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3.
  • Acharya, B. S., et al. (author)
  • Introducing the CTA concept
  • 2013
  • In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 43, s. 3-18
  • Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
    • The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a new observatory for very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. CTA has ambitions science goals, for which it is necessary to achieve full-sky coverage, to improve the sensitivity by about an order of magnitude, to span about four decades of energy, from a few tens of GeV to above 100 TeV with enhanced angular and energy resolutions over existing VHE gamma-ray observatories. An international collaboration has formed with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. In 2010 the CTA Consortium completed a Design Study and started a three-year Preparatory Phase which leads to production readiness of CTA in 2014. In this paper we introduce the science goals and the concept of CTA, and provide an overview of the project. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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4.
  • Klionsky, Daniel J., et al. (author)
  • Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
  • 2012
  • In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
  • Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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6.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign on PKS 2005-489 in a high state
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 533, s. A110-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PKS 2005-489 was the target of a multi-wavelength campaign with simultaneous observations in the TeV gamma-ray (H.E.S.S.), GeV gamma-ray (Fermi/LAT), X-ray (RXTE, Swift), UV (Swift) and optical (ATOM, Swift) bands. This campaign was carried out during a high flux state in the synchrotron regime. The flux in the optical and X-ray bands reached the level of the historical maxima. The hard GeV spectrum observed with Fermi/LAT connects well to the very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) spectrum measured with H.E.S.S. with a peak energy between similar to 5 and 500 GeV. Compared to observations with contemporaneous coverage in the VHE and X-ray bands in 2004, the X-ray flux was similar to 50 times higher during the 2009 campaign while the TeV gamma-ray flux shows marginal variation over the years. The spectral energy distribution during this multi-wavelength campaign was fit by a one zone synchrotron self-Compton model with a well determined cutoff in X-rays. The parameters of a one zone SSC model are inconsistent with variability time scales. The variability behaviour over years with the large changes in synchrotron emission and small changes in the inverse Compton emission does not warrant an interpretation within a one-zone SSC model despite an apparently satisfying fit to the broadband data in 2009.
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7.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • The 2010 very high energy gamma-RAY flare and 10 years of multi-wavelength observations of M 87
  • 2012
  • In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 746:2, s. 151-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The giant radio galaxy M 87 with its proximity (16 Mpc), famous jet, and very massive black hole ((3-6) x 10(9) M-circle dot) provides a unique opportunity to investigate the origin of very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission generated in relativistic outflows and the surroundings of supermassive black holes. M 87 has been established as a VHE gamma-ray emitter since 2006. The VHE gamma-ray emission displays strong variability on timescales as short as a day. In this paper, results from a joint VHE monitoring campaign on M 87 by the MAGIC and VERITAS instruments in 2010 are reported. During the campaign, a flare at VHE was detected triggering further observations at VHE (H.E.S.S.), X-rays (Chandra), and radio (43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array, VLBA). The excellent sampling of the VHE gamma-ray light curve enables one to derive a precise temporal characterization of the flare: the single, isolated flare is well described by a two-sided exponential function with significantly different flux rise and decay times of tau(rise)(d) = (1.69 +/- 0.30) days and tau(decay)(d) = (0.611 +/- 0.080) days, respectively. While the overall variability pattern of the 2010 flare appears somewhat different from that of previous VHE flares in 2005 and 2008, they share very similar timescales (similar to day), peak fluxes (Phi(>0.35 TeV) similar or equal to (1-3) x 10(-11) photons cm(-2) s(-1)), and VHE spectra. VLBA radio observations of 43 GHz of the inner jet regions indicate no enhanced flux in 2010 in contrast to observations in 2008, where an increase of the radio flux of the innermost core regions coincided with a VHE flare. On the other hand, Chandra X-ray observations taken similar to 3 days after the peak of the VHE gamma-ray emission reveal an enhanced flux from the core (flux increased by factor similar to 2; variability timescale <2 days). The long-term (2001-2010) multi-wavelength (MWL) light curve of M 87, spanning from radio to VHE and including data from Hubble Space Telescope, Liverpool Telescope, Very Large Array, and European VLBI Network, is used to further investigate the origin of the VHE gamma-ray emission. No unique, common MWL signature of the three VHE flares has been identified. In the outer kiloparsec jet region, in particular in HST-1, no enhanced MWL activity was detected in 2008 and 2010, disfavoring it as the origin of the VHE flares during these years. Shortly after two of the three flares (2008 and 2010), the X-ray core was observed to be at a higher flux level than its characteristic range (determined from more than 60 monitoring observations: 2002-2009). In 2005, the strong flux dominance of HST-1 could have suppressed the detection of such a feature. Published models for VHE gamma-ray emission from M 87 are reviewed in the light of the new data.
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8.
  • Aharonian, F., et al. (author)
  • SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATIONS OF PKS 2155-304 WITH HESS, FERMI, RXTE, AND ATOM : SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTIONS AND VARIABILITY IN A LOW STATE
  • 2009
  • In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205 .- 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 696:2, s. L150-L155
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • We report on the first simultaneous observations that cover the optical, X-ray, and high-energy gamma-ray bands of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. The gamma-ray bands were observed for 11 days, between 2008 August 25 and 2008 September 6 (MJD 54704-54715), jointly with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the HESS atmospheric Cherenkov array, providing the first simultaneous MeV-TeV spectral energy distribution (SED) with the new generation of gamma-ray telescopes. The ATOM telescope and the RXTE and Swift observatories provided optical and X-ray coverage of the low-energy component over the same time period. The object was close to the lowest archival X-ray and very high energy (VHE; > 100 GeV) state, whereas the optical flux was much higher. The light curves show relatively little (similar to 30%) variability overall when compared to past flaring episodes, but we find a clear optical/VHE correlation and evidence for a correlation of the X-rays with the high-energy spectral index. Contrary to previous observations in the flaring state, we do not find any correlation between the X-ray and VHE components. Although synchrotron self-Compton models are often invoked to explain the SEDs of BL Lac objects, the most common versions of these models are at odds with the correlated variability we find in the various bands for PKS 2155-304.
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9.
  • Arndt, D. S., et al. (author)
  • State of the Climate in 2016
  • 2017
  • In: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 98:8, s. S1-S280
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • In 2016, the dominant greenhouse gases released into Earth's atmosphere-carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide-continued to increase and reach new record highs. The 3.5 +/- 0.1 ppm rise in global annual mean carbon dioxide from 2015 to 2016 was the largest annual increase observed in the 58-year measurement record. The annual global average carbon dioxide concentration at Earth's surface surpassed 400 ppm (402.9 +/- 0.1 ppm) for the first time in the modern atmospheric measurement record and in ice core records dating back as far as 800000 years. One of the strongest El Nino events since at least 1950 dissipated in spring, and a weak La Nina evolved later in the year. Owing at least in part to the combination of El Nino conditions early in the year and a long-term upward trend, Earth's surface observed record warmth for a third consecutive year, albeit by a much slimmer margin than by which that record was set in 2015. Above Earth's surface, the annual lower troposphere temperature was record high according to all datasets analyzed, while the lower stratospheric temperature was record low according to most of the in situ and satellite datasets. Several countries, including Mexico and India, reported record high annual temperatures while many others observed near-record highs. A week-long heat wave at the end of April over the northern and eastern Indian peninsula, with temperatures surpassing 44 degrees C, contributed to a water crisis for 330 million people and to 300 fatalities. In the Arctic the 2016 land surface temperature was 2.0 degrees C above the 1981-2010 average, breaking the previous record of 2007, 2011, and 2015 by 0.8 degrees C, representing a 3.5 degrees C increase since the record began in 1900. The increasing temperatures have led to decreasing Arctic sea ice extent and thickness. On 24 March, the sea ice extent at the end of the growth season saw its lowest maximum in the 37-year satellite record, tying with 2015 at 7.2% below the 1981-2010 average. The September 2016 Arctic sea ice minimum extent tied with 2007 for the second lowest value on record, 33% lower than the 1981-2010 average. Arctic sea ice cover remains relatively young and thin, making it vulnerable to continued extensive melt. The mass of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which has the capacity to contribute similar to 7 m to sea level rise, reached a record low value. The onset of its surface melt was the second earliest, after 2012, in the 37-year satellite record. Sea surface temperature was record high at the global scale, surpassing the previous record of 2015 by about 0.01 degrees C. The global sea surface temperature trend for the 21st century-to-date of +0.162 degrees C decade(-1) is much higher than the longer term 1950-2016 trend of +0.100 degrees C decade(-1). Global annual mean sea level also reached a new record high, marking the sixth consecutive year of increase. Global annual ocean heat content saw a slight drop compared to the record high in 2015. Alpine glacier retreat continued around the globe, and preliminary data indicate that 2016 is the 37th consecutive year of negative annual mass balance. Across the Northern Hemisphere, snow cover for each month from February to June was among its four least extensive in the 47-year satellite record. Continuing a pattern below the surface, record high temperatures at 20-m depth were measured at all permafrost observatories on the North Slope of Alaska and at the Canadian observatory on northernmost Ellesmere Island. In the Antarctic, record low monthly surface pressures were broken at many stations, with the southern annular mode setting record high index values in March and June. Monthly high surface pressure records for August and November were set at several stations. During this period, record low daily and monthly sea ice extents were observed, with the November mean sea ice extent more than 5 standard deviations below the 1981-2010 average. These record low sea ice values contrast sharply with the record high values observed during 2012-14. Over the region, springtime Antarctic stratospheric ozone depletion was less severe relative to the 1991-2006 average, but ozone levels were still low compared to pre-1990 levels. Closer to the equator, 93 named tropical storms were observed during 2016, above the 1981-2010 average of 82, but fewer than the 101 storms recorded in 2015. Three basins-the North Atlantic, and eastern and western North Pacific-experienced above-normal activity in 2016. The Australian basin recorded its least active season since the beginning of the satellite era in 1970. Overall, four tropical cyclones reached the Saffir-Simpson category 5 intensity level. The strong El Nino at the beginning of the year that transitioned to a weak La Nina contributed to enhanced precipitation variability around the world. Wet conditions were observed throughout the year across southern South America, causing repeated heavy flooding in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Wetter-than-usual conditions were also observed for eastern Europe and central Asia, alleviating the drought conditions of 2014 and 2015 in southern Russia. In the United States, California had its first wetter-than-average year since 2012, after being plagued by drought for several years. Even so, the area covered by drought in 2016 at the global scale was among the largest in the post-1950 record. For each month, at least 12% of land surfaces experienced severe drought conditions or worse, the longest such stretch in the record. In northeastern Brazil, drought conditions were observed for the fifth consecutive year, making this the longest drought on record in the region. Dry conditions were also observed in western Bolivia and Peru; it was Bolivia's worst drought in the past 25 years. In May, with abnormally warm and dry conditions already prevailing over western Canada for about a year, the human-induced Fort McMurray wildfire burned nearly 590000 hectares and became the costliest disaster in Canadian history, with $3 billion (U.S. dollars) in insured losses.
