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About

G. Viertel is a pioneering researcher in very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astrophysics, with a focus on the long-term monitoring of bright blazars—active galactic nuclei whose relativistic jets produce extreme, variable emissions. Their major contribution lies in the development and operation of the FACT (First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope), a groundbreaking instrument that was the first to employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) instead of traditional photomultiplier tubes. This innovation enabled stable, remote, and robotic operation, dramatically reducing the need for on-site crews and opening the door to continuous, cost-effective monitoring campaigns. Viertel’s work has provided critical insights into blazar variability on timescales from minutes to years, probing the interaction of relativistic jets with their environment and the imprints of central supermassive black holes. Their most-cited paper (15 citations) established the feasibility of dedicated, low-cost Cherenkov telescopes for long-term blazar studies, while subsequent work demonstrated FACT’s successful robotic operations (4 citations). By advancing both instrumental design and observational strategy, Viertel has helped shape a new era of autonomous, high-cadence gamma-ray astronomy, making them a key figure in the transition to next-generation ground-based observatories.