arXiv subjects

John Tomsick

Publications and source records attributed to John Tomsick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Signal processing and data acquisition system for the BTO detectors onboard COSI

The energy range from a few hundred keV to a few MeV includes important probes such as nuclear gamma-rays and the 511 keV annihilation line. However, compared to X-rays and GeV/TeV gamma-rays, this range suffers from lower sensitivity by orders of magnitude. The upcoming NASA SMEX satellite mission Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), scheduled for launch in 2027, is expected to break through this limitation with its Compton telescope utilizing a germanium semiconductor detector, covering the 0.2-5 MeV energy range. In addition to the main instrument, two Background and Transient Observer (BTO) detectors will be installed on COSI. The detectors are NaI(Tl) scintillators coupled with SiPMs, and they are being developed as a student collaboration project. BTO aims to 1) measure background radiation in orbit to maximize COSI's sensitivity and 2) detect GRBs and other gamma-ray transients. For this purpose, it is required to cover the lower-energy range from 30 keV to 2 MeV with < 20% FWHM energy resolution. In addition, large signals and afterglow generated by heavy ions penetrating the NaI(Tl) crystal should be appropriately handled. To address these requirements, we have developed a compact signal processing and data acquisition system comprised of two main components: an analog board and a digital board. The analog board amplifies signals from the SiPM, generates triggers, and performs AD conversion. The digital board features a Microchip SAMV71 microcontroller, and we developed the software to control the analog board, read ADC data via SPI interface, add timestamps, and buffer event data. Through this development, we achieved the required wide bandpass and an energy resolution of 10% FWHM at 662 keV with a processing time of 20 us per event. We also implemented veto signal generation for large signals using a discriminator and an onboard detection algorithm for transient events.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Enhancing Compton telescope imaging with maximum a posteriori estimation: a modified Richardson-Lucy algorithm for the Compton Spectrometer and Imager

We present a modified Richardson-Lucy (RL) algorithm tailored for image reconstruction in MeV gamma-ray observations, focusing on its application to the upcoming Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) mission. Our method addresses key challenges in MeV gamma-ray astronomy by incorporating Bayesian priors for sparseness and smoothness while optimizing background components simultaneously. We introduce a novel sparsity term suitable for Poisson-sampled data in addition to a smoothness prior, allowing for flexible reconstruction of both point sources and extended emission. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using simulated three-month COSI observations of gamma-ray lines of $^{44}$Ti (1.157 MeV), $^{26}$Al (1.809 MeV), and positron annihilation (0.511 MeV), respectively, representing various spatial features. Our results demonstrate significant improvements over conventional RL methods, particularly in suppressing artificial structures in point source reconstructions and retaining diffuse spatial structures. This work represents an important step towards establishing a robust data analysis for studying nucleosynthesis, positron annihilation, and other high-energy phenomena in our Galaxy.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Constraining Disk-to-Corona Power Transfer Fraction, Soft X-ray Excess Origin, and Black Hole Spin Population of Type-1 AGN across Mass Scales

Understanding the nature of the accretion disk, its interplay with the X-ray corona, and assessing black hole spin demographics remain open challenges in astrophysics. In this paper, we examine the predictions of the standard $\alpha$-disk model, origin of the puzzling soft X-ray excess, and measure the black hole spin parameter by applying an updated high-density disk reflection model to the XMM-Newton/NuSTAR broadband (0.3$-$78 keV) X-ray spectra of a sample of 11 Type-1 AGN. Our Bayesian analysis confirms that a variable-density relativistic disk reflection model with a broken power-law emissivity profile can simultaneously fit the soft X-ray excess, broad iron K line emission, and Compton hump in 3 out of 11 AGN. For the remaining sources, a distinct warm Comptonization component is still required, which supports a hybrid origin for the soft X-ray excess. The measured temperature and optical depth of the warm corona span nearly the entire theoretically allowed range, with median values of $0.43_{-0.18}^{+0.40}$ keV and $12.5_{-3.9}^{+3.1}$, respectively. Our first systematic calculation of the disk-to-corona power transfer fraction reveals that the fraction of power released from the accretion disk into the hot corona spans a wide range, with a sample median of $0.68_{-0.25}^{+0.25}$. The sample median values for the hot coronal plasma temperature and optical depth are $54_{-12}^{+11}$ keV and $0.98_{-0.28}^{+0.22}$, respectively. Finally, through both hard X-ray (3$-$78 keV) and broadband (0.3$-$78 keV) relativistic reflection spectroscopy, we systematically constrain the black hole spin parameter across the mass scales of $\log(M_{\rm BH}/M_{\odot}) \sim 5.5-9.0$, thereby increasing or refining the available spin measurements in the AGN population by $\sim$20%.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Characterizing the Broadband Reflection Spectrum of MAXI J1803-298 During its 2021 Outburst with NuSTAR and NICER