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  • Wang, Haidong, et al. (author)
  • Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980-2015 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015
  • 2016
  • In: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 388:10053, s. 1459-1544
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • BACKGROUND: Improving survival and extending the longevity of life for all populations requires timely, robust evidence on local mortality levels and trends. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study (GBD 2015) provides a comprehensive assessment of all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1980 to 2015. These results informed an in-depth investigation of observed and expected mortality patterns based on sociodemographic measures.METHODS: We estimated all-cause mortality by age, sex, geography, and year using an improved analytical approach originally developed for GBD 2013 and GBD 2010. Improvements included refinements to the estimation of child and adult mortality and corresponding uncertainty, parameter selection for under-5 mortality synthesis by spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, and sibling history data processing. We also expanded the database of vital registration, survey, and census data to 14 294 geography-year datapoints. For GBD 2015, eight causes, including Ebola virus disease, were added to the previous GBD cause list for mortality. We used six modelling approaches to assess cause-specific mortality, with the Cause of Death Ensemble Model (CODEm) generating estimates for most causes. We used a series of novel analyses to systematically quantify the drivers of trends in mortality across geographies. First, we assessed observed and expected levels and trends of cause-specific mortality as they relate to the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary indicator derived from measures of income per capita, educational attainment, and fertility. Second, we examined factors affecting total mortality patterns through a series of counterfactual scenarios, testing the magnitude by which population growth, population age structures, and epidemiological changes contributed to shifts in mortality. Finally, we attributed changes in life expectancy to changes in cause of death. We documented each step of the GBD 2015 estimation processes, as well as data sources, in accordance with Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting (GATHER).FINDINGS: Globally, life expectancy from birth increased from 61·7 years (95% uncertainty interval 61·4-61·9) in 1980 to 71·8 years (71·5-72·2) in 2015. Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa had very large gains in life expectancy from 2005 to 2015, rebounding from an era of exceedingly high loss of life due to HIV/AIDS. At the same time, many geographies saw life expectancy stagnate or decline, particularly for men and in countries with rising mortality from war or interpersonal violence. From 2005 to 2015, male life expectancy in Syria dropped by 11·3 years (3·7-17·4), to 62·6 years (56·5-70·2). Total deaths increased by 4·1% (2·6-5·6) from 2005 to 2015, rising to 55·8 million (54·9 million to 56·6 million) in 2015, but age-standardised death rates fell by 17·0% (15·8-18·1) during this time, underscoring changes in population growth and shifts in global age structures. The result was similar for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with total deaths from these causes increasing by 14·1% (12·6-16·0) to 39·8 million (39·2 million to 40·5 million) in 2015, whereas age-standardised rates decreased by 13·1% (11·9-14·3). Globally, this mortality pattern emerged for several NCDs, including several types of cancer, ischaemic heart disease, cirrhosis, and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. By contrast, both total deaths and age-standardised death rates due to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional conditions significantly declined from 2005 to 2015, gains largely attributable to decreases in mortality rates due to HIV/AIDS (42·1%, 39·1-44·6), malaria (43·1%, 34·7-51·8), neonatal preterm birth complications (29·8%, 24·8-34·9), and maternal disorders (29·1%, 19·3-37·1). Progress was slower for several causes, such as lower respiratory infections and nutritional deficiencies, whereas deaths increased for others, including dengue and drug use disorders. Age-standardised death rates due to injuries significantly declined from 2005 to 2015, yet interpersonal violence and war claimed increasingly more lives in some regions, particularly in the Middle East. In 2015, rotaviral enteritis (rotavirus) was the leading cause of under-5 deaths due to diarrhoea (146 000 deaths, 118 000-183 000) and pneumococcal pneumonia was the leading cause of under-5 deaths due to lower respiratory infections (393 000 deaths, 228 000-532 000), although pathogen-specific mortality varied by region. Globally, the effects of population growth, ageing, and changes in age-standardised death rates substantially differed by cause. Our analyses on the expected associations between cause-specific mortality and SDI show the regular shifts in cause of death composition and population age structure with rising SDI. Country patterns of premature mortality (measured as years of life lost [YLLs]) and how they differ from the level expected on the basis of SDI alone revealed distinct but highly heterogeneous patterns by region and country or territory. Ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes were among the leading causes of YLLs in most regions, but in many cases, intraregional results sharply diverged for ratios of observed and expected YLLs based on SDI. Communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases caused the most YLLs throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with observed YLLs far exceeding expected YLLs for countries in which malaria or HIV/AIDS remained the leading causes of early death.INTERPRETATION: At the global scale, age-specific mortality has steadily improved over the past 35 years; this pattern of general progress continued in the past decade. Progress has been faster in most countries than expected on the basis of development measured by the SDI. Against this background of progress, some countries have seen falls in life expectancy, and age-standardised death rates for some causes are increasing. Despite progress in reducing age-standardised death rates, population growth and ageing mean that the number of deaths from most non-communicable causes are increasing in most countries, putting increased demands on health systems.
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11.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • A multiwavelength view of the flaring state of PKS 2155-304 in 2006
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 539, s. A149-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. Multiwavelength (MWL) observations of the blazar PKS 2155-304 during two weeks in July and August 2006, the period when two exceptional flares at very high energies (VHE, E greater than or similar to 100 GeV) occurred, provide a detailed picture of the evolution of its emission. The complete data set from this campaign is presented, including observations in VHE gamma-rays (H.E.S. S.), X-rays (RXTE, Chandra, Swift XRT), optical (Swift UVOT, Bronberg, Watcher, ROTSE), and in the radio band (NRT, HartRAO, ATCA). Optical and radio light curves from 2004 to 2008 are compared to the available VHE data from this period, to put the 2006 campaign into the context of the long-term evolution of the source. Aims. The data set offers a close view of the evolution of the source on different time scales and yields new insights into the properties of the emission process. The predictions of synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenarios are compared to the MWL data, with the aim of describing the dominant features in the data down to the hour time scale. Methods. The spectral variability in the X-ray and VHE bands is explored and correlations between the integral fluxes at different wavelengths are evaluated. SSC modelling is used to interpret the general trends of the varying spectral energy distribution. Results. The X-ray and VHE gamma-ray emission are correlated during the observed high state of the source, but show no direct connection with longer wavelengths. The long-term flux evolution in the optical and radio bands is found to be correlated and shows that the source reaches a high state at long wavelengths after the occurrence of the VHE flares. Spectral hardening is seen in the Swift XRT data. Conclusions. The nightly averaged high-energy spectra of the non-flaring nights can be reproduced by a stationary one-zone SSC model, with only small variations in the parameters. The spectral and flux evolution in the high-energy band during the night of the second VHE flare is modelled with multi-zone SSC models, which can provide relatively simple interpretations for the hour time-scale evolution of the high-energy emission, even for such a complex data set. For the first time in this type of source, a clear indication is found for a relation between high activity at high energies and a long-term increase in the low frequency fluxes.
