VERITAS at the "U"
VERITAS is a ground-based gamma-ray observatory with
an array of four 12m Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) located at the
Mt. Hopkins base camp site in southern Arizona. The array allows images of the same shower to be recorded from
different view points. This leads to reconstruction of the primary particle with great precision and discrimination
against cosmic rays. The gamma ray sky brings us information about the most violent phenomenon in the universe,
from super-novae and their possible role in cosmic ray acceleration to the accretion of material onto super massive
black holes in distant galaxies. It is also a window through which the most intriguing questions of astrophysics
can be addressed like the nature of dark matter and dark energy in the universe.
Besides data analysis, we also contribute to the design and construction of the array at different levels:
Simulation
Optical calibration
Electronic calibration
Trigger electronics
Cabling
Information on these projects is found on the
projects page.
Other Gamma Ray Projects
Whipple 10 Meter
Whipple 10m telescope is
the pioneer of the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov technique and the predecessor of VERITAS. It is based at the
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in Southern
Arizona.
Here at U of U we are working on:
the search for signature of dark matter in the core of nearby galaxies
the diffuse emission from molecular clouds
survey of hotspots in the Tibet and Milagro data
GrISU: Atmospheric Cherenkov Simulation
GrISU is a simulation package
maintained by Charlie Duke from Grinnell
College, Department of Physics and by Stephan LeBohec from University of Utah, Physics department. GrISU is developed for the simulation of Atmospheric Cherenkov detector arrays
and is currently updated for data analysis by Stephan LeBohec and Pierre Colin here at the University of Utah
Physics department.
SGARFACE
SGARFACE (Short GAmma Ray Front Air Cherenkov Experiment) is an experiment providing unprecedented sensitivity
to gamma-ray-bursts of more than 100MeV with durations inferior to 100us. Such short gamma ray bursts have never
been searched for with such a high sensitivity. A detection could betray the existence of primordial black holes.
Contact Stephan LeBohec for more details.
Current Talks
Garry with M87
Matthew with 1ES1218
Michael with h1426