MAXI J1803-298 is a transient black hole candidate discovered in May of 2021 during an outburst that lasted several months. Multiple X-ray observations reveal recurring "dipping" intervals in several of its light curves, particularly during the hard/intermediate states, with a typical recurrence period of $\sim7\,\mathrm{hours}$. We report analysis of four NuSTAR observations of the source, supplemented with NICER data where available, over the duration of the outburst evolution covering the hard, intermediate and the soft states. Reflection spectroscopy reveals the black hole to be rapidly spinning ($a_*=0.990\pm{0.001}$) with a near edge-on viewing angle ($i=70\pm{1}\deg$). Additionally, we show that the light-curve dips are caused by photo-electric absorption from a moderately ionized absorber whose origin is not fully understood, although it is likely linked to material from the companion star impacting the outer edges of the accretion disk. We further detect absorption lines in some of the spectra, potentially associated with Fe XXV and Fe XXVI, indicative of disk winds with moderate to extreme velocities. During the intermediate state and just before transitioning into the soft state, the source showed a sudden flux increase which we found to be dominated by soft disk photons and consistent with the filling of the inner accretion disk, at the onset of state transition. In the soft state, we show that models of disk self-irradiation provide a better fit and a preferred explanation to the broadband reflection spectrum, consistent with previous studies of other accreting sources.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Towards a response function for the COSI anticoincidence system: preliminary results from Geant4 simulations

The Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) is an upcoming NASA Small Explorer satellite mission scheduled for launch in 2027 and designed to conduct an all-sky survey in the energy range of 0.2-5 MeV. Its instrument consists of an array of germanium detectors surrounded on four sides and underneath by active shields that work as anticoincidence system (ACS) to reduce the contribution of background events in the detectors. These shields are composed of bismuth germanium oxide (BGO), a scintillator material, coupled with Silicon photomultipliers, aimed to collect optical photons produced from interaction of ionizing particles in the BGO and convert them into an electric signal. The reference simulation framework for COSI is MEGAlib, a set of software tools based on the Geant4 toolkit. The interaction point of the incoming radiation, the design of the ACS modules and the BGO surface treatment change the light collection and the overall shielding accuracy. The use of the Geant4 optical physics library, with the simulation of the scintillation process, is mandatory for a more realistic evaluation of the ACS performances. However, including the optical processes in MEGAlib would dramatically increase the computing time of the COSI simulations. We propose the use of a response function encoding the energy resolution and 3D light yield correction based on a separate Geant4 simulation of the ACS that includes the full optical interaction. We present the verification of the Geant4 optical physics library against analytical computations and available laboratory measurements obtained using PMTs as readout device, as a preparatory phase for the simulation of the COSI ACS response.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2024

Atmospheric Response for MeV Gamma Rays Observed with Balloon-Borne Detectors

The atmospheric response for MeV gamma rays (~ 0.1 - 10 MeV) can be characterized in terms of two observed components. The first component is due to photons that reach the detector without scattering. The second component is due to photons that reach the detector after scattering one or more times. While the former can be determined in a straightforward manner, the latter is much more complex to quantify, as it requires tracking the transport of all source photons that are incident on Earth's atmosphere. The scattered component can cause a significant energy-dependent distortion in the measured spectrum, which is important to account for when making balloon-borne observations. In this work we simulate the full response for gamma-ray transport in the atmosphere. We find that the scattered component becomes increasingly more significant towards lower energies, and at 0.1 MeV it may increase the measured flux by as much as a factor of ~2-4, depending on the photon index and off-axis angle of the source. This is particularly important for diffuse sources, whereas the effect from scattering can be significantly reduced for point sources observed with an imaging telescope.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