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  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • HESS J1943+213 : a candidate extreme BL Lacertae object
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 529, s. A49-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. The H. E. S. S. Cherenkov telescope array has been surveying the Galactic plane for new VHE (>100 GeV) gamma-ray sources. Aims. We report on a newly detected point-like source, HESS J1943+213. This source coincides with an unidentified hard X-ray source IGR J19443+2117, which was proposed to have radio and infrared counterparts. Methods. We combine new H. E. S. S., Fermi/LAT and Nancay Radio Telescope observations with pre-existing non-simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of IGR J19443+2117 and discuss the likely source associations as well as the interpretation as an active galactic nucleus, a gamma-ray binary or a pulsar wind nebula. Results. HESS J1943+213 is detected at the significance level of 7.9 sigma (post-trials) at RA(J2000) = 19(h)43(m)55(s) +/- 1(stat)(s) +/- 1(sys)(s), Dec(J2000) = +21 degrees 18'8 '' +/- 17(stat)'' +/- 20(sys)''. The source has a soft spectrum with photon index Gamma = 3.1 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.2(sys) and a flux above 470 GeV of (1.3 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.3(sys)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). There is no Fermi/LAT counterpart down to a flux limit of 6 x 10(-9) cm(-2) s(-1) in the 0.1-100 GeV energy range (95% confidence upper limit calculated for an assumed power-law model with a photon index Gamma = 2.0). The data from radio to VHE gamma-rays do not show any significant variability. Conclusions. The lack of a massive stellar counterpart disfavors the binary hypothesis, while the soft VHE spectrum would be very unusual in case of a pulsar wind nebula. In addition, the distance estimates for Galactic counterparts places them outside of the Milky Way. All available observations favor an interpretation as an extreme, high-frequency peaked BL Lac object with a redshift z > 0.14. This would be the first time a blazar is detected serendipitously from ground-based VHE observations, and the first VHE AGN detected in the Galactic Plane.
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13.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Multi-wavelength observations of H 2356-309
  • 2010
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 516, s. A56-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. The properties of the broad-band emission from the high-frequency peaked BL Lac H 2356-309 (z = 0.165) are investigated. Methods. Very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) observations of H 2356-309 were performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from 2004 through 2007. Simultaneous optical/UV and X-ray observations were made with the XMM-Newton satellite on June 12/13 and June 14/15, 2005. NRT radio observations were also contemporaneously performed in 2005. ATOM optical monitoring observations were also made in 2007. Results. A strong VHE signal, similar to 13 sigma total, was detected by HESS after the four years HESS observations (116.8 h live time). The integral flux above 240 GeV is I(> 240 GeV) = (3.06 +/- 0.26(stat) +/- 0.61(syst)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1), corresponding to similar to 1.6% of the flux observed from the Crab Nebula. A time-averaged energy spectrum is measured from 200 GeV to 2 TeV and is characterized by a power law (photon index of Gamma = 3.06 +/- 0.15(stat) +/- 0.10(syst)). Significant small-amplitude variations in the VHE flux from H 2356-309 are seen on time scales of months and years, but not on shorter time scales. No evidence for any variations in the VHE spectral slope are found within these data. The XMM-Newton X-ray measurements show a historically low X-ray state, characterized by a hard, broken-power-law spectrum on both nights. Conclusions. The broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) of the blazar can be adequately fit using a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model. In the SSC scenario, higher VHE fluxes could be expected in the future since the observed X-ray flux is at a historically low level.
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14.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • VHE gamma-ray emission of PKS 2155-304 : spectral and temporal variability
  • 2010
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 520, s. A83-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. Observations of very high-energy.-rays from blazars provide information about acceleration mechanisms occurring in their innermost regions. Studies of variability in these objects lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms in play. Aims. To investigate the spectral and temporal variability of VHE (>100 GeV) gamma-rays of the well-known high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 with the HESS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes over a wide range of flux states. Methods. Data collected from 2005 to 2007 were analyzed. Spectra were derived on time scales ranging from 3 years to 4 min. Light curve variability was studied through doubling timescales and structure functions and compared with red noise process simulations. Results. The source was found to be in a low state from 2005 to 2007, except for a set of exceptional flares that occurred in July 2006. The quiescent state of the source is characterized by an associated mean flux level of (4.32 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.86(syst)) x 10(-11) cm(-2) s(-1) above 200 GeV, or approximately 15% of the Crab Nebula, and a power-law photon index of Gamma = 3.53 +/- 0.06(stat) +/- 0.10(syst). During the flares of July 2006, doubling timescales of similar to 2 min are found. The spectral index variation is examined over two orders of magnitude in flux, yielding different behavior at low and high fluxes, which is a new phenomenon in VHE gamma-ray emitting blazars. The variability amplitude characterized by the fractional rms F-var is strongly energy-dependent and is proportional to E-0.19 +/- 0.01. The light curve rms correlates with the flux. This is the signature of a multiplicative process that can be accounted for as a red noise with a Fourier index of similar to 2. Conclusions. This unique data set shows evidence of a low-level.-ray emission state from PKS 2155-304 that possibly has a different origin than the outbursts. The discovery of the light curve ognormal behavior might be an indicator of the origin of aperiodic variability in blazars.
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15.
  • Acciari, V. A., et al. (author)
  • Radio Imaging of the Very-High-Energy gamma-Ray Emission Region in the Central Engine of a Radio Galaxy
  • 2009
  • In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 325:5939, s. 444-448
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The accretion of matter onto a massive black hole is believed to feed the relativistic plasma jets found in many active galactic nuclei (AGN). Although some AGN accelerate particles to energies exceeding 10(12) electron volts and are bright sources of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission, it is not yet known where the VHE emission originates. Here we report on radio and VHE observations of the radio galaxy Messier 87, revealing a period of extremely strong VHE gamma-ray flares accompanied by a strong increase of the radio flux from its nucleus. These results imply that charged particles are accelerated to very high energies in the immediate vicinity of the black hole.
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17.
  • Marouli, Eirini, et al. (author)
  • Rare and low-frequency coding variants alter human adult height
  • 2017
  • In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 542:7640, s. 186-190
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Height is a highly heritable, classic polygenic trait with approximately 700 common associated variants identified through genome-wide association studies so far. Here, we report 83 height-associated coding variants with lower minor-allele frequencies (in the range of 0.1-4.8%) and effects of up to 2 centimetres per allele (such as those in IHH, STC2, AR and CRISPLD2), greater than ten times the average effect of common variants. In functional follow-up studies, rare height increasing alleles of STC2 (giving an increase of 1-2 centimetres per allele) compromised proteolytic inhibition of PAPP-A and increased cleavage of IGFBP-4 in vitro, resulting in higher bioavailability of insulin-like growth factors. These 83 height-associated variants overlap genes that are mutated in monogenic growth disorders and highlight new biological candidates (such as ADAMTS3, IL11RA and NOX4) and pathways (such as proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan synthesis) involved in growth. Our results demonstrate that sufficiently large sample sizes can uncover rare and low-frequency variants of moderate-to-large effect associated with polygenic human phenotypes, and that these variants implicate relevant genes and pathways.
  •  
18.
  • Speliotes, Elizabeth K., et al. (author)
  • Association analyses of 249,796 individuals reveal 18 new loci associated with body mass index
  • 2010
  • In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 42:11, s. 937-948
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Obesity is globally prevalent and highly heritable, but its underlying genetic factors remain largely elusive. To identify genetic loci for obesity susceptibility, we examined associations between body mass index and ~2.8 million SNPs in up to 123,865 individuals with targeted follow up of 42 SNPs in up to 125,931 additional individuals. We confirmed 14 known obesity susceptibility loci and identified 18 new loci associated with body mass index (P < 5 × 10−8), one of which includes a copy number variant near GPRC5B. Some loci (at MC4R, POMC, SH2B1 and BDNF) map near key hypothalamic regulators of energy balance, and one of these loci is near GIPR, an incretin receptor. Furthermore, genes in other newly associated loci may provide new insights into human body weight regulation.
