Discovery of Gamma-Ray Emission From the Shell-Type Supernova Remnant RCW 86 With Hess Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., de Almeida, U. B., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Behera, B., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Costamante, L., Dalton, M., Degrange, B., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hadjichristidis, C., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Latham, I. J., Lemoine-Goumard, M., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Masterson, C., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Osborne, J. L., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vink, J., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 692, Issue 2, pp. 1500-1505 (2009). Abstract: The shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86, possibly associated with the historical supernova SN 185, with its relatively large size (about 40' in diameter) and the presence of nonthermal X-rays is a promising target for γ-ray observations. The high sensitivity, good angular resolution of a few arcminutes and the large field of view of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) make it ideally suited for the study of γ-ray morphology of such extended sources. HESS observations have indeed led to the discovery of the SNR RCW 86 in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. With 31 hr of observation time, the source is detected with a statistical significance of 8.5σ and is significantly more extended than the HESS point-spread function. Morphological studies have been performed and show that the γ-ray flux does not correlate perfectly with the X-ray emission. The flux from the remnant is ~10% of the flux from the Crab nebula, with a similar photon index of about 2.5. Possible origins of the VHE γ-ray emission, via either Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or the decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions, are discussed on the basis of spectral features obtained both in the X-ray and γ-ray regimes. | |
Discovery of Very High Energy γ-Ray Emission from Centaurus a with H.E.S.S. Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., de Almeida, U. B., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J.-F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göhring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Latham, I. J., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Arribas, M. P., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vink, J., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 695, Issue 1, pp. L40-L44 (2009). Abstract: We report the discovery of faint very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the radio galaxy Centaurus A in observations performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) experiment, an imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array consisting of four telescopes located in Namibia. Centaurus A has been observed for more than 120 hr. A signal with a statistical significance of 5.0σ is detected from the region including the radio core and the inner kpc jets. The integral flux above an energy threshold of ~250 GeV is measured to be 0.8% of the flux of the Crab Nebula (apparent luminosity: L(>250 GeV) ≈2.6 × 1039 erg s-1, adopting a distance of 3.8 Mpc). The spectrum can be described by a power law with a photon index of 2.7 ± 0.5stat ± 0.2sys. No significant flux variability is detected in the data set. However, the low flux only allows detection of variability on the timescale of days to flux increments above a factor of ~15-20 (3σ and 4σ, respectively). The discovery of VHE γ-ray emission from Centaurus A reveals particle acceleration in the source to >TeV energies and, together with M 87, establishes radio galaxies as a class of VHE emitters. | |
Abundances in the Galactic bulge: results from planetary nebulae and giant stars Chiappini, C., Górny, S. K., Stasińska, G., and Barbuy, B. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 494, Issue 2, 2009, pp.591-610 Abstract: Context. Our understanding of the chemical evolution (CE) of the Galactic bulge requires the determination of abundances in large samples of giant stars and planetary nebulae (PNe). Studies based on high resolution spectroscopy of giant stars in several fields of the Galactic bulge obtained with very large telescopes have allowed important progress. Aims. We discuss PNe abundances in the Galactic bulge and compare these results with those presented in the literature for giant stars. Methods. We present the largest, high-quality data-set available for PNe in the direction of the Galactic bulge (inner-disk/bulge). For comparison purposes, we also consider a sample of PNe in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We derive the element abundances in a consistent way for all the PNe studied. By comparing the abundances for the bulge, inner-disk, and LMC, we identify elements that have not been modified during the evolution of the PN progenitor and can be used to trace the bulge chemical enrichment history. We then compare the PN abundances with abundances of bulge field giant. Results. At the metallicity of the bulge, we find that the abundances of O and Ne are close to the values for the interstellar medium at the time of the PN progenitor formation, and hence these elements can be used as tracers of the bulge CE, in the same way as S and Ar, which are not expected to be affected by nucleosynthetic processes during the evolution of the PN progenitors. The PN oxygen abundance distribution is shifted to lower values by 0.3 dex with respect to the distribution given by giants. A similar shift appears to occur for Ne and S. We discuss possible reasons for this PNe-giant discrepancy and conclude that this is probably due to systematic errors in the abundance derivations in either giants or PNe (or both). We issue an important warning concerning the use of absolute abundances in CE studies. | |