The NuSTAR Serendipitous Survey: the 80-month catalog and source properties of the high-energy emitting AGN and quasar population

We present a catalog of hard X-ray serendipitous sources detected in the first 80 months of observations by the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). The NuSTAR serendipitous survey 80-month (NSS80) catalog has an unprecedented $\sim$ 62 Ms of effective exposure time over 894 unique fields (a factor of three increase over the 40-month catalog), with an areal coverage of $\sim $36 deg$^2$, larger than all NuSTAR extragalactic surveys. NSS80 provides 1274 hard X-ray sources in the $3-24$ keV band (822 new detections compared to the previous 40-month catalog). Approximately 76% of the NuSTAR sources have lower-energy ($<10$ keV) X-ray counterparts from Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Swift-XRT. We have undertaken an extensive campaign of ground-based spectroscopic follow-up to obtain new source redshifts and classifications for 427 sources. Combining these with existing archival spectroscopy provides redshifts for 550 NSS80 sources, of which 547 are classified. The sample is primarily composed of active galactic nuclei (AGN), detected over a large range in redshift ($z$ = 0.012-3.43), but also includes 58 spectroscopically confirmed Galactic sources. In addition, five AGN/galaxy pairs, one dual AGN system, one BL Lac candidate, and a hotspot of 4C 74.26 (radio quasar) have been identified. The median rest-frame $10-40$ keV luminosity and redshift of the NSS80 are $\langle{L_\mathrm{10-40 keV}}\rangle$ = 1.2 $\times$ 10$^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and $\langle z \rangle = 0.56$. We investigate the optical properties and construct composite optical spectra to search for subtle signatures not present in the individual spectra, finding an excess of redder BL AGN compared to optical quasar surveys predominantly due to the presence of the host-galaxy and, at least in part, due to dust obscuration.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

2FHLJ1745.1-3035: A Newly Discovered, Powerful Pulsar Wind Nebula Candidate

We present a multi-epoch, multi-observatory X-ray analysis for 2FHL J1745.1-3035, a newly discovered very high energy Galactic source detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) located in close proximity to the Galactic Center (l=358.5319{\deg}; b=-0.7760{\deg}). The source shows a very hard gamma-ray photon index above 50 GeV, Gamma_gamma=1.2+-0.4, and is found to be a TeV-emitter by the LAT. We conduct a joint XMM-Newton, Chandra and NuSTAR observing campaign, combining archival XMM-Newton observations, to study the X-ray spectral properties of 2FHL J1745.1-3035 over a time-span of over 20 years. The joint X-ray spectrum is best-fitted as a broken power law model with break energy E_b~7 keV: the source is very hard at energies below 10 keV, with photon index Gamma_1~0.6, and significantly softer in the higher energy range measured by NuSTAR with photon index Gamma_2~1.9. We also perform a spatially resolved X-ray analysis with Chandra, finding evidence for marginal extension (up to an angular size r~5 arcsec), a result that supports a compact pulsar wind nebula scenario. Based on the X-ray and gamma-ray properties, 2FHL J1745.1-3035 is a powerful pulsar wind nebula candidate. Given its nature as an extreme TeV emitter, further supported by the detection of a coincident TeV extended source HESS J1745-303, 2FHL J1745.1-3035 is an ideal candidate for a follow-up with the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Investigating the Ultra-Compact X-ray Binary Candidate SLX 1735-269 with NICER and NuSTAR

We present two simultaneous NICER and NuSTAR observations of the ultra-compact X-ray binary (UCXB) candidate SLX 1735-269 while the source was in two different spectral states. Using various reflection modeling techniques, we find that xillverCO, a model used for fitting X-ray spectra of UCXBs with high carbon and oxygen abundances is an improvement over relxill or relxillns, which instead contains solar-like chemical abundances. This provides indirect evidence in support of the source being ultra-compact. We also use this reflection model to get a preliminary measurement of the inclination of the system, $i = 57^{+23}_{-7}$ degrees. This is consistent with our timing analysis, where a lack of eclipses indicates an inclination of $i<80^{\circ}$. The timing analysis is otherwise inconclusive, and we can not confidently measure the orbital period of the system.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): Probing Accretion onto Stellar Mass Black Holes