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19.
  • Tinetti, Giovanna, et al. (author)
  • The EChO science case
  • 2015
  • In: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 40:2-3, s. 329-391
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The discovery of almost two thousand exoplanets has revealed an unexpectedly diverse planet population. We see gas giants in few-day orbits, whole multi-planet systems within the orbit of Mercury, and new populations of planets with masses between that of the Earth and Neptune-all unknown in the Solar System. Observations to date have shown that our Solar System is certainly not representative of the general population of planets in our Milky Way. The key science questions that urgently need addressing are therefore: What are exoplanets made of? Why are planets as they are? How do planetary systems work and what causes the exceptional diversity observed as compared to the Solar System? The EChO (Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory) space mission was conceived to take up the challenge to explain this diversity in terms of formation, evolution, internal structure and planet and atmospheric composition. This requires in-depth spectroscopic knowledge of the atmospheres of a large and well-defined planet sample for which precise physical, chemical and dynamical information can be obtained. In order to fulfil this ambitious scientific program, EChO was designed as a dedicated survey mission for transit and eclipse spectroscopy capable of observing a large, diverse and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. The transit and eclipse spectroscopy method, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allows us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of at least 10(-4) relative to the star. This can only be achieved in conjunction with a carefully designed stable payload and satellite platform. It is also necessary to provide broad instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect as many molecular species as possible, to probe the thermal structure of the planetary atmospheres and to correct for the contaminating effects of the stellar photosphere. This requires wavelength coverage of at least 0.55 to 11 mu m with a goal of covering from 0.4 to 16 mu m. Only modest spectral resolving power is needed, with R similar to 300 for wavelengths less than 5 mu m and R similar to 30 for wavelengths greater than this. The transit spectroscopy technique means that no spatial resolution is required. A telescope collecting area of about 1 m(2) is sufficiently large to achieve the necessary spectro-photometric precision: for the Phase A study a 1.13 m(2) telescope, diffraction limited at 3 mu m has been adopted. Placing the satellite at L2 provides a cold and stable thermal environment as well as a large field of regard to allow efficient time-critical observation of targets randomly distributed over the sky. EChO has been conceived to achieve a single goal: exoplanet spectroscopy. The spectral coverage and signal-to-noise to be achieved by EChO, thanks to its high stability and dedicated design, would be a game changer by allowing atmospheric composition to be measured with unparalleled exactness: at least a factor 10 more precise and a factor 10 to 1000 more accurate than current observations. This would enable the detection of molecular abundances three orders of magnitude lower than currently possible and a fourfold increase from the handful of molecules detected to date. Combining these data with estimates of planetary bulk compositions from accurate measurements of their radii and masses would allow degeneracies associated with planetary interior modelling to be broken, giving unique insight into the interior structure and elemental abundances of these alien worlds. EChO would allow scientists to study exoplanets both as a population and as individuals. The mission can target super-Earths, Neptune-like, and Jupiter-like planets, in the very hot to temperate zones (planet temperatures of 300-3000 K) of F to M-type host stars. The EChO core science would be delivered by a three-tier survey. The EChO Chemical Census: This is a broad survey of a few-hundred exoplanets, which allows us to explore the spectroscopic and chemical diversity of the exoplanet population as a whole. The EChO Origin: This is a deep survey of a subsample of tens of exoplanets for which significantly higher signal to noise and spectral resolution spectra can be obtained to explain the origin of the exoplanet diversity (such as formation mechanisms, chemical processes, atmospheric escape). The EChO Rosetta Stones: This is an ultra-high accuracy survey targeting a subsample of select exoplanets. These will be the bright "benchmark" cases for which a large number of measurements would be taken to explore temporal variations, and to obtain two and three dimensional spatial information on the atmospheric conditions through eclipse-mapping techniques. If EChO were launched today, the exoplanets currently observed are sufficient to provide a large and diverse sample. The Chemical Census survey would consist of > 160 exoplanets with a range of planetary sizes, temperatures, orbital parameters and stellar host properties. Additionally, over the next 10 years, several new ground- and space-based transit photometric surveys and missions will come on-line (e.g. NGTS, CHEOPS, TESS, PLATO), which will specifically focus on finding bright, nearby systems. The current rapid rate of discovery would allow the target list to be further optimised in the years prior to EChO's launch and enable the atmospheric characterisation of hundreds of planets.
  •  
20.
  • Turcot, Valerie, et al. (author)
  • Protein-altering variants associated with body mass index implicate pathways that control energy intake and expenditure in obesity
  • 2018
  • In: Nature Genetics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 50:1, s. 26-41
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >250 loci for body mass index (BMI), implicating pathways related to neuronal biology. Most GWAS loci represent clusters of common, noncoding variants from which pinpointing causal genes remains challenging. Here we combined data from 718,734 individuals to discover rare and low-frequency (minor allele frequency (MAF) < 5%) coding variants associated with BMI. We identified 14 coding variants in 13 genes, of which 8 variants were in genes (ZBTB7B, ACHE, RAPGEF3, RAB21, ZFHX3, ENTPD6, ZFR2 and ZNF169) newly implicated in human obesity, 2 variants were in genes (MC4R and KSR2) previously observed to be mutated in extreme obesity and 2 variants were in GIPR. The effect sizes of rare variants are similar to 10 times larger than those of common variants, with the largest effect observed in carriers of an MC4R mutation introducing a stop codon (p.Tyr35Ter, MAF = 0.01%), who weighed similar to 7 kg more than non-carriers. Pathway analyses based on the variants associated with BMI confirm enrichment of neuronal genes and provide new evidence for adipocyte and energy expenditure biology, widening the potential of genetically supported therapeutic targets in obesity.
  •  
21.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • A new SNR with TeV shell-type morphology : HESS J1731-347
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 531, s. A81-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. The recent discovery of the radio shell-type supernova remnant (SNR), G353.6-0.7, in spatial coincidence with the unidentified TeV source HESS J1731-347 has motivated further observations of the source with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) Cherenkov telescope array to test a possible association of the gamma-ray emission with the SNR. Methods. With a total of 59 h of observation, representing about four times the initial exposure available in the discovery paper of HESS J1731-347, the gamma-ray morphology is investigated and compared with the radio morphology. An estimate of the distance is derived by comparing the interstellar absorption derived from X-rays and the one obtained from (12)CO and HI observations. Results. The deeper gamma-ray observation of the source has revealed a large shell-type structure with similar position and extension (r similar to 0.25 degrees) as the radio SNR, thus confirming their association. By accounting for the HESS angular resolution and projection effects within a simple shell model, the radial profile is compatible with a thin, spatially unresolved, rim. Together with RX J1713.7-3946, RX J0852.0-4622 and SN 1006, HESS J1731-347 is now the fourth SNR with a significant shell morphology at TeV energies. The derived lower limit on the distance of the SNR of 3.2 kpc is used together with radio and X-ray data to discuss the possible origin of the gamma-ray emission, either via inverse Compton scattering of electrons or the decay of neutral pions resulting from proton-proton interaction.
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22.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Constraints on the gamma-ray emission from the cluster-scale AGN outburst in the Hydra A galaxy cluster
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 545, s. A103-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. In some galaxy clusters, powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN) have blown bubbles with cluster scale extent into the ambient medium. The main pressure support of these bubbles is not known to date, but cosmic rays are a viable possibility. For such a scenario copious gamma-ray emission is expected as a tracer of cosmic rays from these systems. Aims. Hydra A, the closest galaxy cluster hosting a cluster scale AGN outburst, located at a redshift of 0.0538, is investigated for being a gamma-ray emitter with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) array and the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT). Methods. Data obtained in 20.2 h of dedicated H. E. S. S. observations and 38 months of Fermi-LAT data, gathered by its usual all-sky scanning mode, have been analyzed to search for a gamma-ray signal. Results. No signal has been found in either data set. Upper limits on the gamma-ray flux are derived and are compared to models. These are the first limits on gamma-ray emission ever presented for galaxy clusters hosting cluster scale AGN outbursts. Conclusions. The non-detection of Hydra A in gamma-rays has important implications on the particle populations and physical conditions inside the bubbles in this system. For the case of bubbles mainly supported by hadronic cosmic rays, the most favorable scenario, which involves full mixing between cosmic rays and embedding medium, can be excluded. However, hadronic cosmic rays still remain a viable pressure support agent to sustain the bubbles against the thermal pressure of the ambient medium. The largest population of highly-energetic electrons, which are relevant for inverse-Compton gamma-ray production is found in the youngest inner lobes of Hydra A. The limit on the inverse-Compton gamma-ray flux excludes a magnetic field below half of the equipartition value of 16 mu G in the inner lobes.