An analysis of a spectrum of V838 Monocerotis in October 2005 Tylenda, R., Kamiński, T., and Schmidt, M. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 503, Issue 3, 2009, pp.899-907 Abstract: Context. V838 Mon erupted at the beginning of 2002 becoming an extremely luminous star with L=10^6 Lsun. Among various scenarios proposed to explain the nature of the outburst, the most promising is a stellar merger event. Aims. We attempt to obtain information about the structure and evolution of the object in the decline from the 2002 eruption. Methods. The results of spectroscopic observations of the object obtained in October 2005 with the Keck/HIRES instrument, presented in detail in Paper I, are analysed and discussed. Modelling of the observed line profiles has been used to constrain the physical parameters of the system. Results. The kinematics of the atmosphere of V838 Mon is very complex. Our analysis of the molecular bands and the P-Cyg profiles of atomic lines shows that the object loses matter with a velocity of up to 215 km s-1 and a rate of 10-6-10-5 Msun yr-1. In the profiles of some atomic lines, we have, however, found evidence of matter infall. Moreover, a narrow absorption component, which is particularly strong in some P-Cyg profiles, may indicate that a jet-like outflow has also been formed. We show that the observed emission in the [Fe II] lines and an eclipse-like event observed in November/December 2006 was probably caused by interactions of the expanding matter, ejected by V838 Mon in 2002, with radiation from the B3V companion. In particular, the observed profiles of the [Fe II] lines can be easily modelled in this scenario and allow us to estimate parameters of the system, such as the position of the B3V companion relative to V838 Mon and the line of sight, density in the outflowing matter, and mass lost in the 2002 eruption. The observed appearance of strong Hα emission, just before and during the eclipse-like event, can be interpreted as a result of the accretion of the outflowing matter onto the B3V companion: the accreted matter, shocked above the stellar surface, can be a source of extreme-UV and soft X-ray radiation capable of ionizing and exciting H in the outflow. | |
Constraints on the multi-TeV particle population in the Coma galaxy cluster with HESS observations Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göhring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Inoue, S., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Reimer, O., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spanglfoer, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 502, Issue 2, 2009, pp.437-443 Abstract: Aims. Galaxy clusters are key targets in the search for ultra high energy particle accelerators. The Coma cluster represents one of the best candidates for such a search owing to its high mass, proximity, and the established non-thermal radio emission centred on the cluster core. Methods. The HESS (High Energy Stereoscopic System) telescopes observed Coma for ~8 h in a search for γ-ray emission at energies >1 TeV. The large 3.5° FWHM field of view of HESS is ideal for viewing a range of targets at various sizes including the Coma cluster core, the radio-relic (1253+275) and merger/infall (NGC 4839) regions to the southwest, and features greater than 1° away. Results. No evidence for point-like nor extended TeV γ-ray emission was found and upper limits to the TeV flux F(E) for E>1, >5, and >10 TeV were set for the Coma core and other regions. Converting these limits to an energy flux E^2F(E) the lowest or most constraining is the E>5 TeV upper limit for the Coma core (0.2° radius) at ~8% Crab flux units or ˜10-13 ph cm-2 s-1. Conclusions. The upper limits for the Coma core were compared with a prediction for the γ-ray emission from proton-proton interactions, the level of which ultimately scales with the mass of the Coma cluster. A direct constraint using our most stringent limit for E>5 TeV, on the total energy content in non-thermal protons with injection energy spectrum ∝ E-2.1 and spatial distribution following the thermal gas in the cluster, is found to be ~0.2 times the thermal energy, or ˜ 1062 erg. The E>5 TeV γ-ray threshold in this case corresponds to cosmic-ray proton energies ⪆50 TeV. Our upper limits rule out the most optimistic theoretical models for gamma ray emission from clusters and complement radio observations which constrain the cosmic ray content in clusters at significantly lower proton energies, subject to assumptions on the magnetic field strength. | |
Detection of Gamma Rays from a Starburst Galaxy Acero, F., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O. '., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Fegan, S., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Gerbig, D., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Hofverberg, P., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Klochkov, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Kossakowski, R., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Masbou, J., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Méhault, J., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nicholas, B., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., Wilhelmi, E. d. O., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Arribas, M. P., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Reimer, O., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Stinzing, F., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Science, Volume 326, Issue 5956, pp. 1080- (2009). 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 ~1015 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 ± 1.0stat ± 2.8sys) × 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. | |
Detection of very high energy radiation from HESS J1908+063 confirms the Milagro unidentified source MGRO J1908+06 Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Reimer, O., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 499, Issue 3, 2009, pp.723-728 Abstract: Aims. Detection of a γ-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°. Results. HESS J1908+063 is detected at a significance level of 10.9σ with an integral flux above 1 TeV of (3.76 ± 0.29~stat± 0.75_sys)×10-12 ph cm-2 s-1, and a spectral photon index Γ = 2.10±0.07~stat± 0.2sys. 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 γ-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. | |
A Planet in a 0.6 AU Orbit Around the K0 Giant HD 102272 Niedzielski, A., Goździewski, K., Wolszczan, A., Konacki, M., Nowak, G., and Zieliński, P. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 693, Issue 1, pp. 276-280 (2009). Abstract: We report the discovery of one or more planet-mass companions to the K0-giant HD 102272 with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. In the absence of any correlation of the observed periodicities with the standard indicators of stellar activity, the observed radial velocity variations are most plausibly explained in terms of a Keplerian motion of at least one planet-mass body around the star. With an estimated stellar mass of 1.9 M sun, the minimum mass of the confirmed planet is 5.9 MJ . The planet's orbit is characterized by a small but nonzero eccentricity e = 0.05 and a semimajor axis of 0.61 AU, which makes it the most compact planet discovered so far around GK spectral type giants. This detection adds to the existing evidence that, as predicted by theory, the minimum size of planetary orbits around intermediate-mass giants is affected by both planet-formation processes and stellar evolution. The currently available evidence of another planet around HD 102272 is insufficient to obtain an unambiguous two-orbit solution. | |
