WoU-MMA: Teraelectronvolt Astrophysics of Relativistic Jets

WoU-MMA：相对论喷流的太电子伏天体物理学

• 批准号: 2310161
• 负责人: Manel Errando
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 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: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2310161&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: WoU; MMA; Teraelectronvolt; Astrophysics; Relativistic

Relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are some of the most powerful particle accelerators in the Universe. Powered by accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole, the AGN jets have been observed from radio wavelengths to teraelectronvolt (TeV) gamma-ray energies. Recent tentative spatial and temporal correlations between observations of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos and AGN have provided new indications of the particles and acceleration mechanisms involved in the extreme jet environment. This award supports researchers at Washington University to conduct studies of of AGN with simultaneous TeV gamma-ray observations with VERITAS (the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope System at the Whipple Observatory in Arizona) and X-ray observations with IXPE satellite. The team will complete and deliver a public legacy dataset of AGN observations, including a first unbiased survey of a flux-limited sample at TeV energies. The team will also create summer research internships for local high school students from the St. Louis public schools and establish a network of regional science teachers and counselors to support student engagement in the STEM fields. Understanding the astrophysical and cosmological roles of supermassive black holes (active galactic nuclei – AGN) in the evolution of galaxies serves as a pathfinder to advance our knowledge of extragalactic science. Identifying the dominant particle acceleration mechanisms associated with AGN would establish a benchmark against which the models that produce high-energy gamma-rays, cosmic rays, and neutrinos in these extreme environments may be tested. Utilizing TeV gamma-ray observations of X-ray observed blazars (AGN with the jet aligned with the direction of the Earth) holds the potential to discriminate between competing postulated particle acceleration mechanisms that power the emission of the AGN jets. In addition, a legacy survey of TeV gamma-ray emission from AGN, resulting from this award, will establish a unique dataset with which to perform the model tests and ultimately probe the possible links between the neutrino and gamma-ray luminosity in AGN jets. 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.

活性银河核（AGN）中的相对论喷射是宇宙中一些最强大的粒子加速器。通过物质上的积聚到超大质黑洞，已经观察到从无线电波长到teraelectronvolt（TEV）伽马射线能量的AGN喷气机。高能天体物理神经元和AGN的观察结果之间的最新租赁空间和临时相关性为极端喷气环境中包括的颗粒和加速机制提供了新的指示。该奖项支持华盛顿大学的研究人员通过使用Veritas（亚利桑那州Whipple天文台的非常有力的辐射成像系统）和Ix-ray观察进行简单的TEV伽马射线观察进行AGN研究。该团队将完成并提供公共遗产数据集的AGN观察数据集，包括对TEV Energies中通量有限样本的首次无偏调查。该团队还将为来自圣路易斯公立学校的当地高中学生创建夏季研究实习，并建立一个区域科学教师和公民网络，以支持学生参与STEM领域的参与。了解超级质量黑洞（活跃的银河核 - AGN）在星系进化中的天体物理和宇宙学作用，是一种探索我们对外层次科学的了解的探路者。识别与AGN相关的主要粒子加速机制将建立一个基准，在这些极端环境中产生高能量伽马射线，宇宙射线和神经元的模型可以进行测试。利用X射线观察到的Blazar的TEV伽马射线观察（与射流与地球方向排列的AGN）具有区分竞争性假定的粒子加速机制，从而为AGN喷气机发射提供动力。此外，由此奖项产生的TEV Gamma射线发射的遗产调查将建立一个独特的数据集，该数据集使用该数据集进行模型测试，并最终探测AGN Jets中神经元和伽马射线亮度之间可能的联系。该项目推动了NSF Windows在宇宙大想法上的目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准来评估值得支持。