Scientific Interests:
Gamma-ray and neutrino astrophysics
Particle Physics
High energy cosmic ray physics
Experimental Program:
Very Energetic Radiation
Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS)
VERITAS is new state-of-the-art observatory of very high-energy gamma
rays in the energy range between 50 GeV and 50 TeV. The initial phase
of VERITAS consists of four large (12m diameter) reflectors, each viewed
by a camera of 500 photomultiplier tubes. Each tube is read out by a
500 MHz Flash-ADC. The VERITAS construction took place between 2003
and 2006 and the four-telescope array started full operations in
May 2007. UCLA has primary responsibility for several of the construction
sub-projects, including the Level 1 Trigger, the Level 3 (multi-Telescope)
Trigger, and the online data storage and archiving facility.
UCLA also plays a major role in the Sky Survey and Dark Matter
Key Science Projects.
General AntiParticle Spectrometer
(GAPS) Experiment
GAPS is a proposed balloon-borne experiment to search for anti-deuterons in the
cosmic rays. Anti-deuterons at energies below 1 GeV are a unique signature
of annihilating supersymmetric dark matter. GAPS will consist of a large
array of Si(Li) detectors surrounded by a time of flight (ToF) detector. UCLA
is responsible for elements of the ToF, trigger, and electronic systems.
Gamma Ray Large Area Space
Telescope (GLAST)
GLAST is a newly operational gamma-ray satellite launched by NASA on
June 11, 2008.
The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on GLAST has an
energy range between 10 MeV and 300 GeV. The LAT consists of silicon strip detectors
for tracking and a CsI calorimeter for energy measurement.
GLAST is now fully operational with exciting results expected soon.
Advanced Gamma-ray Imaging
System (AGIS)
AGIS is a future, major gamma-ray observatory that would greatly expand
our understanding of the high-energy and very high-energy universe.
Currently in an R&D phase, AGIS could consist of 50-100 atmospheric
Cherenkov telescopes spread out over an area of ~1 sq-km. AGIS would be
a logical follow-up to the VERITAS and GLAST projects that are currently
operational.
Solar Tower Atmospheric
Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE)
STACEE used the atmospheric Cherenkov technique to detect gamma rays
at energies between 50 and 500 GeV. Until recently, this energy
range was not explored by any other experiment. In 1999, a early version
of STACEE detected ~4,800 high-energy gamma-rays from the Crab Nebula,
and in 2001, rapid flares of gamma rays were detected from the blazar
Markarian 421. Starting in 2002, the completed STACEE carried out
a comprehensive program of observations of galactic and extragalactic
sources. In 2006, STACEE reported spectral measurements of the Crab Nebula
and Markarian 421 at energies between 150 GeV and 1500 GeV. Most recently
STACEE reported results from observations of 23 gamma-ray bursts, the pulsar
PSR 1951+32, and the Draco dwarf galaxy. UCLA was the lead university on STACEE.
Research Group:
Stephen Fegan, Research Associate (with V. Vassiliev), sfegan-at-astro.ucla.edu
Amanda Weinstein, Research Associate, amandaw-at-astro.ucla.edu
Jeff Zweerink, Assistant Research Physicist, zweerink-at-astro.ucla.edu
Ozlem Celik, Graduate Student, celik-at-astro.ucla.edu
Ken Chow, Graduate Student, yckchow-at-astro.ucla.edu
Matthew Wood, Graduate Student (with V. Vassiliev), mdwood-at-astro.ucla.edu
Daniel Margala, Undergraduate
Nickolas McColl, Undergraduate
Alumni:
Post-docs and students who have worked with me (their last known location and position):
Former Post-Docs
| Mark Chantell | University of Chicago, Staff |
| Zoa Conner | George Washington University |
| Corbin Covault | Case Western Reserve University, Assoc. Professor |
| Brian Fick | Michigan Technical University, Assoc. Professor |
| Lucy Fortson | Adler Planetarium, Director of Astronomy |
| Kevin Green | Castelebridge, LLC |
| Jim Hinton | University of Leeds, STFC Fellow |
Former Graduate Students (chronological)
| Joseph Fowler | Princeton University, Asst. Professor |
| Scott Oser | University of British Columbia, Asst. Professor |
| Jennifer Carson | Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Alex Jarvis | Disney Productions, Analyst |
Former Undergraduates (some of them, chronological from 1990-2008)
| Peter Burke | University of California, Irvine, Assoc. Professor |
| Sunil Golwala | California Inst. of Technology, Asst. Professor |
| Peter Rauske | University of Chicago, Graduate Student |
| Zandra Wells | Lawrence Family Practice, MD |
| Hugh Kim | Tiger Asia Management, Director |
| Matthew Pritchard | Cornell University, Asst. Professor |
| Anthony Miceli | University of Washington, Graduate Student |
| Dan Schuette | Cornell University, Graduate Student |
| Eugene Chae | University of Chicago (last known location) |
| Nicolas Rassat | Ecole Polytechnique, Graduate Student |
| Susan Channels | Costa Mesa, CA, CPA |
| Jason Minamora | California Inst. of Technology, Graduate Student |
| Katy Tschann-Grimm | SUNY-Stony Brook, Graduate Student |
| Thomas Fishman | Columbia University, Graduate Student |
| Jeffrey Dunworth | University of California, San Diego, Graduate Student |
| William Gignac | University of Chicago, Undergraduate Student |
| Cyrus Rustomji | University of California, Los Angeles, Undergraduate Student |
| Jennifer Helshy | Florida Institute of Technology, Undergraduate Student |
| Jennifer Sierchio | University of Arizona, Undergraduate Student |
Support:
My current research is supported by the National Science Foundation, the DOE, and UCLA. I have also received support from NASA, the Sloan Foundation, and the Grainger Foundation.