VERITAS observations of exceptionally bright TeV flares from LS I +61$^\circ$ 303

Abstract: The very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray experiment, VERITAS, detected exceptionally bright flares from the high-mass X-ray binary LS I +61$<sup>\circ$ 303 during the period October-December 2014. LS I +61$<sup>\circ$ 303 is a known VHE gamma-ray source, the flux from which varies strongly with the orbital period of ~26.5 days. The maximum VHE flux is found around apastron (orbital phase ~0.6) at a level typically corresponding to 10-15% of the Crab Nebula flux (>300 GeV). During these most recent observations, relatively short (day scale), bright TeV flares were observed from the source around apastron in two orbital cycles (October and November). Both cases exhibited peak fluxes above 25% of the Crab Nebula flux (>300 GeV), making these the brightest VHE flares ever detected from this source. In the last orbital cycle observed (December), the source had returned to its historical level of activity. The results of these VERITAS observations from 2014 will be presented.