Research Projects
Our group is involved in VERITAS and Fermi-LAT data analysis on a variety of topics, focused on both galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray sources, with an eye on multi-messenger information coming from neutrinos and gravitational waves. Additionally, we are actively involved in technical development for the upgrade of the pSCT, a prototype dual-mirror Cherenkov telescope for CTA.
Extragalactic Astrophysical Sources
- Characterization of new blazars
- Blazar population studies
- Imprint of the Extragalactic Background Light on blazar spectra
- Radio galaxies
- Blazar Luminosity Function and the Extragalactic Gamma Ray Background
Galactic Objects
- Characterization of the Northern TeV Pulsar Wind Nebulae
- Pulsar Wind Nebula population studies
- PeVatrons
- Unidentified Sources
- Fermi Unidentified Sources as Dark Matter Candidates
- Gamma emission in Galactic novae
- TeV haloes
Multi-messenger astronomy
- Gamma-ray searches of neutrino sources
- Gamma-ray searches of gravitational wave sources
Instrumentation and Development
- pSCT optics and alignment software
- pSCT flasher for camera calibration
- pSCT camera upgrade
Current and Next-Generation Gamma-Ray Missions
- VERITAS Gamma-Ray Observatory
- Prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT)
- GRAMS Gamma-Ray and Anti-Matter Spectrometer
The pSCT uses a secondary mirror to correct comatic aberrations and achieve an aplanatic optical system with 8° wide field of view (FoV) and is the first of its kind in the history of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). The demagnifying secondary mirror of the SCT improves imaging and significantly reduces the focal plane plate scale compared to the traditional Davies Cotton Telescopes. This permits the construction of a high imaging resolution, 0.8m diameter camera of the SCT with 11,328 pixels of 0.067°, while the equivalent DCT version of the MST is assembled from 1,570 pixels of 0.18° in a camera of 2.3m in diameter.
The GRAMS experiment is one of the NASA Physics of the Cosmos missions. We collaborate with GRAMS PI at Columbia (Georgia Karagiorgi) and GRAMS PI at Northeastern University (Tsuguo Aramaki) on GRAMS. It aims to deliver unprecedented sensitivities to astrophysical observations with MeV gamma rays and indirect dark matter searches with antimatter. GRAMS will use a cost-effective, large-scale Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) detector for measuring MeV gamma rays. GRAMS was recently selected for the NASA APRA-2022 (Astrophysics Research and Analysis) program, which includes the detector development and the prototypeflight in 2025/2026.