  •  
23.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Detection of very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the vicinity of PSR B1706-44 and G 343.1-2.3 with HESS
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 528, s. A143-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The gamma-ray pulsar PSR B1706-44 and the adjacent supernova remnant (SNR) candidate G 343.1-2.3 were observed by H. E. S. S. during a dedicated observation campaign in 2007. As a result of this observation campaign, a new source of very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission, H.E.S.S. J1708-443, was detected with a statistical significance of 7 sigma, although no significant point-like emission was detected at the position of the energetic pulsar itself. In this paper, the morphological and spectral analyses of the newly-discovered TeV source are presented. The centroid of H. E. S. S. J1708-443 is considerably offset from the pulsar and located near the apparent center of the SNR, at alpha(J2000) = 17(h)08(m)11(s) +/- 17(s) and delta(J2000) = -44 degrees 20' +/- 4'. The source is found to be significantly more extended than the H. E. S. S. point spread function (similar to 0.1 degrees), with an intrinsic Gaussian width of 0.29 degrees +/- 0.04 degrees. Its integral flux between 1 and 10 TeV is similar to 3.8 x 10(-1)2 ph cm(-2) s(-1), equivalent to 17% of the Crab Nebula flux in the same energy range. The measured energy spectrum is well-fit by a power law with a relatively hard photon index Gamma = 2.0 +/- 0.1(stat) +/-0.2(sys). Additional multi-wavelength data, including 330 MHz VLA observations, were used to investigate the VHE gamma-ray source's possible associations with the pulsar wind nebula of PSR B1706-44 and/or with the complex radio structure of the partial shell-type SNR G 343.1-2.3.
  •  
24.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of extended VHE gamma-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 537, s. A114-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. Results obtained in very-high-energy (VHE; E >= 100 GeV) gamma-ray observations performed with the H.E.S.S. telescope array are used to investigate particle acceleration processes in the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd 1). Methods. Imaging of Cherenkov light from gamma-ray induced particle cascades in the Earth's atmosphere is used to search for VHE gamma rays from the region around Wd 1. Possible catalogued counterparts are searched for and discussed in terms of morphology and energetics of the H.E.S.S. source. Results. The detection of the degree-scale extended VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1646-458 is reported based on 45 h of H.E.S.S. observations performed between 2004 and 2008. The VHE gamma-ray source is centred on the nominal position of Wd 1 and detected with a total statistical significance of similar to 20 sigma. The emission region clearly extends beyond the H.E.S.S. point-spread function (PSF). The differential energy spectrum follows a power law in energy with an index of Gamma = 2.19 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of Phi(0) = (9.0 +/- 1.4(stat) +/- 1.8(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). The integral flux above 0.2 TeV amounts to (5.2 +/- 0.9) x 10(-11) cm(-2) s(-1). Conclusions. Four objects coincident with HESS J1646-458 are discussed in the search of a counterpart, namely the magnetar CXOU J164710.2-455216, the X-ray binary 4U 1642-45, the pulsar PSR J1648-4611 and the massive stellar cluster Wd 1. In a single-source scenario, Wd 1 is favoured as site of VHE particle acceleration. Here, a hadronic parent population would be accelerated within the stellar cluster. Beside this, there is evidence for a multi-source origin, where a scenario involving PSR J1648-4611 could be viable to explain parts of the VHE gamma-ray emission of HESS J1646-458.
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25.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the extragalactic pulsar wind nebula N 157B with HESS
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 545, s. Article ID: L2-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • We present the significant detection of the first extragalactic pulsar wind nebula (PWN) detected in gamma rays, N 157B, located in the large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Pulsars with high spin-down luminosity are found to power energised nebulae that emit gamma rays up to energies of several tens of TeV. N 157B is associated with PSR J0537-6910, which is the pulsar with the highest known spin-down luminosity. The High Energy Stereoscopic System telescope array observed this nebula on a yearly basis from 2004 to 2009 with a dead-time corrected exposure of 46 h. The gamma-ray spectrum between 600 GeV and 12 TeV is well-described by a pure power-law with a photon index of 2.8 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.3(syst) and a normalisation at 1 TeV of (8.2 +/- 0.8(stat) +/- 2.5(syst)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1) TeV-1. A leptonic multi-wavelength model shows that an energy of about 4 x 10(49) erg is stored in electrons and positrons. The apparent efficiency, which is the ratio of the TeV gamma-ray luminosity to the pulsar's spin-down luminosity, 0.08% +/- 0.01%, is comparable to those of PWNe found in the Milky Way. The detection of a PWN at such a large distance is possible due to the pulsar's favourable spin-down luminosity and a bright infrared photon-field serving as an inverse-Compton-scattering target for accelerated leptons. By applying a calorimetric technique to these observations, the pulsar's birth period is estimated to be shorter than 10 ms.
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26.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of hard-spectrum gamma- ray emission from the BL Lacertae object 1ES 0414+009
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538, s. A103-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. 1ES 0414+009 (z = 0.287) is a distant high-frequency- peaked BL Lac object, and has long been considered a likely emitter of very-highenergy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma-rays due to its high X-ray and radio flux. Aims. Observations in the VHE gamma-ray band and across the electromagnetic spectrum can provide insights into the origin of highly energetic particles present in the source and the radiation processes at work. Because of the distance of the source, the gamma-ray spectrum might provide further limits on the level of the extragalactic background light (EBL). Methods. We report observations made between October 2005 and December 2009 with H. E. S. S., an array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Observations at high energies (HE, 100 MeV-100 GeV) with the Fermi-LAT instrument in the first 20 months of its operation are also reported. To complete the multi-wavelength picture, archival UV and X-ray observations with the Swift satellite and optical observations with the ATOM telescope are also used. Results. Based on the observations with H.E.S.S., 1ES 0414+009 is detected for the first time in the VHE band. An excess of 224 events is measured, corresponding to a significance of 7.8 sigma. The photon spectrum of the source is well described by a power law, with photon index of Gamma(VHE) = 3.45 +/- 0.25(stat) +/- 0.20(syst). The integral flux above 200 GeV is (1.88 +/- 0.20(stat) +/- 0.38(syst)) x10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). Observations with the Fermi-LAT in the first 20 months of operation show a flux between 200 MeV and 100 GeV of (2.3 +/- 0.2(stat)) x 10(-9) erg cm(-2) s(-1), and a spectrum well described by a power-law function with a photon index Gamma(HE) = 1.85 +/- 0.18. Swift/XRT observations show an X-ray flux between 2 and 10 keV of (0.8-1) x 10(-11) erg cm(-2) s(-1), and a steep spectrum Gamma(X) = (2.2-2.3). Combining X-ray with optical-UV data, a fit with a log-parabolic function locates the synchrotron peak around 0.1 keV. Conclusions. Although the GeV-TeV observations do not provide better constraints on the EBL than previously obtained, they confirm a low density of the EBL, close to the lower limits from galaxy counts. The absorption-corrected HE and VHE gamma-ray spectra are both hard and have similar spectral indices (approximate to 1.86), indicating no significant change of slope between the HE and VHE gamma-ray bands, and locating the gamma-ray peak in the SED above 1-2 TeV. As for other TeV BL Lac objects with the gamma-ray peak at such high energies and a large separation between the two SED humps, this average broad-band SED represents a challenge for simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton models, requiring a high Doppler factor and very low B-field.