Accretion is a universal astrophysical process that plays a key role in cosmic history, from the epoch of reionization to galaxy and stellar formation and evolution. Accreting stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries are one of the best laboratories to study the accretion process and probe strong gravity -- and most importantly, to measure the angular momentum, or spin, of black holes, and its role as a powering mechanism for relativistic astrophysical phenomena. Comprehensive characterization of the disk-corona system of accreting black holes, and their co-evolution, is fundamental to measurements of black hole spin. Here, we use simulated data to demonstrate how key unanswered questions in the study of accreting stellar-mass black holes will be addressed by the {\it High Energy X-ray Probe} (\hexp). \hexp\ is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high spatial resolution X-ray imaging and broad spectral coverage ($0.2\mbox{--}80$keV) with a sensitivity superior to current facilities (including \xmm\ and \nustar) to enable revolutionary new insights into a variety of important astrophysical problems. We illustrate the capability of \hexp\ to: 1) measure the evolving structures of black hole binary accretion flows down to low ($\lesssim0.1\%$) Eddington-scaled luminosities via detailed X-ray reflection spectroscopy; 2) provide unprecedented spectral observations of the coronal plasma, probing its elusive geometry and energetics; 3) perform detailed broadband studies of stellar mass black holes in nearby galaxies, thus expanding the repertoire of sources we can use to study accretion physics and determine the fundamental nature of black holes; and 4) act as a complementary observatory to a range of future ground and space-based astronomical observatories, thus providing key spectral measurements of the multi-component emission from the inner accretion flows of BH-XRBs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): resolving the nature of Sgr A* flares, compact object binaries and diffuse X-ray emission in the Galactic Center and beyond

HEX-P is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high spatial resolution X-ray imaging ($<10"$ FWHM) and broad spectral coverage (0.2-80 keV) with an effective area far superior to current facilities' (including XMM-Newton and NuSTAR). These capabilities will enable revolutionary new insights into a variety of important astrophysical problems. We present scientific objectives and simulations of HEX-P observations of the Galactic Center (GC) and Bulge. We demonstrate the unique and powerful capabilities of the HEX-P observatory for studying both X-ray point sources and diffuse X-ray emission. HEX-P will be uniquely equipped to explore a variety of major topics in Galactic astrophysics, allowing us to (1) investigate broad-band properties of X-ray flares emitted from the supermassive black hole (BH) at Sgr A* and probe the associated particle acceleration and emission mechanisms; (2) identify hard X-ray sources detected by NuSTAR and determine X-ray point source populations in different regions and luminosity ranges; (3) determine the distribution of compact object binaries in the nuclear star cluster and the composition of the Galactic Ridge X-ray emission; (4) identify X-ray transients and measure fundamental parameters such as BH spin; (5) find hidden pulsars in the GC; (6) search for BH-OB binaries and hard X-ray flares from young stellar objects in young massive clusters; (7) measure white dwarf (WD) masses of magnetic CVs to deepen our understanding of CV evolution and the origin of WD magnetic fields; (8) explore primary particle accelerators in the GC in synergy with future TeV and neutrino observatories; (9) map out cosmic-ray distributions by observing non-thermal X-ray filaments; (10) explore past X-ray outbursts from Sgr A* through X-ray reflection components from giant molecular clouds.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Probing the Galactic Diffuse Continuum Emission with COSI

In 2016 the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) had a successful 46-day flight onboard NASA's Super Pressure Balloon platform. In this work we report measurements of the Galactic diffuse continuum emission (GDCE) observed towards the inner Galaxy during the flight, which in the COSI energy band (0.2 - 5 MeV) is primarily generated from inverse Compton radiation. Within uncertainties we find overall good agreement with previous measurements from INTEGRAL/SPI and COMPTEL. Based on these initial findings, we discuss the potential for further probing the GDCE with the 2016 COSI balloon data, as well as prospects for the upcoming satellite mission.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Population of X-ray Sources in the Intermediate-Age Cluster NGC 3532: a Test Bed for Machine-Learning Classification

