| 1. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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The 2010 very high energy gamma-RAY flare and 10 years of multi-wavelength observations of M 87
- 2012
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 746:2, s. 151-
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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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| 2. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign on PKS 2005-489 in a high state
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 533, s. A110-
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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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| 3. |
- 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-
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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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| 4. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of hard-spectrum gamma- ray emission from the BL Lacertae object 1ES 0414+009
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538, s. A103-
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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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| 5. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission from PKS 0447-439 and derivation of an upper limit on its redshift
- 2013
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 552, s. A118-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Very high-energy gamma-ray emission from PKS 0447-439 was detected with the H. E. S. S. Cherenkov telescope array in December 2009. This blazar is one of the brightest extragalactic objects in the Fermi bright source list and has a hard spectrum in the MeV to GeV range. In the TeV range, a photon index of 3.89 +/- 0.37 (stat) +/- 0.22 (sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV, phi(1) (TeV) = (3.5 +/- 1.1(stat) +/- 0.9(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1) TeV-1 were found. The detection with H. E. S. S. triggered observations in the X-ray band with the Swift and RXTE telescopes. Simultaneous UV and optical data from Swift UVOT and data from the optical telescopes ATOM and ROTSE are also available. The spectrum and light curve measured with H. E. S. S. are presented and compared to the multi-wavelength data at lower energies. A rapid flare is seen in the Swift XRT and RXTE data, together with a flux variation in the UV band, at a time scale of the order of one day. A firm upper limit of z < 0.59 on the redshift of PKS 0447-439 is derived from the combined Fermi-LAT and H. E. S. S. data, given the assumptions that there is no upturn in the intrinsic spectrum above the Fermi-LAT energy range and that absorption on the extragalactic background light (EBL) is not weaker than the lower limit provided by current models. The spectral energy distribution is well described by a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton scenario, if the redshift of the source is less than z less than or similar to 0.4.
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| 6. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of the source HESS J1356-645 associated with the young and energetic PSR J1357-6429
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 533, s. A103-
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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.
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| 7. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
-
Search for dark matter annihilation signals from the Fornax galaxy cluster with H.E.S.S.
- 2012
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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).
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| 8. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
-
A multiwavelength view of the flaring state of PKS 2155-304 in 2006
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 539, s. A149-
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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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| 9. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
-
HESS constraints on dark matter annihilations towards the sculptor and carina dwarf galaxies
- 2011
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 34:8, s. 608-616
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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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| 10. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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HESS J1943+213 : a candidate extreme BL Lacertae object
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 529, s. A49-
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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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| 11. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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HESS observations of the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around the 2010/2011 periastron passage
- 2013
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 551, s. A94-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. We present very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the gamma-ray binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 taken around its periastron passage on 15th of December 2010 with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H. E. S. S.) of Cherenkov Telescopes. We aim to search for a possible TeV counterpart of the GeV flare detected by the Fermi LAT. In addition, we aim to study the current periastron passage in the context of previous observations taken at similar orbital phases, testing the repetitive behaviour of the source. Methods. Observations at VHEs were conducted with H.E.S.S. from 9th to 16th of January 2011. The total dataset amounts to similar to 6 h of observing time. The data taken around the 2004 periastron passage were also re-analysed with the current analysis techniques in order to extend the energy spectrum above 3 TeV to fully compare observation results from 2004 and 2011. Results. The source is detected in the 2011 data at a significance level of 11.5 sigma revealing an averaged integral flux above 1 TeV of (1.01 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.20(sys)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). The differential energy spectrum follows a power-law shape with a spectral index Gamma = 2.92 +/- 0.30(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of N-0 = (1.95 +/- 0.32(stat) +/- 0.39(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). The measured light curve does not show any evidence for variability of the source on the daily scale. The re-analysis of the 2004 data yields results compatible with the published ones. The differential energy spectrum measured up to similar to 10 TeV is consistent with a power law with a spectral index Gamma = 2.81 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of N-0 = (1.29 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.26(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). Conclusions. The measured integral flux and the spectral shape of the 2011 data are compatible with the results obtained around previous periastron passages. The absence of variability in the H.E.S.S. data indicates that the GeV flare observed by Fermi LAT in the time period covered also by H.E.S.S. observations originates in a different physical scenario than the TeV emission. Moreover, the comparison of the new results to the results from the 2004 observations made at a similar orbital phase provides a stronger evidence of the repetitive behaviour of the source.
