visit the VERITAS observatory and contribute to on-site operations and data collection.The CSUEB group will collect and utilize VERITAS observations of very high-energy emitting active galaxies to study extragalactic gamma-ray photon propagation. The group will contribute to the first VERITAS extragalactic catalog of these sources. The isotropy of gamma-ray galaxies will be tested, and the location of the sources with respect to the integrated mass density along the source lines-of-sight will be characterized using publicly available catalogs. A theoretical connection between the extragalactic magnetic fields along the lines of sight to detected sources will be investigated through the use of simulations of extragalactic gamma-ray initiated cascades.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.