VERITAS Observations of Blazars

TL;DR

This paper reports on VERITAS's extensive observations of blazars, leading to the detection of VHE gamma-ray emissions from 16 AGN, including 8 new detections, advancing understanding of these energetic sources.

Contribution

It presents the most comprehensive VHE gamma-ray observations of blazars to date, including new detections and deep exposures, enhancing knowledge of AGN emissions.

Findings

Detected VHE gamma-rays from 16 AGN, including 8 new sources.

Conducted the deepest VHE exposures of blazars to date.

Provided insights into the VHE emission mechanisms of blazars.

Abstract

The VERITAS array of four 12-m diameter imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes in southern Arizona is used to study very high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from astrophysical objects. VERITAS is currently the most sensitive VHE gamma-ray observatory in the world and one of the VERITAS collaboration's Key Science Projects (KSP) is the study of blazars. These active galactic nuclei (AGN) are the most numerous class of identified VHE sources, with ~30 known to emit VHE photons. More than 70 AGN, almost all of which are blazars, have been observed with the VERITAS array since 2007, in most cases with the deepest-ever VHE exposure. These observations have resulted in the detection of VHE gamma-rays from 16 AGN (15 blazars), including 8 for the first time at these energies. The VERITAS blazar KSP is summarized in this proceeding and selected results are presented.