Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS

F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; M. Beilicke; W. Benbow; D. Berge; K. Bernlöhr; C. Boisson; O. Bolz; V. Borrel; I. Braun; E. Brion; A. M. Brown; R. Bühler; I. Büsching; T. Boutelier; S. Carrigan; P. M. Chadwick; L. M. Chounet; G. Coignet; R. Cornils; L. Costamante; B. Degrange; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; L. O.C. Drury; G. Dubus; K. Egberts; T. Eifert; D. Emmanoulopoulos; P. Espigat; C. Farnier; F. Feinstein; E. Ferrero; A. Fiasson; G. Fontaine; Seb Funk; S. Funk; M. Füßling; Y. A. Gallant; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; P. Goret; C. Hadjichristidis; D. Hauser; M. Hauser; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; A. Hoffmann; W. Hofmann; M. Holleran; S. Hoppe; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. De Jager; E. Kendziorra; M. Kerschhaggl; B. Khélifi; Nu Komin; K. Kosack; G. Lamanna; I. J. Latham; R. Le Gallou; A. Lemière; M. Lemoine-Goumard; T. Lohse; R. N. Manchester; J. M. Martin; O. Martineau-Huynh; A. Marcowith; C. Masterson; G. Maurin; T. J.L. McComb; E. Moulin; M. De Naurois; D. Nedbal; S. J. Nolan; A. Noutsos; J. P. Olive; K. J. Orford; J. L. Osborne; M. Panter; G. Pelletier; P. O. Petrucci; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; S. Ranchon; B. C. Raubenheimer; M. Raue; S. M. Rayner; O. Reimer; J. Ripken; L. Rob; L. Rolland; S. Rosier-Lees; G. Rowell; V. Sahakian; A. Santangelo; L. Saugé; S. Schlenker; R. Schlickeiser; F. Schmidt; R. Schröder; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; A. Shalchi; H. Sol; D. Spangler; F. Spanier; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; G. Superina; P. H. Tam; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; M. Tluczykont; C. Van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; J. P. Vialle; P. Vincent; H. J. Volk; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS

F. Aharonian
, A. G. Akhperjanian
, A. R. Bazer-Bachi
, M. Beilicke
, W. Benbow
, D. Berge
, K. Bernlöhr
, C. Boisson
, O. Bolz
, V. Borrel
, I. Braun
, E. Brion
, A. M. Brown
, R. Bühler
, I. Büsching
, T. Boutelier
, S. Carrigan
, P. M. Chadwick
, L. M. Chounet
, G. Coignet

R. Cornils, L. Costamante, B. Degrange, H. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï, L. O.C. Drury, G. Dubus, K. Egberts, T. Eifert, D. Emmanoulopoulos, P. Espigat, C. Farnier, F. Feinstein, E. Ferrero, A. Fiasson, G. Fontaine, Seb Funk, S. Funk, M. Füßling, Y. A. Gallant, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, B. Glück, P. Goret, C. Hadjichristidis, D. Hauser, M. Hauser, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, A. Hoffmann, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, S. Hoppe, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, O. C. De Jager, E. Kendziorra, M. Kerschhaggl, B. Khélifi, Nu Komin, K. Kosack, G. Lamanna, I. J. Latham, R. Le Gallou, A. Lemière, M. Lemoine-Goumard, T. Lohse, R. N. Manchester, J. M. Martin, O. Martineau-Huynh, A. Marcowith, C. Masterson, G. Maurin, T. J.L. McComb, E. Moulin, M. De Naurois, D. Nedbal, S. J. Nolan, A. Noutsos, J. P. Olive, K. J. Orford, J. L. Osborne, M. Panter, G. Pelletier, P. O. Petrucci, S. Pita, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, S. Ranchon, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, S. M. Rayner, O. Reimer, J. Ripken, L. Rob, L. Rolland, S. Rosier-Lees, G. Rowell, V. Sahakian, A. Santangelo, L. Saugé, S. Schlenker, R. Schlickeiser, F. Schmidt, R. Schröder, U. Schwanke, S. Schwarzburg, S. Schwemmer, A. Shalchi, H. Sol, D. Spangler, F. Spanier, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, G. Superina, P. H. Tam, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, M. Tluczykont, C. Van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, J. P. Vialle, P. Vincent, H. J. Volk, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward

Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
Yerevan Physics Institute
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
Universität Hamburg
European Organization for Nuclear Research
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, CNRS and CEA
Durham University
North-West University
Ip Paris
Université Paris-Sud
European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Astroparticule and Cosmol APC
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
University of Geneva
Landessternwarte Heidelberg
Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier
Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
University of Leeds
University of Tübingen
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
Universités Paris VI and VII
Charles University
Stanford University
Ruhr-University Bochum
University of Adelaide
University of Chicago
University of Namibia
c/o DESY

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aims. We present the results of a search for pulsed very-high-energy (VHE) γ-ray emission from young pulsars using data taken with the HESS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system. Methods. Data on eleven pulsars, selected according to their spin-down luminosity relative to distance, are searched for y-ray signals with periodicity at the respective pulsar spin period. Special analysis efforts were made to improve the sensitivity in the 100 GeV γ-ray energy domain in an attempt to reduce the gap between satellite and ground-based γ-ray instruments. Results. No significant evidence for pulsed emission is found in any data set. Differential upper limits on pulsed energy flux are determined for all selected pulsars in the approximate γ-ray energy range between 100 GeV and 50 TeV, using different limit determination methods, testing a wide range of possible pulsar light curves and energy spectra. Conclusions. The limits derived here imply that the magnetospheric VHE γ-ray production efficiency in young pulsars is less than 10^-4 of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, requiring spectral turnovers for the high-energy emission of four established γ-ray pulsars, and constrain the inverse Compton radiation component predicted by several outer gap models.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	543-554
Number of pages	12
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	466
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20066737
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Gamma rays: observations
Pulsars: individual: Crab pulsar
Pulsars: individual: PSR B1259-63
Pulsars: individual: PSR B1509-58
Pulsars: individual: PSR B1706-44
Pulsars: individual: Vela pulsar

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10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

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Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berge, D., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bolz, O., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brown, A. M., Bühler, R., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Chounet, L. M., ... Ward, M. (2007). Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 466(2), 543-554. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

@article{59795fd2cdd84c59a38b66a2f37f04be,

title = "Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS",

abstract = "Aims. We present the results of a search for pulsed very-high-energy (VHE) γ-ray emission from young pulsars using data taken with the HESS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system. Methods. Data on eleven pulsars, selected according to their spin-down luminosity relative to distance, are searched for y-ray signals with periodicity at the respective pulsar spin period. Special analysis efforts were made to improve the sensitivity in the 100 GeV γ-ray energy domain in an attempt to reduce the gap between satellite and ground-based γ-ray instruments. Results. No significant evidence for pulsed emission is found in any data set. Differential upper limits on pulsed energy flux are determined for all selected pulsars in the approximate γ-ray energy range between 100 GeV and 50 TeV, using different limit determination methods, testing a wide range of possible pulsar light curves and energy spectra. Conclusions. The limits derived here imply that the magnetospheric VHE γ-ray production efficiency in young pulsars is less than 10-4 of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, requiring spectral turnovers for the high-energy emission of four established γ-ray pulsars, and constrain the inverse Compton radiation component predicted by several outer gap models.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: observations, Pulsars: individual: Crab pulsar, Pulsars: individual: PSR B1259-63, Pulsars: individual: PSR B1509-58, Pulsars: individual: PSR B1706-44, Pulsars: individual: Vela pulsar",

