The VERITAS Extragalactic non-Blazar Program

TL;DR

VERITAS's extragalactic non-blazar program uses VHE gamma-ray observations to study diverse astrophysical sources, revealing insights into jet structures, cosmic ray acceleration, and pulsar contributions.

Contribution

This paper presents the first comprehensive observational results of VERITAS's non-blazar extragalactic science program, expanding understanding beyond blazar sources.

Findings

Insights into jet structures from MWL campaigns

Detection of VHE gamma rays from starburst galaxy M82

Limits on millisecond pulsar contributions in globular clusters

Abstract

VERITAS is an array of four 12-m diameter imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes located in southern Arizona. Its aim is to study the very high energy (VHE: E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from astrophysical objects. In addition to the study of blazars, the VERITAS extragalactic science program develops a comprehensive observational program of extragalactic non-blazar sources. The study of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is intensively pursued through the large MWL observational campaign on non-blazar radio galaxies. The success of these MWL campaigns has for the first time provided insights to the inner structures of jets responsible for gamma-ray emission. The problem of the origin and acceleration of ultra-high energy cosmic rays is pursued through the observation of the starburst galaxy M 82, whose detection at VHE delivers important insights on the possible acceleration mechanisms. Finally, investigation of globular clusters places important limits on the millisecond pulsar contribution to their addressed gamma-ray emission. The VERITAS extragalactic non-blazar science program and its results are presented.