Open clusters are thought to be the birth place of most stars in the Galaxy. Thus, they are excellent laboratories for investigating stellar evolution, and X-ray properties of various types of stars (including binary stars, evolved stars, and compact objects). In this work, we investigate the population of X-ray sources in the nearby 300-Myr-old open cluster NGC 3532 using Chandra X-ray Observatory and multi-wavelength data from several surveys. We apply a random-forest machine-learning pipeline (MUWCLASS) to classify all confidently detected X-ray sources (S/N$>5$) in the field of NGC 3532. We also perform a more detailed investigation of brighter sources, including their X-ray spectra and lightcurves. Most X-ray sources are confirmed as coronally-active low-mass stars, many of which are confidently identified by MUWCLASS. Several late B or early A-type \textbf{stars} are relatively bright in X-rays, most of which are likely binaries. We do not find any compact objects among X-ray sources reliably associated with NGC 3532, down to the limiting X-ray flux of $\sim 2\times10^{-15}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$, corresponding to $L_X\sim 6\times 10^{28}$ erg s$^{-1}$ at the cluster's distance. We also identify several Galactic sources beyond NGC 3532 that differ from typical coronally active stars, and were classified by MUWCLASS as potential compact objects. Detailed investigation reveals that these sources may indeed belong to rarer classes, and deserve follow up observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

A NuSTAR and Chandra Investigation of the Misaligned Outflow of PSR J1101-6101 and the Lighthouse Pulsar Wind Nebula

PSR J1101-6101 is an energetic young pulsar which powers the remarkable Lighthouse pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The pulsar belongs to the rare type of radio- and gamma-ray-quiet pulsars which are bright in hard X-rays. Moreover, the Lighthouse PWN is remarkable for its misaligned outflow (which gave rise to the PWN's nickname). Also known as "pulsar filaments", these collimated parsec-scale X-ray structures have been recently discovered in the vicinity of a handful of fast-moving pulsars, and appear unaffected by the ram pressure which confines pulsar tails. We report on NuSTAR observations of PSR J1101-6101 and its misaligned outflow -- the first observation of such a structure above ~10 keV. We detect the outflow up to 25 keV, spatially resolve its spectral evolution with distance from the pulsar, find unambiguous evidence of spectral cooling with distance from the pulsar, and infer physical properties of the particles and magnetic field in the outflow. We also reanalzye archival Chandra data and discuss the outflow's small-scale structure. We detect pulsations from PSR J1101-6101 up to 20 keV, present the X-ray pulse profile, confirm its period derivative, and perform phase-resolved spectroscopy. Lastly, we discuss the X-ray source 2CXO J110158.4-605649 = 2XMM J110158.5--605651 (a serendipitously observed blazar) and suggest it may be the X-ray counterpart to the GeV source 4FGL J1102.0--6054.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

The Low Temperature Corona in ESO 511$-$G030 Revealed by NuSTAR and XMM-Newton

We present the results from a coordinated XMM-Newton $+$ NuSTAR observation of the Seyfert 1 Galaxy ESO 511$-$G030. With this joint monitoring programme, we conduct a detailed variability and spectral analysis. The source remained in a low flux and very stable state throughout the observation period, although there are slight fluctuations of flux over long timescales. The broadband (0.3-78~keV) spectrum shows the presence of a power-law continuum with a soft excess below 2~keV, a relatively narrow iron K$\alpha$ emission ($\sim$6.4~keV), and an obvious cutoff at high energies. We find that the soft excess can be modeled by two different possible scenarios: a warm ($kT_{\rm e} \sim$ 0.19~keV) and optically thick ($\tau - 18\sim25$) Comptonizing corona or a relativistic reflection from a high-density ($\log [n_{\rm e}/{\rm cm}^{-3}]=17.1 \sim 18.5$) inner disc. All models require a low temperature ($kT_{\rm e} \sim$ 13~keV) for the hot corona.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