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27.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of the source HESS J1356-645 associated with the young and energetic PSR J1357-6429
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 533, s. A103-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. Several newly discovered very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray sources in the Galaxy are thought to be associated with energetic pulsars. Among them, middle-aged (greater than or similar to 10(4) yr) systems exhibit large centre-filled VHE nebulae, offset from the pulsar position, which result from the complex relationship between the pulsar wind and the surrounding medium, and reflect the past evolution of the pulsar. Aims. Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) have been successful in revealing extended emission from these sources in the VHE regime. Together with radio and X-ray observations, this observational window allows one to probe the energetics and magnetic field inside these large-scale nebulae. Methods. H.E.S.S., with its large field of view, angular resolution of less than or similar to 0.1 degrees and unprecedented sensitivity, has been used to discover a large population of such VHE sources. In this paper, the H. E. S. S. data from the continuation of the Galactic Plane Survey (-80 degrees < l < 60 degrees, vertical bar b vertical bar < 3 degrees), together with the existing multi-wavelength observations, are used. Results. A new VHE gamma-ray source was discovered at RA (J2000) = 13(h)56(m)00(s), Dec (J2000) = -64 degrees 30'00 '' with a 2' statistical error in each coordinate, namely HESS J1356-645. The source is extended, with an intrinsic Gaussian width of (0.20 +/- 0.02)degrees. Its integrated energy flux between 1 and 10 TeV of 8 x 10(-12) erg cm(-2) s(-1) represents similar to 11% of the Crab Nebula flux in the same energy band. The energy spectrum between 1 and 20 TeV is well described by a power law dN/dE proportional to E-Gamma with photon index Gamma = 2.2 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). The inspection of archival radio images at three frequencies and the analysis of X-ray data from ROSAT/PSPC and XMM-Newton/MOS reveal the presence of faint non-thermal diffuse emission coincident with HESS J1356-645. Conclusions. HESS J1356-645 is most likely associated with the young and energetic pulsar PSR J1357-6429 (d = 2.4 kpc, tau(c) = 7.3 kyr and (E) over dot = 3.1 x 10(36) erg s(-1)), located at a projected distance of similar to 5 pc from the centroid of the VHE emission. HESS J1356-645 and its radio and X-ray counterparts would thus represent the nebula resulting from the past history of the PSR J1357-6429 wind. In a simple one-zone model, constraints on the magnetic field strength in the nebula are obtained from the flux of the faint and extended X-ray emission detected with ROSAT and XMM-Newton. Fermi-LAT upper limits in the high-energy ( HE; 0.1-100 GeV) domain are also used to constrain the parent electron spectrum. From the low magnetic field value inferred from this approach (similar to 3-4 mu G), HESS J1356-645 is thought to share many similarities with other known gamma-ray emitting nebulae, such as Vela X, as it exhibits a large-scale nebula seen in radio, X-rays and VHE gamma-rays.
  •  
28.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of VHE emission towards the Carina arm region with the HESS telescope array : HESSJ1018-589
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 541, s. A5-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The Carina arm region, containing the supernova remnant SNRG284.3-1.8, the high-energy (HE; E > 100 MeV) binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 and the energetic pulsar PSRJ1016-5857 and its nebula, has been observed with the H. E. S. S. telescope array. The observational coverage of the region in very-high-energy (VHE; E > 0.1TeV) gamma-rays benefits from deep exposure (40 h) of the neighboring open cluster Westerlund 2. The observations have revealed a new extended region of VHE gamma-ray emission. The new VHE source HESS J1018-589 shows a bright, point-like emission region positionally coincident with SNRG284.3-1.8 and 1FGL J1018.6-5856 and a diffuse extension towards the direction of PSRJ1016-5857. A soft (Gamma = 2.7 +/- 0.5(stat)) photon index, with a differential flux at 1 TeV of N-0 = (4.2 +/- 1.1) x 10(-13) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1) is found for the point-like source, whereas the total emission region including the diffuse emission region is well fit by a power-law function with spectral index Gamma = 2.9 +/- 0.4(stat) and differential flux at 1 TeV of N-0 = (6.8 +/- 1.6) x 10(-1)3 TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). This H. E. S. S. detection motivated follow-up X-ray observations with the XMM-Newton satellite to investigate the origin of the VHE emission. The analysis of the XMM-Newton data resulted in the discovery of a bright, non-thermal point-like source (XMMU J101855.4-58564) with a photon index of Gamma = 1.65 +/- 0.08 in the center of SNRG284.3-1.8, and a thermal, extended emission region coincident with its bright northern filament. The characteristics of this thermal emission are used to estimate the plasma density in the region as n approximate to 0.5 cm(-3) (2.9 kpc/d)(2). The position of XMMUJ101855.4-58564 is compatible with the position reported by the Fermi-LAT collaboration for the binary system 1FGL J1018.6-5856 and the variable Swift XRT source identified with it. The new X-ray data are used alongside archival multi-wavelength data to investigate the relationship between the VHE gamma-ray emission from HESS J1018-589 and the various potential counterparts in the Carina arm region.
  •  
29.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of VHE gamma-ray emission and multi-wavelength observations of the BL Lacertae object 1RXSJ101015.9-311909
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 542, s. A94-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • 1RXS J101015.9-311909 is a galaxy located at a redshift of z = 0.14 hosting an active nucleus (called AGN) belonging to the class of bright BL Lac objects. Observations at high (HE, E > 100 MeV) and very high (VHE, E > 100 GeV) energies provide insights into the origin of very energetic particles present in such sources and the radiation processes at work. We report on results from VHE observations performed between 2006 and 2010 with the H. E. S. S. instrument, an array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. H. E. S. S. data have been analysed with enhanced analysis methods, making the detection of faint sources more significant. VHE emission at a position coincident with 1RXS J101015.9-311909 is detected with H. E. S. S. for the first time. In a total good-quality livetime of about 49 h, we measure 263 excess counts, corresponding to a significance of 7.1 standard deviations. The photon spectrum above 0.2 TeV can be described by a power-law with a photon index of Gamma = 3.08 +/- 0.42(stat) +/- 0.20(sys). The integral flux above 0.2 TeV is about 0.8% of the flux of the Crab nebula and shows no significant variability over the time reported. In addition, public Fermi/LAT data are analysed to search for high energy emission from the source. The Fermi/LAT HE emission in the 100 MeV to 200 GeV energy range is significant at 8.3 standard deviations in the chosen 25-month dataset. UV and X-ray contemporaneous observations with the Swift satellite in May 2007 are also reported, together with optical observations performed with the atom telescope located at the H. E. S. S. site. Swift observations reveal an absorbed X-ray flux of F(0.3-7) keV = 1.04(-0.05)(+0.04) x 10(-11) erg cm(-2) s(-1) in the 0.3-7 keV range. Finally, all the available data are used to study the multi-wavelength properties of the source. The spectral energy distribution (SED) can be reproduced using a simple one-zone Synchrotron Self Compton (SSC) model with emission from a region with a Doppler factor of 30 and a magnetic field between 0.025 and 0.16 G. These parameters are similar to those obtained for other sources of this type.
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30.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • HESS constraints on dark matter annihilations towards the sculptor and carina dwarf galaxies
  • 2011
  • In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 34:8, s. 608-616
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The Sculptor and Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxies were observed with the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescope array between January 2008 and December 2009. The data sets consist of a total of 11.8 h and 14.811 of high quality data, respectively. No gamma-ray signal was detected at the nominal positions of these galaxies above 220 GeV and 320 GeV, respectively. Upper limits on the gamma-ray fluxes at 95% CL assuming two forms for the spectral energy distribution (a power law shape and one derived from dark matter annihilation) are obtained at the level of 10(-13)-10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1) in the TeV range. Constraints on the velocity weighted dark matter particle annihilation cross section for both Sculptor and Carina dwarf galaxies range from 10(-21) cm(3) s(-1) down to similar to 10(-2)2 cm(3) s(-1) on the dark matter halo model used. Possible enhancements of the gamma-ray flux are studied: the Sommerfeld effect, which is found to exclude some dark matter particle masses, the internal Bremsstrahlung and clumps in the dark-matter halo distributions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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31.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • HESS observations of the Carina nebula and its enigmatic colliding wind binary Eta Carinae
  • 2012
  • In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 424:1, s. 128-135
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The massive binary system Eta Carinae and the surrounding H ii complex, the Carina nebula, are potential particle acceleration sites from which very high energy (VHE; E= 100 GeV) ?-ray emission could be expected. This paper presents data collected during VHE ?-ray observations with the HESS telescope array from 2004 to 2010, which cover a full orbit of Eta Carinae. In the 33.1-h data set no hint of significant ?-ray emission from Eta Carinae has been found and an upper limit on the ?-ray flux of (99 per cent confidence level) is derived above the energy threshold of 470 GeV. Together with the detection of high energy (HE; 0.1 =E= 100 GeV) ?-ray emission by the Fermi Large Area Telescope up to 100 GeV, and assuming a continuation of the average HE spectral index into the VHE domain, these results imply a cut-off in the ?-ray spectrum between the HE and VHE ?-ray range. This could be caused either by a cut-off in the accelerated particle distribution or by severe ?? absorption losses in the wind collision region. Furthermore, the search for extended ?-ray emission from the Carina nebula resulted in an upper limit on the ?-ray flux of (99 per cent confidence level). The derived upper limit of 23 on the cosmic ray enhancement factor is compared with results found for the old-age mixed-morphology supernova remnant W28.
