| 141. |
- Acero, F., et al.
(författare)
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Detection of Gamma Rays from a Starburst Galaxy
- 2009
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 326:5956, s. 1080-1082
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Starburst galaxies exhibit in their central regions a highly increased rate of supernovae, the remnants of which are thought to accelerate energetic cosmic rays up to energies of similar to 10(15) electron volts. We report the detection of gamma rays-tracers of such cosmic rays-from the starburst galaxy NGC 253 using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H. E. S. S.) array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-ray flux above 220 billion electron volts is F = (5.5 +/- 1.0(stat) +/- 2.8(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1), implying a cosmic-ray density about three orders of magnitude larger than that in the center of the Milky Way. The fraction of cosmic-ray energy channeled into gamma rays in this starburst environment is five times as large as that in our Galaxy.
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| 142. |
- Acero, F., et al.
(författare)
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Discovery and follow-up studies of the extended, off-plane, VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1507-622
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 525, s. A45-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The detection of gamma-rays in the very-high-energy (VHE) range (100 GeV-100 TeV) offers the possibility of studying the parent population of ultrarelativistic particles found in astrophysical sources, so it is useful for understanding the underlying astrophysical processes in nonthermal sources. Aims. The discovery of the VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1507-622 is reported and possibilities regarding its nature are investigated. Methods. The H. E. S. S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) has a high sensitivity compared with previous instruments (similar to 1% of the Crab flux in 25 h observation time for a 5 sigma point-source detection) and has a large field of view (similar to 5 degrees in diameter). HESS J1507-622 was discovered within the ongoing H. E. S. S. survey of the inner Galaxy, and the source was also studied by means of dedicated multiwavelength observations. Results. A Galactic gamma-ray source, HESS J1507-622, located similar to 3.5 degrees. from the Galactic plane was detected with a statistical significance >9 sigma. Its energy spectrum is well fitted by a power law with spectral index Gamma = 2.24 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux above 1 TeV of (1.5 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.3(sys)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). Possible interpretations (considering both hadronic and leptonic models) of the VHE gamma-ray emission are discussed in the absence of an obvious counterpart.
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| 143. |
- Acero, F., et al.
(författare)
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PKS2005-489 at VHE : four years of monitoring with HESS and simultaneous multi-wavelength observations
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 511, s. A52-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. Our aim is to study the very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from BL Lac objects and the evolution in time of their broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED). Methods. VHE observations of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PKS 2005-489 were made with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from 2004 through 2007. Three simultaneous multi-wavelength campaigns at lower energies were performed during the HESS data taking, consisting of several individual pointings with the XMM-Newton and RXTE satellites. Results. A strong VHE signal, similar to 17 sigma total, from PKS 2005-489 was detected during the four years of HESS observations (90.3 h live time). The integral flux above the average analysis threshold of 400 GeV is similar to 3% of the flux observed from the Crab Nebula and varies weakly on time scales from days to years. The average VHE spectrum measured from similar to 300 GeV to similar to 5 TeV is characterized by a power law with a photon index, Gamma = 3.20 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.10(syst). At X-ray energies the flux is observed to vary by more than an order of magnitude between 2004 and 2005. Strong changes in the X-ray spectrum (Delta Gamma(X) approximate to 0.7) are also observed, which appear to be mirrored in the VHE band. Conclusions. The SED of PKS 2005-489, constructed for the first time with contemporaneous data on both humps, shows significant evolution. The large flux variations in the X-ray band, coupled with weak or no variations in the VHE band and a similar spectral behavior, suggest the emergence of a new, separate, harder emission component in September 2005.