A Search for a Dark Matter Annihilation Signal Toward the Canis Major Overdensity with H.E.S.S. Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., de Almeida, U. B., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Behera, B., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, V., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Costamante, L., Dalton, M., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füssling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hadjichristidis, C., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Osborne, J. L., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, L., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 691, Issue 1, pp. 175-181 (2009). Abstract: A search for a dark matter (DM) annihilation signal into γ-rays toward the direction of the Canis Major (CMa) overdensity is presented. The nature of CMa is still controversial and one scenario represents it as a dwarf galaxy, making it an interesting candidate for DM annihilation searches. A total of 9.6 hr of high-quality data were collected with the H.E.S.S. array of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes, and no evidence for a very high energy γ-ray signal is found. Upper limits on the CMa dwarf galaxy mass of the order of 109 M sun are derived at the 95% confidence level (CL) assuming neutralino masses in the range 500 GeV-10 TeV and relatively large annihilation cross sections. Constraints on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section langσvrang are calculated for specific weakly interacting massive-particle scenarios, using a Navarro-Frenk-White model for the DM halo profile and taking advantage of numerical simulations of hierarchical structure formation. Assuming a total halo mass of 3 × 108 M sun, 95% CL exclusion limits of the order of 5 × 10-24 cm3 s-1 are reached in the 500 GeV-10 TeV DM particle mass interval. | |
Galactic Planetary Nebulae in the AKARI Far-Infrared Surveyor Bright Source Catalog Cox, N., Manchado, A., García-Lario, P., and Szczerba, R. 2009 , AKARI, a Light to Illuminate the Misty Universe ASP Conference Series, Vol. 418, proceedings of a conference held 16-19 February 2009 at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Edited by Takashi Onaka, Glenn J. White, Takao Nakagawa, and Issei Yamamura. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2009, p.439 Abstract: We present the results of our preliminary study of all known Galactic PNe (included in the Kerber 2003 catalog) which are detected by the AKARI/FIS All-Sky Survey as identified in the AKARI/FIS Bright Source Catalog (BSC) Version β-1. | |
HESS observations of γ-ray bursts in 2003-2007 Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Behera, B., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hadjichristidis, C., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Osborne, J. L., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 495, Issue 2, 2009, pp.505-512 Abstract: Aims. Very-high-energy (VHE; ⪆100 GeV) γ-rays are expected from γ-ray bursts (GRBs) in some scenarios. Exploring this photon energy regime is necessary for understanding the energetics and properties of GRBs. Methods. GRBs have been one of the prime targets for the HESS experiment, which makes use of four Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) to detect VHE γ-rays. Dedicated observations of 32 GRB positions were made in the years 2003-2007 and a search for VHE γ-ray counterparts of these GRBs was made. Depending on the visibility and observing conditions, the observations mostly start minutes to hours after the burst and typically last two hours. Results. Results from observations of 22 GRB positions are presented. Evidence of a VHE signal was found neither in observations of any individual GRBs nor from stacking data from subsets of GRBs with higher expected VHE flux according to a model-independent ranking scheme. Upper limits for the VHE γ-ray flux from the GRB positions were derived. For those GRBs with measured redshifts, differential upper limits at the energy threshold after correcting for absorption due to extra-galactic background light are also presented. | |
HESS Observations of the Prompt and Afterglow Phases of GRB 060602B Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Barres DeAlmeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Behera, B., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Chaves, R., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Cornils, R., Costamante, L., Dalton, M., Degrange, B., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hadjichristidis, C., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Latham, I. J., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Masterson, C., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-P., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Osborne, J. L., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 690, Issue 2, pp. 1068-1073 (2009). Abstract: We report on the first completely simultaneous observation of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) using an array of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes, which is sensitive to photons in the very high energy (VHE) γ-ray range (gsim 100 GeV). On 2006 June 2, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) registered an unusually soft γ-ray burst (GRB 060602B). The burst position was under observation using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) at the time the burst occurred. Data were taken before, during, and after the burst. A total of 5 hr of observations were obtained during the night of 2006 June 2-3, and five additional hours were obtained over the next three nights. No VHE γ-ray signal was found during the period covered by the HESS observations. The 99% confidence level flux upper limit (> 1 TeV) for the prompt phase (9 s) of GRB 060602B is 2.9 × 10-9 erg cm-2 s-1. Due to the very soft BAT spectrum of the burst compared with other Swift GRBs and its proximity to the Galactic center, the burst is likely associated with a Galactic X-ray burster, although the possibility of it being a cosmological GRB cannot be ruled out. We discuss the implications of our flux limits in the context of these two bursting scenarios. | |
HESS upper limit on the very high energy γ-ray emission from the globular cluster 47 Tucanae Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Reimer, O., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 499, Issue 1, 2009, pp.273-277 Abstract: Observations of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104), which contains at least 23 ms pulsars, were performed with the HESS telescope system. The observations lead to an upper limit of F(E>800 GeV) < 6.7 × 10-13 cm-2 s^{-1} on the integral γ-ray photon flux from 47 Tucanae. Considering millisecond pulsars as the unique potential source of γ-rays in the globular cluster, constraints based on emission models are derived: on the magnetic field in the average pulsar nebula and on the conversion efficiency of spin-down power to γ-ray photons or to relativistic leptons. | |