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| 12. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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HESS OBSERVATIONS OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS NGC 6388 AND M15 AND SEARCH FOR A DARK MATTER SIGNAL
- 2011
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 735:1
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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.
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| 13. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Revisiting the Westerlund 2 field with the HESS telescope array
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 525, s. A46-
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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.
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| 14. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Search for a Dark Matter Annihilation Signal from the Galactic Center Halo with HESS
- 2011
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 106:16, s. 161301-
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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.
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| 15. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Search for Lorentz Invariance breaking with a likelihood fit of the PKS 2155-304 flare data taken on MJD 53944
- 2011
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In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 34:9, s. 738-747
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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.
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| 16. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Search for Photon-Linelike Signatures from Dark Matter Annihilations with H.E.S.S.
- 2013
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 110:4, s. 041301-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gamma-ray line signatures can be expected in the very-high-energy (E-gamma > 100 GeV) domain due to self-annihilation or decay of dark matter (DM) particles in space. Such a signal would be readily distinguishable from astrophysical gamma-ray sources that in most cases produce continuous spectra that span over several orders of magnitude in energy. Using data collected with the H. E. S. S. gamma-ray instrument, upper limits on linelike emission are obtained in the energy range between similar to 500 GeV and similar to 25 TeV for the central part of the Milky Way halo and for extragalactic observations, complementing recent limits obtained with the Fermi-LAT instrument at lower energies. No statistically significant signal could be found. For monochromatic gamma-ray line emission, flux limits of (2 x 10(-7)-2 x 10(-5)) m(-2)s(-1)sr(-1) and (1 x 10(-8)- 2 x 10(-6)) m(-2)s(-1)sr(-1) are obtained for the central part of the Milky Way halo and extragalactic observations, respectively. For a DM particle mass of 1 TeV, limits on the velocity- averaged DM annihilation cross section (chi chi ->gamma gamma) reach similar to 10(-27)cm(3)s(-1), based on the Einasto parametrization of the Galactic DM halo density profile. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.041301
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| 17. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Search for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from Galactic globular clusters with HESS
- 2013
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 551, s. A26-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Globular clusters (GCs) are established emitters of high-energy (HE, 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray radiation which could originate from the cumulative emission of the numerous millisecond pulsars (msPSRs) in the clusters' cores or from inverse Compton (IC) scattering of relativistic leptons accelerated in the GC environment. These stellar clusters could also constitute a new class of sources in the very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray regime, judging from the recent detection of a signal from the direction of Terzan 5 with the H.E.S.S. telescope array. Aims. To search for VHE gamma-ray sources associated with other GCs, and to put constraints on leptonic emission models, we systematically analyzed the observations towards 15 GCs taken with the H. E. S. S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Methods. We searched for point-like and extended VHE gamma-ray emission from each GC in our sample and also performed a stacking analysis combining the data from all GCs to investigate the hypothesis of a population of faint emitters. Assuming IC emission as the origin of the VHE gamma-ray signal from the direction of Terzan 5, we calculated the expected gamma-ray flux from each of the 15 GCs, based on their number of millisecond pulsars, their optical brightness and the energy density of background photon fields. Results. We did not detect significant VHE gamma-ray emission from any of the 15 GCs in either of the two analyses. Given the uncertainties related to the parameter determinations, the obtained flux upper limits allow to rule out the simple IC/msPSR scaling model for NGC6388 and NGC7078. The upper limits derived from the stacking analyses are factors between 2 and 50 below the flux predicted by the simple leptonic scaling model, depending on the assumed source extent and the dominant target photon fields. Therefore, Terzan 5 still remains exceptional among all GCs, as the VHE gamma-ray emission either arises from extra-ordinarily efficient leptonic processes, or from a recent catastrophic event, or is even unrelated to the GC itself.
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| 18. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the direction of the Galactic globular cluster Terzan 5
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 531, s. L18-
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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.
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| 19. |
- Aharonian, F., et al.
