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About

M. Ribordy is a pioneering experimental astrophysicist whose work centers on very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy and the technological advancement of Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). Their major contributions lie in two interconnected areas: the long-term monitoring of bright blazars and the development of next-generation detector technology. Ribordy’s research on blazars, active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets, has provided crucial insights into the variability of VHE gamma-ray emission on timescales ranging from minutes to years, with a particular focus on day-scale fluctuations. This work, detailed in their most-cited paper (15 citations), helps disentangle whether such variability arises from jet interactions with the environment or from the central engine itself. Ribordy is also a key figure in the FACT (First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope) project, which marked a paradigm shift by being the first telescope to employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs/G-APDs) instead of traditional photomultiplier tubes. This innovation, documented in papers with 8 and 4 citations, enabled more robust and stable operation. Notably, FACT achieved routine remote operation without an on-site crew—a milestone in robotic astronomy. By pioneering these technologies and demonstrating their reliability for long-term blazar monitoring, Ribordy has laid the groundwork for the next generation of more sensitive and cost-effective gamma-ray observatories.