Particle Astrophysics with VERITAS Data and Towards Science with CTAO

This research seeks to improve our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature by studying some of the most extreme environments in the Universe. These include the remains of exploded stars, neutron stars, and black holes, where particles are accelerated to energies far beyond those that can be produced in laboratories on Earth. Scientists investigate these environments by observing very-high-energy gamma rays, which carry more than a trillion times the energy of visible light and provide unique information about the physical processes occurring in these powerful cosmic accelerators. Because gamma rays do not reach the ground, they must be detected indirectly using imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, which observe the brief flashes of light produced when gamma rays interact with Earth's atmosphere. This project will develop innovative telescope designs and advanced imaging technologies to improve the sensitivity, resolution, and imaging performance of the next generation of gamma-ray observatories. These advances will enable new discoveries about gamma-ray bursts, jets from black holes, and dark matter, which accounts for most of the matter in the Universe. The project will also strengthen U.S. leadership in astrophysics by advancing both scientific knowledge and astronomical instrumentation. In addition, it will provide research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers, while engaging the public through outreach and citizen-science activities. This award supports research by the UCLA Very High Energy (VHE) Astrophysics Group, which has played a leading role in the scientific success of the VERITAS Observatory, pioneered the development of the Schwarzschild–Couder Telescope (SCT), and is an active contributor to the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). Current research with VERITAS focuses on time-domain and multi-messenger astrophysics through coordinated observations with the IceCube and LIGO/Virgo observatories, studies of extended very-high-energy gamma-ray sources in our Galaxy, including the Galactic Center and objects discovered by the LHAASO and HAWC observatories, and investigations of fundamental questions such as the nature of dark matter and the origin of primordial magnetic fields. The UCLA group has made major contributions to the commissioning, operation, scientific use, and data analysis of the wide-field-of-view SCT. These efforts are advancing astronomical instrumentation and demonstrating technologies that will improve the capabilities of the CTAO-South Observatory. This award will also support the group's transition from VERITAS to CTAO through participation in commissioning the optical systems of the CTAO-North Large-Sized Telescopes and the CTAO-South Medium-Sized Telescopes, while helping define the observatory's flagship science programs. 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.