HESS upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar GRS 1915+105 Hess Collaboration, Acero, F., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Conrad, J., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Eger, P., Espigat, P., Fallon, L., Farnier, C., Fegan, S., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Gerbig, D., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göring, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Hofverberg, P., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Klochkov, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Kossakowski, R., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Marcowith, A., Masbou, J., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Méhault, J., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nicholas, B., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Reimer, O., Renaud, M., de Los Reyes, R., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Ryde, F., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schönwald, A., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sushch, I., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Stinzing, F., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Vorobiov, S., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 508, Issue 3, 2009, pp.1135-1140 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× 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 ˜ 1034 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 1038 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. Supported by CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil. | |
High precision orbital and physical parameters of double-lined spectroscopic binary stars - HD78418, HD123999, HD160922, HD200077 and HD210027 Konacki, M., Muterspaugh, M., Kulkarni, S., and Hełminiak, K. 2009 , eprint arXiv:0910.4482 Abstract: We present high precision radial velocities (RVs) of double-lined spectroscopic binary stars HD78418, HD123999, HD160922, HD200077 and HD210027. They were obtained based on the high resolution echelle spectra collected with the Keck I/Hires, Shane/CAT/Hamspec and TNG/Sarge telescopes/spectrographs over the years 2003-2008 as a part of TATOOINE search for circumbinary planets. The RVs were computed using our novel iodine cell technique for double-line binary stars. The precision of the RVs is of the order of 1-10 m/s. Our RVs combined with the archival visibility measurements from the Palomar Testbed Interferometer allow us to derive very precise spectroscopic/astrometric orbital and physical parameters of the binaries. In particular, we derive the masses, the absolute K and H band magnitudes and the parallaxes. The masses together with the absolute magnitudes in the K and H bands enable us to estimate the ages of the binaries. These RVs allow us to obtain some of the most accurate mass determinations of binary stars. The fractional accuracy in m*sin(i) only and hence based on the RVs alone ranges from 0.02% to 0.42%. When combined with the PTI astrometry, the fractional accuracy in the masses ranges in the three best cases from 0.06% to 0.5%. Among them, the masses of HD210027 components rival in precision the mass determination of the components of the relativistic double pulsar system PSRJ0737-3039. In the near future, for double-lined eclipsing binary stars we expect to derive masses with a fractional accuracy of the order of up to ~0.001% with our technique. This level of precision is an order of magnitude higher than of the most accurate mass determination for a body outside the Solar System - the double neutron star system PSRB1913+16. | |
Keck/HIRES Spectroscopy of V838 Monocerotis in October 2005 Kamiński, T., Schmidt, M., Tylenda, R., Konacki, M., and Gromadzki, M. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal Supplement, Volume 182, Issue 1, pp. 33-50 (2009). Abstract: V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon) erupted at the beginning of 2002 becoming an extremely luminous star with L sime 106 L sun. Among various scenarios proposed to explain the nature of the outburst, the most promising is a stellar merger event. In this paper, we investigate the observational properties of the star and its surroundings in the post outburst phase. We have obtained a high-resolution optical spectrum of V838 Mon in 2005 October using the Keck I telescope. We have identified numerous atomic features and molecular bands present in the spectrum and provided an atlas of those features. In order to improve the spectrum interpretation, we have performed simple modeling of the molecular bands. Our analysis indicates that the spectrum is dominated by molecular absorption features arising in photospheric regions with temperatures of ~2400 K and in colder outer layers, where the temperature decreases to ~500 K. A number of resonance lines of neutral alkali metals are observed to show P Cygni profiles. Particularly interesting are numerous prominent emission lines of [Fe II]. All of them show practically the same profile, which can be well described by a Lorentzian profile. In the blue part of the spectrum, photospheric signatures of the B-type companion are easily seen. We have fitted the observed spectrum with a synthetic one and the obtained parameters are consistent with the B3V type. We have also estimated radial and rotational velocities of the companion. The data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation. | |
Orbital and physical parameters of eclipsing binaries from the All-Sky Automated Survey catalogue - I. A sample of systems with components' masses between 1 and 2 Msolar Hełminiak, K. G., Konacki, M., Ratajczak, M., and Muterspaugh, M. W. 2009 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 400, Issue 2, pp. 969-983. Abstract: We derive the absolute physical and orbital parameters for a sample of 18 detached eclipsing binaries from the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) data base based on the available photometry and our own radial velocity (RV) measurements. The RVs are computed using spectra we collected with the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) and its University College London Echelle Spectrograph (UCLES), and the 1.9-m Radcliffe telescope and its Grating Instrument for Radiation Analysis with a Fibre-Fed Echelle (GIRAFFE) at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). In order to obtain as precise RVs as possible, most of the systems were observed with an iodine cell available