  •  
32.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • HESS OBSERVATIONS OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS NGC 6388 AND M15 AND SEARCH FOR A DARK MATTER SIGNAL
  • 2011
  • In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 735:1
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Observations of the globular clusters (GCs) NGC 6388 and M15 were carried out by the High Energy Stereoscopic System array of Cherenkov telescopes for a live time of 27.2 and 15.2 hr, respectively. No gamma-ray signal is found at the nominal target position of NGC 6388 and M15. In the primordial formation scenario, GCs are formed in a dark matter (DM) halo and DM could still be present in the baryon-dominated environment of GCs. This opens the possibility of observing a DM self-annihilation signal. The DM content of the GCs NGC 6388 and M15 is modeled taking into account the astrophysical processes that can be expected to influence the DM distribution during the evolution of the GC: the adiabatic contraction of DM by baryons, the adiabatic growth of a black hole in the DM halo, and the kinetic heating of DM by stars. Ninety-five percent confidence level exclusion limits on the DM particle velocity-weighted annihilation cross section are derived for these DM halos. In the TeV range, the limits on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section are derived at the 10(-25) cm(3) s(-1) level and a few 10(-24) cm(3) s(-1) for NGC 6388 and M15, respectively.
  •  
33.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Identification of HESS J1303-631 as a pulsar wind nebula through gamma-ray, X-ray, and radio observations
  • 2012
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 548, s. A46-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. The previously unidentified very high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray source HESS J1303-631, discovered in 2004, is re-examined including new data from the H. E. S. S. Cherenkov telescope array in order to identify this object. Archival data from the XMM-Newton X-ray satellite and from the PMN radio survey are also examined. Methods. Detailed morphological and spectral studies of VHE gamma-ray emission as well as of the XMM-Newton X-ray data are performed. Radio data from the PMN survey are used as well to construct a leptonic model of the source. The gamma-ray and X-ray spectra and radio upper limit are used to construct a one zone leptonic model of the spectral energy distribution (SED). Results. Significant energy-dependent morphology of the gamma-ray source is detected with high-energy emission (E > 10 TeV) positionally coincident with the pulsar PSR J1301-6305 and lower energy emission (E < 2 TeV) extending similar to 0.4 degrees to the southeast of the pulsar. The spectrum of the VHE source can be described with a power-law with an exponential cut-off N-0 = (5.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1), Gamma = 1.5 +/- 0.2) and E-cut = (7.7 +/- 2.2) TeV. The pulsar wind nebula (PWN) is also detected in X-rays, extending similar to 2-3' from the pulsar position towards the center of the gamma-ray emission region. A potential radio counterpart from the PMN survey is also discussed, showing a hint for a counterpart at the edge of the X-ray PWN trail and is taken as an upper limit in the SED. The extended X-ray PWN has an unabsorbed flux of F2-10 (keV) similar to 1.6(-0.4)(+0.2) x 10(-13) erg cm(-2)s(-1) and is detected at a significance of 6.5 sigma. The SED is well described by a one zone leptonic scenario which, with its associated caveats, predicts a very low average magnetic field for this source. Conclusions. Significant energy-dependent morphology of this source, as well as the identification of an associated X-ray PWN from XMM-Newton observations enable identification of the VHE source as an evolved PWN associated to the pulsar PSR J1301-6305. This identification is supported by the one zone leptonic model, which suggests that the energetics of the gamma-ray and X-ray radiation are such that they may have a similar origin in the pulsar nebula. However, the large discrepancy in emission region sizes and the low level of synchrotron radiation suggest a multi-population leptonic nature. The low implied magnetic field suggests that the PWN has undergone significant expansion. This would explain the low level of synchrotron radiation and the difficulty in detecting counterparts at lower energies, the reason this source was originally classified as a "dark" VHE gamma-ray source.
  •  
34.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Revisiting the Westerlund 2 field with the HESS telescope array
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 525, s. A46-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. Previous observations with the HESS telescope array revealed the existence of extended very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission, HESS J1023-575, coincident with the young stellar cluster Westerlund 2. At the time of discovery, the origin of the observed emission was not unambiguously identified, and follow-up observations have been performed to further investigate the nature of this gamma-ray source. Methods. The Carina region towards the open cluster Westerlund 2 has been re-observed, increasing the total exposure to 45.9 h. The combined dataset includes 33 h of new data and now permits a search for energy-dependent morphology and detailed spectroscopy. Results. A new, hard spectrum VHE gamma-ray source, HESS J1026-582, was discovered with a statistical significance of 7 sigma. It is positionally coincident with the Fermi LAT pulsar PSRJ1028-5819. The positional coincidence and radio/gamma-ray characteristics of the LAT pulsar favors a scenario where the TeV emission originates from a pulsar wind nebula. The nature of HESS J1023-575 is discussed in light of the deep HESS observations and recent multi-wavelength discoveries, including the Fermi LAT pulsar PSRJ1022-5746 and giant molecular clouds in the region. Despite the improved VHE dataset, a clear identification of the object responsible for the VHE emission from HESS J1023-575 is not yet possible, and contribution from the nearby high-energy pulsar and/or the open cluster remains a possibility.
  •  
35.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Search for a Dark Matter Annihilation Signal from the Galactic Center Halo with HESS
  • 2011
  • In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 106:16, s. 161301-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • A search for a very-high-energy (VHE; >= 100 GeV) gamma-ray signal from self-annihilating particle dark matter (DM) is performed towards a region of projected distance r similar to 45-150 pc from the Galactic center. The background-subtracted gamma-ray spectrum measured with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) gamma-ray instrument in the energy range between 300 GeV and 30 TeV shows no hint of a residual gamma-ray flux. Assuming conventional Navarro-Frenk-White and Einasto density profiles, limits are derived on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section as a function of the DM particle mass. These are among the best reported so far for this energy range and in particular differ only little between the chosen density profile parametrizations. In particular, for the DM particle mass of similar to 1 TeV, values for above 3 x 10(-25) cm(3) s(-1) are excluded for the Einasto density profile.
  •  
36.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Search for dark matter annihilation signals from the Fornax galaxy cluster with H.E.S.S.
  • 2012
  • In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 750:2
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The Fornax galaxy cluster was observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System for a total live time of 14.5 hr, searching for very high energy (VHE; E > 100GeV) gamma-rays from dark matter (DM) annihilation. No significant signal was found in searches for point-like and extended emissions. Using several models of the DM density distribution, upper limits on the DM velocity-weighted annihilation cross-section as a function of the DM particle mass are derived. Constraints are derived for different DM particle models, such as those arising from Kaluza-Klein and supersymmetric models. Various annihilation final states are considered. Possible enhancements of the DM annihilation gamma-ray flux, due to DM substructures of the DM host halo, or from the Sommerfeld effect, are studied. Additional gamma-ray contributions from internal bremsstrahlung and inverse Compton radiation are also discussed. For a DM particle mass of 1 TeV, the exclusion limits at 95% of confidence level reach values of (95% C.L.) similar to 10(-23) cm(3) s(-1), depending on the DM particle model and halo properties. Additional contribution from DM substructures can improve the upper limits on by more than two orders of magnitude. At masses around 4.5 TeV, the enhancement by substructures and the Sommerfeld resonance effect results in a velocity-weighted annihilation cross-section upper limit at the level of (95% C.L.) similar to 10(-26) cm(3) s(-1).
  •  
37.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Search for Lorentz Invariance breaking with a likelihood fit of the PKS 2155-304 flare data taken on MJD 53944
  • 2011
  • In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 34:9, s. 738-747
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Several models of Quantum Gravity predict Lorentz Symmetry breaking at energy scales approaching the Planck scale (similar to 10(19) GeV). With present photon data from the observations of distant astrophysical sources, it is possible to constrain the Lorentz Symmetry breaking linear term in the standard photon dispersion relations. Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) and flaring Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are complementary to each other for this purpose, since they are observed at different distances in different energy ranges and with different levels of variability. Following a previous publication of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) collaboration [1], a more sensitive event-by-event method consisting of a likelihood fit is applied to PKS 2155-304 flare data of MJD 53944 (July 28, 2006) as used in the previous publication. The previous limit on the linear term is improved by a factor of similar to 3 up to M(QG)(1), > 2.1 X 10(1B) GeV and is currently the best result obtained with blazars. The sensitivity to the quadratic term is lower and provides a limit of M(QG)(q) > 6.4 x 10(10) GeV, which is the best value obtained so far with an AGN and similar to the best limits obtained with GRB. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  •  
38.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Spectral Analysis and Interpretation of the γ-ray Emission from the Starburst Galaxy NGC 253
  • 2012
  • In: Astrophysical Journal. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 757:2, s. 158-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Very high energy (VHE; E >= 100 GeV) and high-energy (HE; 100 MeV <= E <= 100 GeV) data from gamma-ray observations performed with the H. E. S. S. telescope array and the Fermi-LAT instrument, respectively, are analyzed in order to investigate the non-thermal processes in the starburst galaxy NGC 253. The VHE gamma-ray data can be described by a power law in energy with differential photon index Gamma = 2.14 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.30(sys) and differential flux normalization at 1 TeV of F-0 = (9.6 +/- 1.5(stat)(+5.7, -2.9)(sys)) x 10(-14) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). A power-law fit to the differential HE gamma-ray spectrum reveals a photon index of Gamma = 2.24 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.03(sys) and an integral flux between 200 MeV and 200 GeV of F(0.2-200 GeV) = (4.9 +/- 1.0(stat) +/- 0.3(sys)) x 10(-9) cm(-2) s(-1). No evidence for a spectral break or turnover is found over the dynamic range of both the LAT instrument and the H.E.S.S. experiment: a combined fit of a power law to the HE and VHE gamma-ray data results in a differential photon index Gamma = 2.34 +/- 0.03 with a p-value of 30%. The gamma-ray observations indicate that at least about 20% of the energy of the cosmic rays (CRs) capable of producing hadronic interactions is channeled into pion production. The smooth alignment between the spectra in the HE and VHE gamma-ray domain suggests that the same transport processes dominate in the entire energy range. Advection is most likely responsible for charged particle removal from the starburst nucleus from GeV to multiple TeV energies. In a hadronic scenario for the gamma-ray production, the single overall power-law spectrum observed would therefore correspond to the mean energy spectrum produced by the ensemble of CR sources in the starburst region.
