Studies of Rapid Transients using VERITAS

Matthew Lundy ( Université McGill )

Probing rapid astrophysical variability (sub-second) allows us to investigate some of the most energetic and understudied systems in astrophysics. In recent years there has been a rapid rise in interesting radio transients that occupy this parameter space but investigating other wavelength bands has proven challenging. The VERITAS array has the capability of constraining both rapid optical (0.4 ms sampling in the B band) and gamma-ray emission (200 GeV - >10 Tev) for a variety of known transients and is also capable of studying new transients. I will discuss various ongoing rapid optical and gamma-ray work performed at VERITAS, including FRBs and measurements of stellar diameters. I will also discuss future VERITAS upgrades and what this means for the next generation of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that are being developed.