Expanding the Discovery Potential of VERITAS via Moonlight Observations

Benbow, Wystan R.¹ 

[1] Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA. (United States)

关键词: NONLUMINOUS MATTER;    COSMOLOGY;    BLACK HOLES VERITAS;    gamma-ray;    particle physics;    fundamental laws;    dark matter;    Lorentz invariance violation;    cosmology;    black holes;    AGN;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1162050
RP-ID  :  DOE-SMITHSONIAN--0001131
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1162050

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

This grant partially supported the base research efforts of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Very-High-Energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray research group from 8/1/09 to 7/31/14. During the project period, the SAO gamma-ray group carried out a wide-range of research efforts, but focused on VHE observations of extragalactic sources with VERITAS. The SAO group led or co-lead nearly all VERITAS extragalactic working groups and the observations addressed themes in Particle Physics and Fundamental Laws, Cosmology, and Black Holes. The primary topics of this research were processes in exotic galaxies, especially active galactic nuclei and starburst galaxies, which have implications for cosmology and Lorentz invariance violation, as well as indirect dark matter detection via VERITAS observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. In addition, the SAO group let the development of unique capabilities for VERITAS to observe during all periods of moonlight. Overall, this has increased the VERITAS data yield by 60% and these data are both scientifically useful and regularly published. This grant funded research that led to contributions towards the publication of 51 refereed journal articles during the project period, including several led by, or with significant contributions from, the SAO group.