The long-stable hard state of XTE J1752-223 and the disk truncation dilemma

The degree to which the thin accretion disks of black hole X-ray binaries are truncated during hard spectral states remains a contentious open question in black hole astrophysics. During its singular observed outburst in $2009\mbox{--}2010$, the black hole X-ray binary XTE J1752-223 spent $\sim1$~month in a long-stable hard spectral state at a luminosity of $\sim0.02\mbox{--}0.1~L_{\rm Edd}$. It was observed with 56 RXTE pointings during this period, with simultaneous Swift-XRT daily coverage during the first 10 days of the RXTE observations. Whilst reflection modeling has been extensively explored in the analysis of these data, there is a disagreement surrounding the geometry of the accretion disk and corona implied by the reflection features. We re-examine the combined, high signal-to-noise, simultaneous Swift and RXTE observations, and perform extensive reflection modeling with the latest relxill suite of reflection models, including newer high disk density models. We show that reflection modeling requires that the disk be within $\sim5~R_{\rm ISCO}$ during the hard spectral state, whilst weaker constraints from the thermal disk emission imply higher truncation ($R_{\rm in}=6\mbox{--}80~R_{\rm ISCO}$). We also explore more complex coronal continuum models, allowing for two Comptonization components instead of one, and show that the reflection features still require only a mildly truncated disk. Finally we present a full comparison of our results to previous constraints found from analyses of the same dataset.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier: The landscape of cosmic-ray and high-energy photon probes of particle dark matter

This white paper discusses the current landscape and prospects for experiments sensitive to particle dark matter processes producing photons and cosmic rays. Much of the gamma-ray sky remains unexplored on a level of sensitivity that would enable the discovery of a dark matter signal. Currently operating GeV-TeV observatories, such as Fermi-LAT, atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, and water Cherenkov detector arrays continue to target several promising dark matter-rich environments within and beyond the Galaxy. Soon, several new experiments will continue to explore, with increased sensitivity, especially extended targets in the sky. This paper reviews the several near-term and longer-term plans for gamma-ray observatories, from MeV energies up to hundreds of TeV. Similarly, the X-ray sky has been and continues to be monitored by decade-old observatories. Upcoming telescopes will further bolster searches and allow new discovery space for lines from, e.g., sterile neutrinos and axion-photon conversion. Furthermore, this overview discusses currently operating cosmic-ray probes and the landscape of future experiments that will clarify existing persistent anomalies in cosmic radiation and spearhead possible new discoveries. Finally, the article closes with a discussion of necessary cross section measurements that need to be conducted at colliders to reduce substantial uncertainties in interpreting photon and cosmic-ray measurements in space.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

The Future of Gamma-Ray Experiments in the MeV-EeV Range

Gamma-rays, the most energetic photons, carry information from the far reaches of extragalactic space with minimal interaction or loss of information. They bring messages about particle acceleration in environments so extreme they cannot be reproduced on earth for a closer look. Gamma-ray astrophysics is so complementary with collider work that particle physicists and astroparticle physicists are often one in the same. Gamma-ray instruments, especially the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, have been pivotal in major multi-messenger discoveries over the past decade. There is presently a great deal of interest and scientific expertise available to push forward new technologies, to plan and build space- and ground-based gamma-ray facilities, and to build multi-messenger networks with gamma rays at their core. It is therefore concerning that before the community comes together for planning exercises again, much of that infrastructure could be lost to a lack of long-term planning for support of gamma-ray astrophysics. Gamma-rays with energies from the MeV to the EeV band are therefore central to multiwavelength and multi-messenger studies to everything from astroparticle physics with compact objects, to dark matter studies with diffuse large scale structure. These goals and new discoveries have generated a wave of new gamma-ray facility proposals and programs. This paper highlights new and proposed gamma-ray technologies and facilities that have each been designed to address specific needs in the measurement of extreme astrophysical sources that probe some of the most pressing questions in fundamental physics for the next decade. The proposed instrumentation would also address the priorities laid out in the recent Astro2020 Decadal Survey, a complementary study by the astrophysics community that provides opportunities also relevant to Snowmass.

astro-ph.HE↗