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| 144. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Constraints on the multi-TeV particle population in the Coma galaxy cluster with HESS observations
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 502:2, s. 437-443
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. Galaxy clusters are key targets in the search for ultra high energy particle accelerators. The Coma cluster represents one of the best candidates for such a search owing to its high mass, proximity, and the established non-thermal radio emission centred on the cluster core. Methods. The HESS (High Energy Stereoscopic System) telescopes observed Coma for similar to 8 h in a search for gamma-ray emission at energies > 1 TeV. The large 3.5 degrees FWHM field of view of HESS is ideal for viewing a range of targets at various sizes including the Coma cluster core, the radio-relic (1253+275) and merger/infall (NGC 4839) regions to the southwest, and features greater than 1 degrees away. Results. No evidence for point-like nor extended TeV gamma-ray emission was found and upper limits to the TeV flux F(E) for E > 1, > 5, and > 10 TeV were set for the Coma core and other regions. Converting these limits to an energy flux E(2)F(E) the lowest or most constraining is the E > 5 TeV upper limit for the Coma core (0.2 degrees radius) at similar to 8% Crab flux units or similar to 10(-13) ph cm(-2) s(-1). Conclusions. The upper limits for the Coma core were compared with a prediction for the gamma-ray emission from proton-proton interactions, the level of which ultimately scales with the mass of the Coma cluster. A direct constraint using our most stringent limit for E > 5 TeV, on the total energy content in non-thermal protons with injection energy spectrum alpha E(-2.1) and spatial distribution following the thermal gas in the cluster, is found to be similar to 0.2 times the thermal energy, or similar to 10(62) erg. The E > 5 TeV gamma-ray threshold in this case corresponds to cosmic-ray proton energies greater than or similar to 50 TeV. Our upper limits rule out the most optimistic theoretical models for gamma ray emission from clusters and complement radio observations which constrain the cosmic ray content in clusters at significantly lower proton energies, subject to assumptions on the magnetic field strength.
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| 145. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Discovery of very high energy γ-ray emission from centaurus a with H.E.S.S.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 2041-8205. ; 695:1, s. L40-L44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the discovery of faint very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from the radio galaxy Centaurus A in observations performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) experiment, an imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array consisting of four telescopes located in Namibia. Centaurus A has been observed for more than 120 hr. A signal with a statistical significance of 5.0 sigma is detected from the region including the radio core and the inner kpc jets. The integral flux above an energy threshold of similar to 250 GeV is measured to be 0.8% of the flux of the Crab Nebula (apparent luminosity: L(> 250 GeV) approximate to 2.6 x 1039 erg s(-1), adopting a distance of 3.8 Mpc). The spectrum can be described by a power law with a photon index of 2.7 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). No significant flux variability is detected in the data set. However, the low flux only allows detection of variability on the timescale of days to flux increments above a factor of similar to 15-20 (3 sigma and 4 sigma, respectively). The discovery of VHE gamma-ray emission from Centaurus A reveals particle acceleration in the source to > TeV energies and, together with M 87, establishes radio galaxies as a class of VHE emitters.
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| 146. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Discovery of VHE gamma-rays from the BL Lacertae object PKS 0548-322
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. A69-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. PKS 0548-322 (z = 0.069) is a "high-frequency-peaked" BL Lac object and a candidate very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emitter, due to its high X-ray and radio flux. Observations at the VHE band provide insights into the origin of very energetic particles present in this source and the radiation processes at work. Methods. We report observations made between October 2004 and January 2008 with the HESS array, a four imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous UV and X-ray observations with the Swift satellite in November 2006 are also reported. Results. PKS 0548-322 is detected for the first time in the VHE band with HESS We measure an excess of 216 gamma-rays corresponding to a significance of 5.6 standard deviations. The photon spectrum of the source is described by a power-law, with a photon index of Gamma = 2.86 +/- 0.34(stat) +/- 0.10(sys). The integral flux above 200 GeV is similar to 1.3% of the flux of the Crab Nebula, and is consistent with being constant in time. Contemporaneous Swift/XRT observations reveal an X-ray flux between 2 and 10 keV of F2-10 keV = (2.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-11) erg cm(-2) s(-1), an intermediate intensity state with respect to previous observations. The spectral energy distribution can be reproduced using a simple one-zone synchrotron self Compton model, with parameters similar those observed for other sources of this type.
