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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/38021
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | First detection of a VHE gamma-ray spectral maximum from a cosmic source: HESS discovery of the Vela X nebula |
Author: | Aharonian, F. Akhperjanian, A. Bazer-Bachi, A. Beilicke, M. Benbow, W. Berge, D. Bernlohr, K. Boisson, C. Bolz, O. Borrel, V. Braun, I. Breitling, F. Brown, A. Buhler, R. Busching, I. Carrigan, S. Chadwick, P. Chounet, L. Cornils, R. Costamante, L. et al. |
Citation: | Astronomy and Astrophysics: a European journal, 2006; 448(2):L43-L47 |
Publisher: | E D P Sciences |
Issue Date: | 2006 |
ISSN: | 0004-6361 1432-0746 |
Statement of Responsibility: | F. A. Aharonian...G. P. Rowell...et al. |
Abstract: | The Vela supernova remnant (SNR) is a complex region containing a number of sources of non-thermal radiation. The inner section of this SNR, within 2 degrees of the pulsar PSR B0833-45, has been observed by the HESS γ-ray atmospheric Cherenkov detector in 2004 and 2005. A strong signal is seen from an extended region to the south of the pulsar, within an integration region of radius 0.8° around the position (α = 08h35 m00s, δ = -45°36′ J2000.0). The excess coincides with a region of hard X-ray emission seen by the ROSAT and ASCA satellites. The observed energy spectrum of the source between 550 GeV and 65 TeV is well fit by a power law function with photon index Γ = 1.45 ± 0.09stat ± 0.2sys and an exponential cutoff at an energy of 13.8 ± 2.3stat ± 4.1 sys TeV. The integral flux above 1 TeV is (1.28 ± 0.17 stat ± 0.38sys) × 10-11 cm -2 s-1. This result is the first clear measurement of a peak in the spectral energy distribution from a VHE γ-ray source, likely related to inverse Compton emission. A fit of an Inverse Compton model to the HESS spectral energy distribution gives a total energy in non-thermal electrons of ∼2 × 1045 erg between 5 TeV and 100 TeV, assuming a distance of 290 parsec to the pulsar. The best fit electron power law index is 2.0, with a spectral break at 67 TeV. © ESO 2006. |
Keywords: | ISM: plerions Gamma rays: observations |
Rights: | © The European Southern Observatory 2006 |
DOI: | 10.1051/0004-6361:200600014 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200600014 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Physics publications |
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hdl_38021.pdf | Published version | 506.74 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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