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.

对电磁波谱、引力波和中微子等天体物理“信使”的观测，为研究宇宙中一些最极端的现象提供了独特的机会，超高能 (VHE) 伽马射线在这些测量中发挥着独特的作用。他们探测了粒子被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利用高能辐射研究多信使天体物理学。成像望远镜系统（VERITAS）和未来的切伦科夫望远镜阵列（CTA）天文台该研究计划进行了两次专门的搜索，第一次搜索是通过将 VERITAS VHE 伽马射线观测与探测到的高能中微子相结合来寻找天体物理中微子。第二个是寻找VHE伽马射线碎片到引力波事件，该小组还将提供专门的培训计划。该项目包括本科生，将为当地高中开设高能伽马射线大师班，并制作西班牙语材料，向广大公众介绍多信使天体物理学对中微子和伽马射线天空的综合研究。 TeV – PeV 能量范围可以为高能天体物理学中一些最紧迫的问题提供重要的见解，包括宇宙射线的加速和传播、致密天体的表征和定位合并、超大质量黑洞系统的研究以及伽马射线爆发等高能瞬变的特性由于许多潜在过程预计会导致伽马射线和中微子的同时发射，因此联合研究受益于多粒子之间的互连。 -信使通道。这包括与实时高能天体物理中微子事件同时发生的 VERITAS 观测、对候选活动星系核的长期观测以及对明亮耀斑和其他类型的综合研究。该项目推进了 NSF 宇宙之窗大构想的目标。该奖项是 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。 。