02/07/2022
By Lynne Schaufenbil
Abstract:
The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory has been taking continuous high-statistics measurements of TeV gamma rays and cosmic rays from two-thirds of the sky since commencing full operations in 2015. With its wide-angle survey capability, and a sensitivity to photon energies reaching over 100 TeV, HAWC is advancing studies of a diverse set of sources in the galactic plane, pushing the search for dark matter and physics beyond the Standard Model to unprecedented regimes, participating in a rapid, multi-wavelength followup program for transient objects, and providing a unique window into the astroparticle physics of the inner solar system by monitoring the Sun and the Moon. I will present recent highlights from the HAWC measurements that are highly complementary to those of other ground-based gamma-ray and neutrino telescopes, and discuss the role of wide-angle surveys in the era of multi messenger astronomy.
Bio:
Mehr Un Nisa is a postdoctoral researcher in particle astrophysics at the Michigan State University. Her research interests include the search for cosmic ray accelerators, dark matter, and observational gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy. She received her PhD from the University of Rochester in 2019.
Please contact Lynne_Schaufenbil@uml.edu for the Zoom link if you are interested in attending.