  •  
39.
  • Abramowski, A., et al. (author)
  • Very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the direction of the Galactic globular cluster Terzan 5
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 531, s. L18-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The HESS very-high-energy (VHE, E > 0.1 TeV) gamma-ray telescope system has discovered a new source, HESS J1747-248. The measured integral flux is (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1) above 440 GeV for a power-law photon spectral index of 2.5 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). The VHE gamma-ray source is located in the close vicinity of the Galactic globular cluster Terzan 5 and extends beyond the HESS point spread function (0.07 degrees). The probability of a chance coincidence with Terzan 5 and an unrelated VHE source is quite low (similar to 10(-4)). With the largest population of identified millisecond pulsars (msPSRs), a very high core stellar density and the brightest GeV range flux as measured by Fermi-LAT, Terzan 5 stands out among Galactic globular clusters. The properties of the VHE source are briefly discussed in the context of potential emission mechanisms, notably in relation to msPSRs. Interpretation of the available data accommodates several possible origins for this VHE gamma-ray source, although none of them offers a satisfying explanation of its peculiar morphology.
  •  
40.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • Detection of Gamma Rays from a Starburst Galaxy
  • 2009
  • In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 326:5956, s. 1080-1082
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)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.
  •  
41.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • Discovery and follow-up studies of the extended, off-plane, VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1507-622
  • 2011
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 525, s. A45-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)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.
  •  
42.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • First detection of VHE gamma-rays from SN 1006 by HESS
  • 2010
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 516, s. A62-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. Recent theoretical predictions of the lowest very high energy (VHE) luminosity of SN 1006 are only a factor 5 below the previously published HESS upper limit, thus motivating further in-depth observations of this source. Methods. Deep observations at VHE energies (above 100 GeV) were carried out with the high energy stereoscopic system (HESS) of Cherenkov Telescopes from 2003 to 2008. More than 100 h of data have been collected and subjected to an improved analysis procedure. Results. Observations resulted in the detection of VHE gamma-rays from SN 1006. The measured gamma-ray spectrum is compatible with a power-law, the flux is of the order of 1% of that detected from the Crab Nebula, and is thus consistent with the previously established HESS upper limit. The source exhibits a bipolar morphology, which is strongly correlated with non-thermal X-rays. Conclusions. Because the thickness of the VHE-shell is compatible with emission from a thin rim, particle acceleration in shock waves is likely to be the origin of the gamma-ray signal. The measured flux level can be accounted for by inverse Compton emission, but a mixed scenario that includes leptonic and hadronic components and takes into account the ambient matter density inferred from observations also leads to a satisfactory description of the multi-wavelength spectrum.
  •  
43.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • HESS upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar GRS 1915+105
  • 2009
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 508:3, s. 1135-1140
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Context. High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, > 100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims. Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results. There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of 6.1 x 10(-13) ph cm(-2) s(-1) (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of similar to 10(34) erg s(-1) at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 10(38) erg s(-1). Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.
  •  
44.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • Localizing the VHE gamma-ray source at the Galactic Centre
  • 2010
  • In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 402:3, s. 1877-1882
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The inner 10 pc of our Galaxy contains many counterpart candidates of the very high energy (VHE; > 100 GeV) gamma-ray point source HESS J1745-290. Within the point spread function of the H.E.S.S. measurement, at least three objects are capable of accelerating particles to VHE and beyond and of providing the observed gamma-ray flux. Previous attempts to address this source confusion were hampered by the fact that the projected distances between these objects were of the order of the error circle radius of the emission centroid (34 arcsec, dominated by the pointing uncertainty of the H.E.S.S. instrument). Here we present H.E.S.S. data of the Galactic Centre region, recorded with an improved control of the instrument pointing compared to H.E.S.S. standard pointing procedures. Stars observed during gamma-ray observations by optical guiding cameras mounted on each H.E.S.S. telescope are used for off-line pointing calibration, thereby decreasing the systematic pointing uncertainties from 20 to 6 arcsec per axis. The position of HESS J1745-290 is obtained by fitting a multi-Gaussian profile to the background-subtracted gamma-ray count map. A spatial comparison of the best-fitting position of HESS J1745-290 with the position and morphology of candidate counterparts is performed. The position is, within a total error circle radius of 13 arcsec, coincident with the position of the supermassive black hole Sgr A* and the recently discovered pulsar wind nebula candidate G359.95-0.04. It is significantly displaced from the centroid of the supernova remnant Sgr A East, excluding this object with high probability as the dominant source of the VHE gamma-ray emission.
  •  
45.
  • Acero, F., et al. (author)
  • PKS2005-489 at VHE : four years of monitoring with HESS and simultaneous multi-wavelength observations
  • 2010
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 511, s. A52-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)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.
  •  
46.
  • Aharonian, F., et al. (author)
  • Discovery of VHE gamma-rays from the BL Lacertae object PKS 0548-322
  • 2010
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521, s. A69-
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)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.
  •  
47.
  • Aharonian, F., et al. (author)
  • Probing the ATIC peak in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with HESS
  • 2009
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 508:2, s. 561-564
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)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.
  •  
48.
  • Aharonian, F., et al. (author)
  • Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron
  • 2009
  • In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 507:1, s. 389-396
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • Aims. This article presents very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the gamma-ray binary PSR B1259-63 as taken during the years 2005, 2006 and before as well as shortly after the 2007 periastron passage. These data extend the knowledge of the lightcurve of this object to all phases of the 3.4 year binary orbit. The lightcurve constrains physical mechanisms present in this TeV source. Methods. Observations of VHE gamma-rays with the HESS telescope array using the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique were performed. The HESS instrument features an angular resolution of < 0.1 degrees and an energy resolution of < 20%. Gamma-ray events in an energy range of 0.5-70 TeV were recorded. From these data, energy spectra and lightcurve with a monthly time sampling were extracted. Results. VHE gamma-ray emission from PSR B1259-63 was detected with an overall significance of 9.5 standard deviations using 55 h of exposure, obtained from April to August 2007. The monthly flux of gamma-rays during the observation period was measured, yielding VHE lightcurve data for the early pre-periastron phase of the system for the first time. No spectral variability was found on timescales of months. The spectrum is described by a power law with a photon index of Gamma = 2.8 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.2(sys) and flux normalisation Phi(0) = (1.1 +/- 0.1(stat) +/- 0.2(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV(-1) cm(-2) s(-1). PSR B1259-63 was also monitored in 2005 and 2006, far from periastron passage, comprising 8.9 h and 7.5 h of exposure, respectively. No significant excess of.-rays is seen in those observations. Conclusions. PSR B1259-63 has been re-confirmed as a variable TeV gamma-ray emitter. The firm detection of VHE photons emitted at a true anomaly theta approximate to -0.35 of the pulsar orbit, i.e. already similar to 50 days prior to the periastron passage, disfavors the stellar disc target scenario as a primary emission mechanism, based on current knowledge about the companion star's disc inclination, extension, and density profile.
  •  
49.
  • Arndt, D. S., et al. (author)
  • STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2017
  • 2018
  • In: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - : American Meteorological Society. - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 99:8, s. S1-S310
  • Research review (peer-reviewed)
  •  
50.
  • Hudson, Lawrence N, et al. (author)
  • The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project
  • 2017
  • In: Ecology and Evolution. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2045-7758. ; 7:1, s. 145-188
  • Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
    • The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.
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