at the AAT/UCLES and/or analysed using the two-dimensional cross-correlation technique (TODCOR). The RVs were measured with TODCOR using synthetic template spectra as references. However, for two objects we used our own approach to the tomographic disentangling of the binary spectra to provide observed template spectra for the RV measurements and to improve the RV precision even more. For one of these binaries, AI Phe, we were able to the obtain an orbital solution with an RV rms of 62 and 24 m s-1 for the primary and secondary, respectively. For this system, the precision in M sin3 i is 0.08 per cent. For the analysis, we used the photometry available in the ASAS data base. We combined the RV and light curves using PHOEBE and JKTEBOP codes to obtain the absolute physical parameters of the systems. Having precise RVs, we were able to reach ~0.2 per cent precision (or better) in masses in several cases but in radii, due to the limited precision of the ASAS photometry, we were able to reach a precision of only 1 per cent in one case and 3-5 per cent in a few more cases. For the majority of our objects, the orbital and physical analysis is presented for the first time. | |
Planetary nebulae in the direction of the Galactic bulge: on nebulae with emission-line central stars Górny, S. K., Chiappini, C., Stasińska, G., and Cuisinier, F. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 500, Issue 3, 2009, pp.1089-1108 Abstract: Aims. We present a homogeneous set of spectroscopic measurements secured with 4-m class telescopes for a sample of 90 planetary nebulae (PNe) located in the direction of the Galactic bulge. Methods. We derive their plasma parameters and chemical abundances. For half of the objects this is done for the first time. We discuss the accuracy of these data and compare it with other recently published samples. We analyze various properties of PNe with emission-line central stars in the Galactic bulge. Results. Investigating the spectra we found that 7 of those PNe are ionized by Wolf-Rayet ([WR]) type stars of the very late (VL) spectral class [WC 11] and 8 by weak emission-line (WEL) stars. From the analysis we conclude that the PN central stars of WEL, VL and remaining [WR] types form three, evolutionary unconnected forms of enhanced mass-loss among central stars of PNe. [WR] PNe seem to be intrinsically brighter than other PNe. Overall, we find no statistically significant evidence that the chemical composition of PNe with emission-line central stars is different from that of the remaining Galactic bulge PNe. Based on observations made at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory and the European Southern Observatory. Tables [see full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full text] and [see full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full text] and Figs. [see full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full text] and [see full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full textsee full text] are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org | |
Post-AGB Stars in the AKARI Survey Siódmiak, N., Cox, N., Szczerba, R., and García-Lario, P. 2009 , AKARI, a Light to Illuminate the Misty Universe ASP Conference Series, Vol. 418, proceedings of a conference held 16-19 February 2009 at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Edited by Takashi Onaka, Glenn J. White, Takao Nakagawa, and Issei Yamamura. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2009, p.455 Abstract: Obscured by their circumstellar dusty envelopes post-AGB stars emit a large fraction of their energy in the infrared and thus, infrared sky surveys like IRAS were essential for discoveries of post-AGBs in the past. Now, with the AKARI infrared sky survey we can extend our knowledge about the late stages of stellar evolution. The long-term goal of our work is to define new photometric criteria to distinguish new post-AGB candidates from the AKARI data. We have cross-correlated the Toruń catalogue of Galactic post-AGB and related objects with the AKARI/FIS All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue (for simplicity, hereafter AKARI). The scientific and technical aspects of our work are presented here as well as our plans for the future. In particular, we found that only 9 post-AGB sources were detected in all four AKARI bands. The most famous objects like: Red Rectangle, Egg Nebula, Minkowski’s Footprint belong to this group. From the technical point of view we discuss positional accuracy by comparing (mostly) 2MASS coordinates of post-AGB objects with those given by AKARI; flux reliability by comparing IRAS 60 and 100 μm fluxes with those from AKARI -N65 and AKARI -90 bands, respectively; as well as completeness of the sample as a function of the IRAS fluxes. | |
Precision astrometry of a sample of speckle binaries and multiples with the adaptive optics facilities at the Hale and Keck II telescopes Hełminiak, K. G., Konacki, M., Kulkarni, S. R., and Eisner, J. 2009 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 400, Issue 1, pp. 406-421. Abstract: Using the adaptive optics facilities at the 200-in Hale and 10-m Keck II, we observed in the near-infrared a sample of 12 binary and multiple stars and one open cluster. We used the near diffraction limited images of these systems to measure the relative separations and position angles between their components. In this paper, we investigate and correct for the influence of the differential chromatic refraction and chip distortions on our relative astrometric measurements. Over one night, we achieve an astrometric precision typically well below 1mas and occasionally as small as 40μas. Such a precision is in principle sufficient to astrometrically detect planetary mass objects around the components of nearby binary and multiple stars. Since we have not had sufficiently large data sets for the observed sample of stars to detect planets, we provide the limits to planetary mass objects based on the obtained astrometric precision. | |
Precision radial velocities of double-lined binary stars and the spectroscopic follow-up of circumbinary transiting planet candidates Konacki, M. 2009 , Transiting Planets, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, IAU Symposium, Volume 253, p. 141-147 Abstract: We present a new iodine cell based approach that allows one to obtain radial velocities of the components of double-lined spectroscopic binary stars (SB2s) with a precision reaching 5 m/s. Such an RV precision is up to 100 times better than what is currently available in the literature for the SB2s. We discuss the applications of our method to the radial velocity searches for circumbinary planets and spectroscopic follow-up of transiting planet candidates around eclipsing binary stars. | |