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| 147. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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HESS upper limit on the very high energy gamma-ray emission from the globular cluster 47 Tucanae
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 499:1, s. 273-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Observations of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104), which contains at least 23 ms pulsars, were performed with the HESS telescope system. The observations lead to an upper limit of F(E > 800 GeV) < 6.7 x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1) on the integral gamma-ray photon flux from 47 Tucanae. Considering millisecond pulsars as the unique potential source of gamma-rays in the globular cluster, constraints based on emission models are derived: on the magnetic field in the average pulsar nebula and on the conversion efficiency of spin-down power to gamma-ray photons or to relativistic leptons.
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| 148. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Probing the ATIC peak in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with HESS
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 508:2, s. 561-564
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The measurement of an excess in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum between 300 and 800 GeV by the ATIC experiment has - together with the PAMELA detection of a rise in the positron fraction up to approximate to 100 GeV - motivated many interpretations in terms of dark matter scenarios; alternative explanations assume a nearby electron source like a pulsar or supernova remnant. Here we present a measurement of the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with H. E. S. S. starting at 340 GeV. While the overall electron flux measured by H. E. S. S. is consistent with the ATIC data within statistical and systematic errors, the H. E. S. S. data exclude a pronounced peak in the electron spectrum as suggested for interpretation by ATIC. The H. E. S. S. data follow a power-law spectrum with spectral index of 3.0 +/- 0.1(stat.) +/- 0.3(syst.), which steepens at about 1 TeV.
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| 149. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Spectrum and variability of the Galactic center VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1745-290
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 503:3, s. 817-825
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. A detailed study of the spectrum and variability of the source HESS J1745-290 in the Galactic Center (GC) region using new data from the H. E. S. S. array of Cherenkov telescopes is presented. Flaring activity and quasi periodic oscillations (QPO) of HESS J1745-290 are investigated. Methods. The image analysis is performed with a combination of a semi-analytical shower model and the statistical moment-based Hillas technique. The spectrum and lightcurves of HESS J1745-290 are derived with a likelihood method based on a spectral shape hypothesis. Rayleigh tests and Fourier analysis of the H. E. S. S. GC signal are used to study the periodicity of the source. Results. With a three-fold increase in statistics compared to previous work, a deviation from a simple power law spectrum is detected for the first time. The measured energy spectrum over the three years 2004, 2005 and 2006 of data taking is compatible with both a power law spectrum with an exponential cut-off and a broken power law spectrum. The curvature of the energy spectrum is likely to be intrinsic to the photon source, as opposed to effects of interstellar absorption. The power law spectrum with an exponential cut-off is characterized by a photon index of 2.10 +/- 0.04(stat) +/- 0.10(syst) and a cut-off energy at 15.7 +/- 3.4(stat) +/- 2.5(syst) TeV. The broken power law spectrum exhibits spectral indices of 2.02 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.10(syst) and 2.63 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.10(syst) with a break energy at 2.57 +/- 0.19(stat) +/- 0.44(syst) TeV. No significant flux variation is found. Increases in the gamma-ray flux of HESS J1745-290 by at least a factor of two would be required for a 3 sigma detection of a flare with time scales of an hour. Investigation of possible QPO activity at periods claimed to be detected in X-rays does not show any periodicities in the H. E. S. S. signal.
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| 150. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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The Vanishing of the Primary Emission Region in PKS 1510-089
- 2023
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 952:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2021 July, PKS 1510-089 exhibited a significant flux drop in the high-energy & gamma;-ray (by a factor 10) and optical (by a factor 5) bands and remained in this low state throughout 2022. Similarly, the optical polarization in the source vanished, resulting in the optical spectrum being fully explained through the steady flux of the accretion disk and the broad-line region. Unlike the aforementioned bands, the very-high-energy & gamma;-ray and X-ray fluxes did not exhibit a significant flux drop from year to year. This suggests that the steady-state very-high-energy & gamma;-ray and X-ray fluxes originate from a different emission region than the vanished parts of the high-energy & gamma;-ray and optical jet fluxes. The latter component has disappeared through either a swing of the jet away from the line of sight or a significant drop in the photon production efficiency of the jet close to the black hole. Either change could become visible in high-resolution radio images.
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