WoU-MMA: Very-High-Energy Gamma-Rays as a Unique Probe of Multimessenger Astrophysics

WoU-MMA：极高能伽马射线作为多信使天体物理学的独特探测器

• 批准号: 2310158
• 负责人: Juan Santander
• 金额: $ 34.99万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2310158&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: WoU; MMA; Very; Energy; Gamma

The observation of astrophysical “messengers” across the electromagnetic spectrum, gravitational waves, and neutrinos, provides a unique opportunity to study some of the Universe’s most extreme phenomena. Very high-energy (VHE) gamma-rays play a unique role in these measurements as they probe astrophysical environments where particles are accelerated to some of the highest energies observed. This award supports researchers at the University of Alabama to study multi-messenger astrophysics with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System (VERITAS) and the future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory. The research program carries out two dedicated searches. The first search is for sources of astrophysical neutrinos by combining VERITAS VHE gamma-ray observations with high-energy neutrinos detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The second is searches for VHE gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational wave events. In addition, the group will provide a dedicated training program that includes undergraduate students, will develop a Masterclass in high-energy gamma rays for local high schools, and generate Spanish-language materials that introduce the broad public to multi-messenger astrophysics. The combined study of the neutrino and gamma-ray sky in the TeV – PeV energy range can provide important insight into some of the most pressing questions in high-energy astrophysics, including the acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays, the characterization and localization of compact object mergers, the study of supermassive black hole systems, and the properties of energetic transients like gamma-ray bursts. As many of the underlying processes are expected to be responsible for simultaneous gamma-ray and neutrino emission, joint studies benefit from the interconnection between multi-messenger channels. This includes VERITAS observations coincident with real-time high-energy astrophysical neutrino events, long-term observations of candidate active galactic nuclei, and comprehensive studies of bright blazars and other types of extragalactic sources to probe the mechanisms of potential neutrino emitters. This project advances the goals of the NSF Windows on the Universe Big Idea.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.

在电子光谱，引力波和神经元中对天体物理“使者”的观察提供了一个独特的机会，可以研究一些宇宙最极端现象。非常高能量（VHE）伽马射线在这些测量中起着独特的作用，因为它们探测了颗粒加速到观察到的一些最高能量的天体物理环境。该奖项支持阿拉巴马大学的研究人员，以非常充满活力的辐射成像望远镜系统（Veritas）和未来的Cherenkov望远镜阵列（CTA）观察研究多通间的天体物理学。该研究计划进行了两个专门的搜索。首次搜索是通过将Veritas Vhe伽马射线观测与Icecube Neutrino天文台检测到的高能量神经元相结合，来搜索天体物理神经元的来源。第二个是搜索引力波事件的VHE伽马射线对应物。此外，该小组将提供一项专门的培训计划，其中包括本科生，将为当地高中开发高能量伽玛射线的大师班，并生成西班牙语材料，以将广泛的公共公众引入多儿童天体物理学。对TEV - PEV能量范围中神经元和伽马射线天空的结合研究可以为高能天体物理学中一些最紧迫的问题提供重要的洞察力，包括宇宙射线的加速和传播，紧凑型物体合并的表征和定位，对超级杂志黑洞系统的研究，类似于超级大型黑洞系统的研究，以及能量跨性别的构成型物质。由于预计许多基础过程将负责简单的伽马射线和神经元排放，因此联合研究受益于多通信通道之间的互连。包括与实时高能天体神经元事件的Veritas观测结果，对候选活性银河核的长期观察以及对明亮的大麻群和其他类型的外层层次来源的全面研究，以探测潜在神经元发射器的机制。该项目促进了NSF Windows在宇宙大想法上的目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并且使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，被认为值得通过评估来获得支持。