Probing the ATIC peak in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with H.E.S.S. Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Gerbig, D., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Kossakowski, R., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Masbou, J., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nicholas, B., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Reimer, O., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Stinzing, F., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 508, Issue 2, 2009, pp.561-564 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 ≈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. Supported by CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil. | |
Radio Imaging of the Very-High-Energy γ-Ray Emission Region in the Central Engine of a Radio Galaxy Acciari, V. A., Aliu, E., Arlen, T., Bautista, M., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Bradbury, S. M., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Butt, Y., Byrum, K., Cannon, A., Celik, O., Cesarini, A., Chow, Y. C., Ciupik, L., Cogan, P., Cui, W., Dickherber, R., Fegan, S. J., Finley, J. P., Fortin, P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Gall, D., Gillanders, G. H., Grube, J., Guenette, R., Gyuk, G., Hanna, D., Holder, J., Horan, D., Hui, C. M., Humensky, T. B., Imran, A., Kaaret, P., Karlsson, N., Kieda, D., Kildea, J., Konopelko, A., Krawczynski, H., Krennrich, F., Lang, M. J., LeBohec, S., Maier, G., McCann, A., McCutcheon, M., Millis, J., Moriarty, P., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Pandel, D., Perkins, J. S., Petry, D., Pohl, M., Quinn, J., Ragan, K., Reyes, L. C., Reynolds, P. T., Roache, E., Roache, E., Rose, H. J., Schroedter, M., Sembroski, G. H., Smith, A. W., Swordy, S. P., Theiling, M., Toner, J. A., Varlotta, A., Vincent, S., Wakely, S. P., Ward, J. E., Weekes, T. C., Weinstein, A., Williams, D. A., Wissel, S., Wood, M., Walker, R. C., Davies, F., Hardee, P. E., Junor, W., Ly, C., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., Drury, L. O. '., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Gerbig, D., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göhring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nicholas, B., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., Wilhelmi, E. d. O., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Arribas, M. P., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Stinzing, F., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., Zech, A., Anderhub, H., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Backes, M., Baixeras, C., Balestra, S., Barrio, J. A., Bastieri, D., González, J. B., Becker, J. K., Bednarek, W., Berger, K., Bernardini, E., Biland, A., Bock, R. K., Bonnoli, G., Bordas, P., Tridon, D. B., Bosch-Ramon, V., Bose, D., Braun, I., Bretz, T., Britvitch, I., Camara, M., Carmona, E., Commichau, S., Contreras, J. L., Cortina, J., Costado, M. T., Covino, S., Curtef, V., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., Cea del Pozo, E. D., Mendez, C. D., De los Reyes, R., De Lotto, B., De Maria, M., De Sabata, F., Dominguez, A., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Elsaesser, D., Errando, M., Ferenc, D., Fernández, E., Firpo, R., Fonseca, M. V., Font, L., Galante, N., García López, R. J., Garczarczyk, M., Gaug, M., Goebel, F., Hadasch, D., Hayashida, M., Herrero, A., Hildebrand, D., Höhne-Mönch, D., Hose, J., Hsu, C. C., Jogler, T., Kranich, D., La Barbera, A., Laille, A., Leonardo, E., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., Longo, F., López, M., Lorenz, E., Majumdar, P., Maneva, G., Mankuzhiyil, N., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Mariotti, M., Martínez, M., Mazin, D., Meucci, M., Miranda, J. M., Mirzoyan, R., Miyamoto, H., Moldón, J., Moles, M., Moralejo, A., Nieto, D., Nilsson, K., Ninkovic, J., Oya, I., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J. M., Pasanen, M., Pascoli, D., Pauss, F., Pegna, R. G., Perez-Torres, M. A., Persic, M., Peruzzo, L., Prada, F., Prandini, E., Puchades, N., Reichardt, I., Rhode, W., Ribó, M., Rico, J., Rissi, M., Robert, A., Rügamer, S., Saggion, A., Saito, T. Y., Salvati, M., Sanchez-Conde, M., Satalecka, K., Scalzotto, V., Scapin, V., Schweizer, T., Shayduk, M., Shore, S. N., Sidro, N., Sierpowska-Bartosik, A., Sillanpää, A., Sitarek, J., Sobczynska, D., Spanier, F., Stamerra, A., Stark, L. S., Takalo, L., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Tescaro, D., Teshima, M., Torres, D. F., Turini, N., Vankov, H., Wagner, R. M., Zabalza, V., Zandanel, F., Zanin, R., Zapatero, J., VERITAS Collaboration, VLBA 43 GHz M87 Monitoring Team, HESS Collaboration, and MAGIC Collaboration 2009 , Science, Volume 325, Issue 5939, pp. 444- (2009). 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 1012 electron volts and are bright sources of very-high-energy (VHE) γ-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 γ-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. | |
Simultaneous multiwavelength observations of the second exceptional γ-ray flare of PKS 2155-304 in July 2006 Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Costamante, L., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göhring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Monard, L. A. G., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 502, Issue 3, 2009, pp.749-770 Abstract: Aims. The X-ray-TeV connection and the evolution of the emitting particle population is studied in high-energy peaked BL Lac objects, by obtaining spectral information in both bands on sub-hour timescales. Methods. Simultaneous observations with HESS, Chandra and the Bronberg optical observatory were performed on the BL Lac object Results. The source exhibited one major flare along the night, at high energies. The γ-ray flux reached a maximum of ~11 times the Crab flux (>400 GeV), with rise/decay timescales of ~1 h, plus a few smaller-amplitude flares superimposed on the decaying phase. The emission in the X-ray and VHE γ-ray bands is strongly correlated, with no evidence of lags. The spectra also evolve with similar patterns, and are always soft (photon index Γ > 2), indicating no strong shift of the peaks in the spectral energy distribution towards higher energies. Only at the flare maximum is there evidence that the γ-ray peak is inside the observed passband, at ~400-600 GeV. The VHE spectrum shows a curvature that is variable with time and stronger at higher fluxes. The huge VHE variations (~22×) are only accompanied by small-amplitude X-ray and optical variations (factor 2 and 15% respectively). The source has shown for the first time in a high-energy peaked BL Lac object a large Compton dominance (L_C/L_S˜ 10) - rapidly evolving - and a cubic relation between VHE and X-ray flux variations, during a decaying phase. These results challenge the common scenarios for the TeV-blazar emission. | |
