Gamma-ray astrophysics with VERITAS

此申请是为了资助麦吉尔参与VERITAS伽马射线天文学项目。VERITAS是全球三大伽马射线天文探测器之一。它由四个大型望远镜组成的阵列，旨在探测高能天体物理伽马射线在高层大气相互作用时产生的高能电子和正电子发出的紫外线和蓝光。这种伽马射线产生于极端环境，如超新星遗迹和活动星系核。也可能有伽马射线来自更奇异的起源，如星系核心的暗物质粒子湮灭或原始黑洞的蒸发。因此，它们可以为粒子物理学提供线索，其能量超过地球上的加速器所能探测的能量。VERITAS阵列于2007年在亚利桑那州南部完成，并于当年9月开始进行四台望远镜的观测。到目前为止，我们已经发现了几个新的高能源，并对其他已知的高能源进行了改进的测量。我们利用X射线、光学和射电望远镜以及新发射的（2008年）费米伽马射线空间望远镜提供的数据参加了多波长活动，费米伽马射线空间望远镜涵盖的伽马射线能量范围刚好低于VERITAS的敏感范围。VERITAS探测器已经达到并超过了所有的设计规格，我们即将开始一项升级计划，使其更加灵敏。根据前两年的产出，我们预计会有一个高科学生产力和许多令人兴奋的新成果的时期。

This application is for funding to support McGill participation in the VERITAS gamma-ray astronomy project. VERITAS is one of three major gamma-ray astronomy detectors world-wide. It consists of an array of four large telescopes designed to detect ultraviolet and blue light emitted by the energetic electrons and positrons produced when high-energy astrophysical gamma rays interact in the upper atmosphere. Such gamma rays are produced in extreme environments such as supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei. There may also be gamma rays which come from more exotic origins such as annihilation of dark-matter particles in the cores of galaxies or from evaporation of primordial black holes. As such, they could provide clues to particle physics at energies beyond what can be probed at earth-bound accelerators. The VERITAS array was completed in 2007 in southern Arizona and began four-telescope observations in September of that year. So far we have discovered several new high energy sources and have made improved measurements on others that were already known. We have participated in multi-wavelength campaigns with data from X-ray, optical and radio telescopes, as well as the newly launched (2008) Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope which covers the gamma-ray energy range just below that where VERITAS is sensitive. The VERITAS detector has met and exceeded all design specifications and we are about to begin an upgrade program to make it even more sensitive. Based on the output from the first two years we expect a period of high scientific productivity and many exciting new results.