Multi-TeV Particle Astrophysics with the HAWC Observatory
Il Prof. Miguel Mostafà terrà un seminario dal titolo:
"Multi-TeV Particle Astrophysics with the HAWC Observatory"
mercoledì 10 novembre ore 11.30-12.30 in aula Caianiello
Abstract
High-energy gamma-ray observations are an essential probe of cosmic-ray acceleration mechanisms. The detection of the highest energy gamma rays and the shortest timescales of variability are the key to improve our understanding of the acceleration processes and the environment of the cosmic accelerators.
The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) experiment is a large field of view, multi-TeV, gamma-ray observatory continuously operating at 4,100 m a.s.l. since March, 2015. The HAWC observatory has an order of magnitude better sensitivity, angular resolution, and background rejection than the previous generation of water-Cherenkov arrays. The improved performance allows us to discover TeV sources, to detect transient events, to study the Galactic diffuse emission at TeV energies, and to measure or constrain the TeV spectra of GeV gamma-ray sources.
In this seminar I will present the most recent results using five years of data from the HAWC observatory. I will also mention the exciting perspectives of building a next-generation gamma-ray experiment at very high altitude in the Southern Hemisphere and the CTA synergy.
Biosketch:
Miguel Mostafá is a professor of physics and of astronomy & astrophysics at the Pennsylvania State University, and director of the Center for Multimessenger Astrophysics at the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC). The IGC is a multidisciplinary institute of Penn State researchers dedicated to the study of the most fundamental structure and constituents of the Universe.
He has been working on ultra-high energy cosmic rays as a member of the Pierre Auger Collaboration for more than 20 years. He joined the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Collaboration in 2009. He is the principal investigator of the Astrophysical Multi-Messenger Observatory Network at Penn State since 2013. He is working on the development of two new projects: one for a high-altitude gamma-ray observatory in South America, and another one for the radio detection of ultra-high energy neutrinos in China. He was elected fellow of the American Physical Society in 2016, and his teaching awards include the C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching sponsored by the Eberly College of Science Alumni Society at Penn State, Best Teacher Award from the Colorado State University's Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Connection, the Outstanding Mentor Award presented by the Students as Leaders in Science also at Colorado State University, and the Students Choice Award sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Utah. He is also the Chair-elect of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Physical Society.
Proponenti
Carla Aramo
Roberta Colalillo
Fausto Guarino
Laura Valore