author = "F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, \{A. G.\} and Bazer-Bachi, \{A. R.\} and M. Beilicke and W. Benbow and D. Berge and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and C. Boisson and O. Bolz and V. Borrel and I. Braun and E. Brion and Brown, \{A. M.\} and R. B{\"u}hler and I. B{\"u}sching and T. Boutelier and S. Carrigan and Chadwick, \{P. M.\} and Chounet, \{L. M.\} and G. Coignet and R. Cornils and L. Costamante and B. Degrange and Dickinson, \{H. J.\} and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and Drury, \{L. O.C.\} and G. Dubus and K. Egberts and T. Eifert and D. Emmanoulopoulos and P. Espigat and C. Farnier and F. Feinstein and E. Ferrero and A. Fiasson and G. Fontaine and Seb Funk and S. Funk and M. F{\"u}{\ss}ling and Gallant, \{Y. A.\} and B. Giebels and Glicenstein, \{J. F.\} and B. Gl{\"u}ck and P. Goret and C. Hadjichristidis and D. Hauser and M. Hauser and G. Heinzelmann and G. Henri and G. Hermann and Hinton, \{J. A.\} and A. Hoffmann and W. Hofmann and M. Holleran and S. Hoppe and D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and \{De Jager\}, \{O. C.\} and E. Kendziorra and M. Kerschhaggl and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and Nu Komin and K. Kosack and G. Lamanna and Latham, \{I. J.\} and \{Le Gallou\}, R. and A. Lemi{\`e}re and M. Lemoine-Goumard and T. Lohse and Manchester, \{R. N.\} and Martin, \{J. M.\} and O. Martineau-Huynh and A. Marcowith and C. Masterson and G. Maurin and McComb, \{T. J.L.\} and E. Moulin and \{De Naurois\}, M. and D. Nedbal and Nolan, \{S. J.\} and A. Noutsos and Olive, \{J. P.\} and Orford, \{K. J.\} and Osborne, \{J. L.\} and M. Panter and G. Pelletier and Petrucci, \{P. O.\} and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and S. Ranchon and Raubenheimer, \{B. C.\} and M. Raue and Rayner, \{S. M.\} and O. Reimer and J. Ripken and L. Rob and L. Rolland and S. Rosier-Lees and G. Rowell and V. Sahakian and A. Santangelo and L. Saug{\'e} and S. Schlenker and R. Schlickeiser and F. Schmidt and R. Schr{\"o}der and U. Schwanke and S. Schwarzburg and S. Schwemmer and A. Shalchi and H. Sol and D. Spangler and F. Spanier and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and G. Superina and Tam, \{P. H.\} and Tavernet, \{J. P.\} and R. Terrier and M. Tluczykont and \{Van Eldik\}, C. and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and Vialle, \{J. P.\} and P. Vincent and Volk, \{H. J.\} and Wagner, \{S. J.\} and M. Ward",

year = "2007",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361:20066737",

language = "English",

volume = "466",

pages = "543--554",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

number = "2",

}

Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Berge, D, Bernlöhr, K, Boisson, C, Bolz, O, Borrel, V, Braun, I, Brion, E, Brown, AM, Bühler, R, Büsching, I, Boutelier, T, Carrigan, S, Chadwick, PM, Chounet, LM, Coignet, G, Cornils, R, Costamante, L, Degrange, B, Dickinson, HJ, Djannati-Ataï, A, Drury, LOC, Dubus, G, Egberts, K, Eifert, T, Emmanoulopoulos, D, Espigat, P, Farnier, C, Feinstein, F, Ferrero, E, Fiasson, A, Fontaine, G, Funk, S, Funk, S, Füßling, M, Gallant, YA, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Glück, B, Goret, P, Hadjichristidis, C, Hauser, D, Hauser, M, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hoffmann, A, Hofmann, W, Holleran, M, Hoppe, S, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, De Jager, OC, Kendziorra, E, Kerschhaggl, M, Khélifi, B, Komin, N, Kosack, K, Lamanna, G, Latham, IJ, Le Gallou, R, Lemière, A, Lemoine-Goumard, M, Lohse, T, Manchester, RN, Martin, JM, Martineau-Huynh, O, Marcowith, A, Masterson, C, Maurin, G, McComb, TJL, Moulin, E, De Naurois, M, Nedbal, D, Nolan, SJ, Noutsos, A, Olive, JP, Orford, KJ, Osborne, JL, Panter, M, Pelletier, G, Petrucci, PO, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Ranchon, S, Raubenheimer, BC, Raue, M, Rayner, SM, Reimer, O, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rolland, L, Rosier-Lees, S, Rowell, G, Sahakian, V, Santangelo, A, Saugé, L, Schlenker, S, Schlickeiser, R, Schmidt, F, Schröder, R, Schwanke, U, Schwarzburg, S, Schwemmer, S, Shalchi, A, Sol, H, Spangler, D, Spanier, F, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Superina, G, Tam, PH, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Tluczykont, M, Van Eldik, C, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Vialle, JP, Vincent, P, Volk, HJ, Wagner, SJ & Ward, M 2007, 'Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 466, no. 2, pp. 543-554. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

TY - JOUR

T1 - Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - Bazer-Bachi, A. R.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Benbow, W.

AU - Berge, D.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolz, O.

AU - Borrel, V.

AU - Braun, I.

AU - Brion, E.

AU - Brown, A. M.

AU - Bühler, R.

AU - Büsching, I.

AU - Boutelier, T.

AU - Carrigan, S.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Chounet, L. M.

AU - Coignet, G.

AU - Cornils, R.

AU - Costamante, L.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Dickinson, H. J.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Drury, L. O.C.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Egberts, K.

AU - Eifert, T.

AU - Emmanoulopoulos, D.