Simultaneous Observations of PKS 2155-304 with HESS, Fermi, RXTE, and Atom: Spectral Energy Distributions and Variability in a Low State Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göhring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Kluźniak, W., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Arribas, M. P., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., Zech, A., The HESS Collaboration, Abdo, A. A., Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Atwood, W. B., Axelsson, M., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Baring, M. G., Bastieri, D., Battelino, M., Baughman, B. M., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Bloom, E. D., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A. W., Bregeon, J., Brez, A., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., Caliandro, G. A., Cameron, R. A., Caraveo, P. A., Casandjian, J. M., Cavazzuti, E., Cecchi, C., Charles, E., Chekhtman, A., Chen, A. W., Cheung, C. C., Chiang, J., Ciprini, S., Claus, R., Cohen-Tanugi, J., Colafrancesco, S., Conrad, J., Costamante, L., Cutini, S., Dermer, C. D., de Angelis, A., de Palma, F., Digel, S. W., do Couto e Silva, E., Drell, P. S., Dubois, R., Dubus, G., Dumora, D., Farnier, C., Favuzzi, C., Fegan, S. J., Ferrara, E. C., Fleury, P., Focke, W. B., Frailis, M., Fukazawa, Y., Funk, S., Fusco, P., Gargano, F., Gasparrini, D., Gehrels, N., Germani, S., Giebels, B., Giglietto, N., Giordano, F., Grondin, M.-H., Grove, J. E., Guillemot, L., Guiriec, S., Hanabata, Y., Harding, A. K., Hayashida, M., Hays, E., Horan, D., Jóhannesson, G., Johnson, A. S., Johnson, R. P., Johnson, W. N., Kadler, M., Kamae, T., Katagiri, H., Kataoka, J., Kerr, M., Knödlseder, J., Kuehn, F., Kuss, M., Lande, J., Latronico, L., Lee, S.-H., Lemoine-Goumard, M., Longo, F., Loparco, F., Lott, B., Lovellette, M. N., Madejski, G. M., Makeev, A., Mazziotta, M. N., McEnery, J. E., Meurer, C., Michelson, P. F., Mitthumsiri, W., Mizuno, T., Moiseev, A. A., Monte, C., Monzani, M. E., Morselli, A., Moskalenko, I. V., Murgia, S., Nolan, P. L., Nuss, E., Ohsugi, T., Omodei, N., Orlando, E., Ormes, J. F., Paneque, D., Panetta, J. H., Parent, D., Pelassa, V., Pepe, M., Pesce-Rollins, M., Piron, F., Porter, T. A., Rainò, S., Razzano, M., Reimer, A., Reimer, O., Reposeur, T., Ritz, S., Rodriguez, A. Y., Ryde, F., Sadrozinski, H. F.-W., Sanchez, D., Sander, A., Scargle, J. D., Schalk, T. L., Sellerholm, A., Sgrò, C., Shaw, M., Smith, D. A., Spandre, G., Spinelli, P., Starck, J.-L., Strickman, M. S., Tajima, H., Takahashi, H., Takahashi, T., Tanaka, T., Thayer, J. G., Thompson, D. J., Tibaldo, L., Torres, D. F., Tosti, G., Tramacere, A., Uchiyama, Y., Usher, T. L., Vilchez, N., Villata, M., Vitale, V., Waite, A. P., Wood, K. S., Ylinen, T., Ziegler, M., and The Fermi-LAT Collaboration 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 696, Issue 2, pp. L150-L155 (2009). 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 γ-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 (~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. | |
Spectrum and variability of the Galactic center VHE γ-ray source HESS J1745-290 Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rolland, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 503, Issue 3, 2009, pp.817-825 Abstract: Aims. A detailed study of the spectrum and variability of the source HESS J1745-290 in the Galactic Center (GC) region using new data from the H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes is presented. Flaring activity and quasi periodic oscillations (QPO) of HESS J1745-290 are investigated. Methods. The image analysis is performed with a combination of a semi-analytical shower model and the statistical moment-based Hillas technique. The spectrum and lightcurves of HESS J1745-290 are derived with a likelihood method based on a spectral shape hypothesis. Rayleigh tests and Fourier analysis of the H.E.S.S. GC signal are used to study the periodicity of the source. Results. With a three-fold increase in statistics compared to previous work, a deviation from a simple power law spectrum is detected for the first time. The measured energy spectrum over the three years 2004, 2005 and 2006 of data taking is compatible with both a power law spectrum with an exponential cut-off and a broken power law spectrum. The curvature of the energy spectrum is likely to be intrinsic to the photon source, as opposed to effects of interstellar absorption. The power law spectrum with an exponential cut-off is characterized by a photon index of 2.10 ± 0.04{stat} ± 0.10{syst} and a cut-off energy at 15.7 ± 3.4{stat} ± 2.5{syst} TeV. The broken power law spectrum exhibits spectral indices of 2.02 ± 0.08{stat} ± 0.10{syst} and 2.63 ± 0.14{stat} ± 0.10{syst} with a break energy at 2.57 ± 0.19{stat} ± 0.44{syst} TeV. No significant flux variation is found. Increases in the γ-ray flux of HESS J1745-290 by at least a factor of two would be required for a 3σ detection of a flare with time scales of an hour. Investigation of possible QPO activity at periods claimed to be detected in X-rays does not show any periodicities in the H.E.S.S. signal. | |
The mixed chemistry phenomenon in Galactic Bulge PNe Perea-Calderón, J. V., García-Hernández, D. A., García-Lario, P., Szczerba, R., and Bobrowsky, M. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 495, Issue 2, 2009, pp.L5-L8 Abstract: Aims. We investigate the dual-dust chemistry phenomenon in planetary nebulae (PNe) and discuss reasons for its occurrence, by analyzing Spitzer/IRS spectra of a sample of 40 Galactic PNe among which 26 belong to the Galactic Bulge (GB). Methods. The mixed chemistry is derived from the simultaneous detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) features in the 6-14 μm range and crystalline silicates beyond 20 μm in the Spitzer/IRS spectra. Results. Out of the 26 planetary nebulae observed in the Galactic Bulge, 21 show signatures of dual-dust chemistry. Our observations reveal that the simultaneous presence of oxygen and carbon-rich dust features in the infrared spectra of [WC]-type planetary nebulae is not restricted to late/cool [WC]-type stars, as previously suggested in the literature, but is a common feature associated with all [WC]-type planetary nebulae. Surprisingly, we found that the dual-dust chemistry is seen also in all observed weak emission-line stars (wels), as well as in other planetary nebulae with central stars being neither [WC] nor wels. Most sources observed display crystalline silicate features in their spectra, with only a few PNe exhibiting, in addition, amorphous silicate bands. Conclusions. We appear to detect a recent change of chemistry at the end of the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) evolution in the low-mass, high-metallicity population of GB PNe observed. The deficit of C-rich AGB stars in this environment suggests that the process of PAH formation in PNe occurs at the very end of the AGB phase. In addition, the population of low-mass, O-rich AGB stars in the Galactic Bulge, do not exhibit crystalline silicate features in their spectra. Thus, the high detection rate of dual-dust chemistry that we find cannot be explained by long-lived O-rich (primordial or circumbinary) disks. Our most plausible scenario is a final thermal pulse on the AGB (or just after), which could produce enhanced mass loss, capable of removing/mixing (sometimes completely) the remaining H-rich envelope and exposing the internal C-rich layers, and generating shocks responsible for the silicate crystallization. Based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under NASA contract 1407. Tables A1, A2 and Figs. B1 to B6 are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org | |