(author)
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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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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 507:1, s. 389-396
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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.
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| 20. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Constraints on axionlike particles with HESS from the irregularity of the PKS 2155-304 energy spectrum
- 2013
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In: Physical Review D. - 1550-7998 .- 1550-2368. ; 88:10, s. 102003-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Axionlike particles (ALPs) are hypothetical light (sub-eV) bosons predicted in some extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In astrophysical environments comprising high-energy gamma rays and turbulent magnetic fields, the existence of ALPs can modify the energy spectrum of the gamma rays for a sufficiently large coupling between ALPs and photons. This modification would take the form of an irregular behavior of the energy spectrum in a limited energy range. Data from the H. E. S. S. observations of the distant BL Lac object PKS 2155 - 304 (z = 0.116) are used to derive upper limits at the 95% C. L. on the strength of the ALP coupling to photons, g(gamma a) < 2.1 x 10(-11) GeV-1 for an ALP mass between 15 and 60 neV. The results depend on assumptions on the magnetic field around the source, which are chosen conservatively. The derived constraints apply to both light pseudoscalar and scalar bosons that couple to the electromagnetic field.
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| 21. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Detection of very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the vicinity of PSR B1706-44 and G 343.1-2.3 with HESS
- 2011
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 528, s. A143-
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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.
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| 22. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of high and very high-energy emission from the BL Lacertae object SHBL J001355.9-185406
- 2013
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 554, s. A72-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The detection of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object (HBL) SHBL J001355.9-185406 (z = 0.095) at high (HE; 100 MeV < E < 300 GeV) and very high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is reported. Dedicated observations were performed with the H. E. S. S. telescopes, leading to a detection at the 5.5 sigma significance level. The measured flux above 310 GeV is (8.3 +/- 1.7(stat) +/- 1.7(sys)) x 10(-13) photons cm(-2) s(-1) (about 0.6% of that of the Crab Nebula), and the power-law spectrum has a photon index of Gamma = 3.4 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). Using 3.5 years of publicly available Fermi-LAT data, a faint counterpart has been detected in the LAT data at the 5.5 sigma significance level, with an integrated flux above 300 MeV of (9.3 +/- 3.4(stat) +/- 0.8(sys)) x 10(-10) photons cm(-2) s(-1) and a photon index of Gamma = 1.96 +/- 0.20(stat) +/- 0.08(sys). X-ray observations with Swift-XRT allow the synchrotron peak energy in vF(v) representation to be located at similar to 1.0 keV. The broadband spectral energy distribution is modelled with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model and the optical data by a black-body emission describing the thermal emission of the host galaxy. The derived parameters are typical of HBLs detected at VHE, with a particle-dominated jet.
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| 23. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of VHE emission towards the Carina arm region with the HESS telescope array : HESSJ1018-589
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 541, s. A5-
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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.
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| 24. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of VHE gamma-ray emission and multi-wavelength observations of the BL Lacertae object 1RXSJ101015.9-311909
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 542, s. A94-
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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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| 25. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(author)
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HESS and Fermi-LAT discovery of gamma-rays from the blazar 1ES 1312-423
- 2013
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 434:3, s. 1889-1901
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A deep observation campaign carried out by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) on Centaurus A enabled the discovery of gamma-rays from the blazar 1ES 1312-423, 2 degrees away from the radio galaxy. With a differential flux at 1 TeV of phi(1 TeV) = (1.9 +/- 0.6(stat) +/- 0.4(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1) TeV-1 corresponding to 0.5 per cent of the Crab nebula differential flux and a spectral index Gamma = 2.9 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.2(sys), 1ES 1312-423 is one of the faintest sources ever detected in the very high energy (E > 100 GeV) extragalactic sky. A careful analysis using three and a half years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) data allows the discovery at high energies (E > 100 MeV) of a hard spectrum (Gamma = 1.4 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.2(sys)) source coincident with 1ES 1312-423. Radio, optical, UV and X-ray observations complete the spectral energy distribution of this blazar, now covering 16 decades in energy. The emission is successfully fitted with a synchrotron self-Compton model for the non-thermal component, combined with a blackbody spectrum for the optical emission from the host galaxy.
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