AU - Espigat, P.

AU - Farnier, C.

AU - Feinstein, F.

AU - Ferrero, E.

AU - Fiasson, A.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Funk, Seb

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Füßling, M.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

AU - Glück, B.

AU - Goret, P.

AU - Hadjichristidis, C.

AU - Hauser, D.

AU - Hauser, M.

AU - Heinzelmann, G.

AU - Henri, G.

AU - Hermann, G.

AU - Hinton, J. A.

AU - Hoffmann, A.

AU - Hofmann, W.

AU - Holleran, M.

AU - Hoppe, S.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - De Jager, O. C.

AU - Kendziorra, E.

AU - Kerschhaggl, M.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Komin, Nu

AU - Kosack, K.

AU - Lamanna, G.

AU - Latham, I. J.

AU - Le Gallou, R.

AU - Lemière, A.

AU - Lemoine-Goumard, M.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Manchester, R. N.

AU - Martin, J. M.

AU - Martineau-Huynh, O.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masterson, C.

AU - Maurin, G.

AU - McComb, T. J.L.

AU - Moulin, E.

AU - De Naurois, M.

AU - Nedbal, D.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Olive, J. P.

AU - Orford, K. J.

AU - Osborne, J. L.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Ranchon, S.

AU - Raubenheimer, B. C.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Rayner, S. M.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Ripken, J.

AU - Rob, L.

AU - Rolland, L.

AU - Rosier-Lees, S.

AU - Rowell, G.

AU - Sahakian, V.

AU - Santangelo, A.

AU - Saugé, L.

AU - Schlenker, S.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schmidt, F.

AU - Schröder, R.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Schwarzburg, S.

AU - Schwemmer, S.

AU - Shalchi, A.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Spangler, D.

AU - Spanier, F.

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Superina, G.

AU - Tam, P. H.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - Van Eldik, C.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Vialle, J. P.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Volk, H. J.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

AU - Ward, M.

PY - 2007/1/1

Y1 - 2007/1/1

N2 - Aims. We present the results of a search for pulsed very-high-energy (VHE) γ-ray emission from young pulsars using data taken with the HESS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system. Methods. Data on eleven pulsars, selected according to their spin-down luminosity relative to distance, are searched for y-ray signals with periodicity at the respective pulsar spin period. Special analysis efforts were made to improve the sensitivity in the 100 GeV γ-ray energy domain in an attempt to reduce the gap between satellite and ground-based γ-ray instruments. Results. No significant evidence for pulsed emission is found in any data set. Differential upper limits on pulsed energy flux are determined for all selected pulsars in the approximate γ-ray energy range between 100 GeV and 50 TeV, using different limit determination methods, testing a wide range of possible pulsar light curves and energy spectra. Conclusions. The limits derived here imply that the magnetospheric VHE γ-ray production efficiency in young pulsars is less than 10-4 of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, requiring spectral turnovers for the high-energy emission of four established γ-ray pulsars, and constrain the inverse Compton radiation component predicted by several outer gap models.

AB - Aims. We present the results of a search for pulsed very-high-energy (VHE) γ-ray emission from young pulsars using data taken with the HESS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system. Methods. Data on eleven pulsars, selected according to their spin-down luminosity relative to distance, are searched for y-ray signals with periodicity at the respective pulsar spin period. Special analysis efforts were made to improve the sensitivity in the 100 GeV γ-ray energy domain in an attempt to reduce the gap between satellite and ground-based γ-ray instruments. Results. No significant evidence for pulsed emission is found in any data set. Differential upper limits on pulsed energy flux are determined for all selected pulsars in the approximate γ-ray energy range between 100 GeV and 50 TeV, using different limit determination methods, testing a wide range of possible pulsar light curves and energy spectra. Conclusions. The limits derived here imply that the magnetospheric VHE γ-ray production efficiency in young pulsars is less than 10-4 of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, requiring spectral turnovers for the high-energy emission of four established γ-ray pulsars, and constrain the inverse Compton radiation component predicted by several outer gap models.

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - Pulsars: individual: Crab pulsar

KW - Pulsars: individual: PSR B1259-63

KW - Pulsars: individual: PSR B1509-58

KW - Pulsars: individual: PSR B1706-44

KW - Pulsars: individual: Vela pulsar

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361:20066737

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34248167233

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 466

SP - 543

EP - 554

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - 2

ER -

Search for pulsed VHE gamma-ray emission from young pulsars with HESS

Abstract

Keywords

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