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Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3

  • H.E.S.S. Collaboration
  • North-West University
  • Universität Hamburg
  • Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
  • Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
  • National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
  • Institute for Nuclear Physics
  • Rikkyo University
  • Université Savoie Mont Blanc
  • Sorbonne Univ.
  • University of Namibia
  • University of Amsterdam
  • Linnaeus University, Växjö
  • Ruhr-University Bochum
  • c/o DESY
  • Medical University of Innsbruck
  • University of Adelaide
  • Sorbonne Université
  • Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier
  • Univ. Bordeaux
  • Université Paris-Saclay
  • Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
  • University of Warsaw
  • University of Tübingen
  • Ip Paris
  • EU FP7 Marie Curie
  • University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • Stockholm University
  • Wallenberg Academy Fellow
  • Astroparticule and Cosmol APC
  • Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences
  • University of Potsdam
  • Aix Marseille Université
  • Landessternwarte Heidelberg
  • LTHE (UMR 5564 CNRS/IRD/Université de Grenoble)
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • Jagiellonian University
  • Nicolaus Copernicus University
  • ISAS/JAXA
  • University of New South Wales
  • University of the Free State
  • Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
  • University of Leicester
  • University of Heidelberg
  • Yerevan Physics Institute
  • University of São Paulo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic γ-ray binary. Aim. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) γ-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Results. VHE γ-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 σ. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the 1-10 TeV energy range is (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1035 erg s-1. A luminosity of (5 ± 1) × 1035 erg s-1 is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE γ-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous γ-ray binary known so far.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL17
JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics
Volume610
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Binaries: general
  • Gamma rays: stars
  • Stars: massive

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