The Radial Velocity Tatooine Search for Circumbinary Planets: Planet Detection Limits for a Sample of Double-Lined Binary Stars—Initial Results from Keck I/Hires, Shane/CAT/Hamspec, and TNG/Sarg Observations Konacki, M., Muterspaugh, M. W., Kulkarni, S. R., and Hełminiak, K. G. 2009 , The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 704, Issue 1, pp. 513-521 (2009). Abstract: We present preliminary results of the first and on-going radial velocity survey for circumbinary planets. With a novel radial velocity technique employing an iodine absorption cell, we achieve an unprecedented radial velocity (RV) precision of up to 2 m s-1 for double-lined binary stars. The high-resolution spectra collected with the Keck I/Hires, TNG/Sarg, and Shane/CAT/Hamspec telescopes/spectrographs over the years 2003-2008 allow us to derive RVs and compute planet detection limits for 10 double-lined binary stars. For this initial sample of targets, we can rule out planets on dynamically stable orbits with masses as small as ~0.3 to 3 M Jup for the orbital periods of up to ~5.3 years. Even though the presented sample of stars is too small to make any strong conclusions, it is clear that the search for circumbinary planets is now technique-wise possible and eventually will provide new constraints for the planet formation theories. | |
Very high energy γ-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Davids, I. D., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Gerbig, D., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Göring, D., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jahn, C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Klochkov, D., Kluźniak, W., Kneiske, T., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Kossakowski, R., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Masbou, J., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nicholas, B., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sikora, M., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Stinzing, F., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., Tluczykont, M., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 507, Issue 1, 2009, pp.389-396 Abstract: Aims. This article presents very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the γ-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 γ-rays with the HESS telescope array using the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique were performed. The HESS instrument features an angular resolution of < 0.1° 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 γ-ray emission from PSR B1259-63 was detected with an overall significance of 9.5 standard deviations using 55h of exposure, obtained from April to August 2007. The monthly flux of γ-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 Γ = 2.8 ±0.2stat ±0.2sys and flux normalisation Φ0 = (1.1 ±0.1stat ±0.2sys) × 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 γ-rays is seen in those observations. Conclusions. PSR B1259-63 has been re-confirmed as a variable TeV γ-ray emitter. The firm detection of VHE photons emitted at a true anomaly &thetas;≈-0.35 of the pulsar orbit, i.e. already ~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. Supported by CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil. | |
Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the galaxy clusters Abell 496 and Abell 85 with HESS Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Barres de Almeida, U., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Brun, P., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Chadwick, P. M., Charbonnier, A., Chaves, R. C. G., Cheesebrough, A., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Dalton, M., Daniel, M. K., Degrange, B., Deil, C., Dickinson, H. J., Djannati-Ataï, A., Domainko, W., O'C. Drury, L., Dubois, F., Dubus, G., Dyks, J., Dyrda, M., Egberts, K., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Espigat, P., Farnier, C., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gabici, S., Gallant, Y. A., Gérard, L., Giebels, B., Glicenstein, J. F., Glück, B., Goret, P., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinz, S., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Holleran, M., Hoppe, S., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Katarzyński, K., Katz, U., Kaufmann, S., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Khangulyan, D., Khélifi, B., Keogh, D., Komin, N., Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Lenain, J.-P., Lohse, T., Marandon, V., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Marcowith, A., Maurin, D., McComb, T. J. L., Medina, M. C., Moderski, R., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Niemiec, J., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-F., de Oña Wilhelmi, E., Orford, K. J., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Paz Arribas, M., Pedaletti, G., Pelletier, G., Petrucci, P.-O., Pita, S., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Quirrenbach, A., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Rieger, F., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Rulten, C. B., Ruppel, J., Sahakian, V., Santangelo, A., Schlickeiser, R., Schöck, F. M., Schröder, R., Schwanke, U., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Skilton, J. L., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Szostek, A., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., Terrier, R., Tibolla, O., van Eldik, C., Vasileiadis, G., Venter, C., Venter, L., Vialle, J. P., Vincent, P., Vivier, M., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., and Zech, A. 2009 , Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 495, Issue 1, 2009, pp.27-35 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 ~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. |