| 11. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 507:1, s. 389-396
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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.
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| 12. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the galaxy clusters Abell 496 and Abell 85 with HESS
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 495:1, s. 27-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The nearby galaxy clusters Abell 496 and Abell 85 are studied in the very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) band to investigate VHE cosmic rays (CRs) in this class of objects which are the largest gravitationally bound systems in the Universe. Methods. HESS, an array of four imaging atmospheric cherenkov telescopes (IACT), was used to observe the targets in the range of VHE gamma rays. Results. No significant gamma-ray signal is found at the respective position of the two clusters with several different source size assumptions for each target. In particular, emission regions corresponding to the high-density core, to the extension of the entire X-ray emission in these clusters, and to the very extended region where the accretion shock is expected are investigated. Upper limits are derived for the gamma-ray flux at energies E > 570 GeV for Abell 496 and E > 460 GeV for Abell 85. Conclusions. From the non-detection in VHE gamma rays, upper limits on the total energy of hadronic CRs in the clusters are calculated. If the cosmic-ray energy density follows the large-scale gas density profile, the limit on the fraction of energy in these non-thermal particles with respect to the total thermal energy of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) is 51% for Abell 496 and only 8% for Abell 85 due to its higher mass and higher gas density. These upper limits are compared with theoretical estimates. They predict about similar to 10% of the thermal energy of the ICM in non-thermal particles. The observations presented here can constrain these predictions especially for the case of the Abell 85 cluster.
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| 13. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Detection of very high energy radiation from HESS J1908+063 confirms the Milagro unidentified source MGRO J1908+06
- 2009
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 499:3, s. 723-728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. Detection of gamma-ray source above 300 GeV is reported, confirming the unidentified source MGRO J1908+06, discovered by the Milagro collaboration at a median energy of 20 TeV. Methods. The source was observed during 27 h as part of the extension of the HESS Galactic plane survey to longitudes > 30 degrees. Results. HESS J1908+063 is detected at a significance level of 10.9 sigma with an integral flux above 1 TeV of (3.76 +/- 0.29 (stat) +/- 0.75(sys)) x 10(-12) ph cm(-2) s(-1), and a spectral photon index Gamma = 2.10 +/- 0.07 (stat) +/- 0.2(sys). The positions and fluxes of HESS J1908+063 and MGRO J1908+06 are in good agreement. Possible counterparts at other wavelengths and the origin of the gamma-ray emission are discussed. The nearby unidentified GeV source, GRO J1908+0556 (GeV) which also remains unidentified and the new Fermi pulsar 0FGL J1907.5+0617, may be connected to the TeV source.
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| 14. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Energy Spectrum of Cosmic-Ray Electrons at TeV Energies
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : APS Physics. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 101:26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The very large collection area of ground-based gamma-ray telescopes gives them a substantial advantage over balloon or satellite based instruments in the detection of very-high-energy (> 600 GeV) cosmic-ray electrons. Here we present the electron spectrum derived from data taken with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. In this measurement, the first of this type, we are able to extend the measurement of the electron spectrum beyond the range accessible to direct measurements. We find evidence for a substantial steepening in the energy spectrum above 600 GeV compared to lower energies.
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| 15. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Simultaneous HESS and Chandra observations of Sagitarius A(star) during an X-ray flare
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 492:1, s. L25-L28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rapidly varying (similar to 10 min timescale) non-thermal X-ray emission observed from Sgr A(star) implies that particle acceleration is occuring close to the event horizon of the supermassive black hole. The TeV gamma-ray source HESS J1745-290 is coincident with Sgr A(star) and may be closely related to its X-ray emission. Simultaneous X-ray and TeV observations are required to elucidate the relationship between these objects. We report on joint HESS/Chandra observations performed in July 2005, during which an X-ray flare was detected. Despite a factor of approximate to 9 increase in the X-ray flux of Sgr A(star), no evidence is found for an increase in the TeV gamma-ray flux from this region. We find that an increase in the gamma-ray flux of a factor of 2 or greater can be excluded at a confidence level of 99%. This finding disfavours scenarios in which the keV and TeV emission are associated with the same population of accelerated particles and in which the bulk of the gamma-ray emission is produced within similar to 1014 cm (similar to 100 RS) of the supermassive black hole.
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| 16. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(författare)
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Limits on an Energy Dependence of the Speed of Light from a Flare of the Active Galaxy PKS 2155-304
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : APS Physics. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 101:17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the past few decades, several models have predicted an energy dependence of the speed of light in the context of quantum gravity. For cosmological sources such as active galaxies, this minuscule effect can add up to measurable photon-energy dependent time lags. In this Letter a search for such time lags during the High Energy Stereoscopic System observations of the exceptional very high energy flare of the active galaxy PKS 2155-304 on 28 July 2006 is presented. Since no significant time lag is found, lower limits on the energy scale of speed of light modifications are derived.
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| 17. |
- Hjalmarsdotter, Linnea, et al.
(författare)
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Spectral variability in Cygnus X-3
- 2009
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 392:1, s. 251-263
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We model the broad-band X-ray spectrum of Cyg X-3 in all states displayed by this source as observed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. From our models, we derive for the first time unabsorbed spectral shapes and luminosities for the full range of spectral states. We interpret the unabsorbed spectra in terms of Comptonization by a hybrid electron distribution and strong Compton reflection. We study the spectral evolution and compare with other black hole as well as neutron star sources. We show that a neutron star accretor is not consistent with the spectral evolution as a function of LE and especially not with the transition to a hard state. Our results point to the compact object in Cyg X-3 being a massive, ~30Msolar black hole.
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