Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631

F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; K. M. Aye; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; M. Beilicke; W. Benbow; D. Berge; P. Berghaus; K. Bernlöhr; C. Boisson; O. Bolz; I. Braun; F. Breitling; A. M. Brown; J. Bussons Gordo; P. M. Chadwick; L. M. Chounet; R. Cornils; L. Costamante; B. Degrange; A. Djannati-Ataï; L. O.C. Drury; G. Dubus; D. Emmanoulopoulos; P. Espigat; F. Feinstein; P. Fleury; G. Fontaine; Y. Fuchs; S. Funk; Y. A. Gallant; B. Giebels; S. Gillessen; J. F. Glicenstein; P. Goret; C. Hadjichristidis; M. Hauser; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; W. Hofmann; M. Holleran; D. Horns; O. C. de Jager; B. Khélifi; N. Komin; A. Konopelko; I. J. Latham; R. le Gallou; A. Lemière; M. Lemoine-Goumard; N. Leroy; T. Lohse; O. Martineau-Huynh; A. Marcowith; C. Masterson; T. J.L. McComb; M. de Naurois; S. J. Nolan; A. Noutsos; K. J. Orford; J. L. Osborne; M. Ouchrif; M. Panter; G. Pelletier; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; B. C. Raubenheimer; M. Raue; J. Raux; S. M. Rayner; I. Redondo; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; J. Ripken; L. Rob; L. Rolland; G. Rowell; V. Sahakian; L. Saugé; S. Schlenker; R. Schlickeiser; C. Schuster; U. Schwanke; M. Siewert; H. Sol; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; C. G. Théoret; M. Tluczykont; D. J. van der Walt; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; P. Vincent; H. J. Völk; S. J. Wagner

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631

F. Aharonian
, A. G. Akhperjanian
, K. M. Aye
, A. R. Bazer-Bachi
, M. Beilicke
, W. Benbow
, D. Berge
, P. Berghaus
, K. Bernlöhr
, C. Boisson
, O. Bolz
, I. Braun
, F. Breitling
, A. M. Brown
, J. Bussons Gordo
, P. M. Chadwick
, L. M. Chounet
, R. Cornils
, L. Costamante
, B. Degrange

A. Djannati-Ataï, L. O.C. Drury, G. Dubus, D. Emmanoulopoulos, P. Espigat, F. Feinstein, P. Fleury, G. Fontaine, Y. Fuchs, S. Funk, Y. A. Gallant, B. Giebels, S. Gillessen, J. F. Glicenstein, P. Goret, C. Hadjichristidis, M. Hauser, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, D. Horns, O. C. de Jager, B. Khélifi, N. Komin, A. Konopelko, I. J. Latham, R. le Gallou, A. Lemière, M. Lemoine-Goumard, N. Leroy, T. Lohse, O. Martineau-Huynh, A. Marcowith, C. Masterson, T. J.L. McComb, M. de Naurois, S. J. Nolan, A. Noutsos, K. J. Orford, J. L. Osborne, M. Ouchrif, M. Panter, G. Pelletier, S. Pita, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, J. Raux, S. M. Rayner, I. Redondo, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, J. Ripken, L. Rob, L. Rolland, G. Rowell, V. Sahakian, L. Saugé, S. Schlenker, R. Schlickeiser, C. Schuster, U. Schwanke, M. Siewert, H. Sol, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, C. G. Théoret, M. Tluczykont, D. J. van der Walt, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, P. Vincent, H. J. Völk, S. J. Wagner

Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
Yerevan Physics Institute
Durham University
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
Universität Hamburg
Astroparticule and Cosmol APC
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sorbonne Univ.
Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier
European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Landessternwarte Heidelberg
Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, CNRS and CEA
North-West University
Universités Paris VI and VII
The University of Sheffield
Ruhr-University Bochum
Charles University
University of Namibia

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

Abstract

The serendipitous discovery of an unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source close to the galactic plane named HESS J1303-631 at a significance of 21 standard deviations is reported. The observations were performed between February and June 2004 with the HESS stereoscopic system of Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. HESS J1303-631 was discovered roughly 0.6° north of the binary system PSR B1259-63/SS 2883, the target object of the initial observation campaign which was also detected at TeV energies in the same field of view. HESS J1303-631 is extended with a width of an assumed intrinsic Gaussian emission profile of σ = (0.16 ± 0.02)° and the integral flux above 380 GeV is compatible with constant emission over the entire observational period of (17 ± 3)% of the Crab Nebula flux. The measured energy spectrum can be described by a power-law dN/dE ∼ E^-Γ with a photon index of Γ = 2.44 ±0.05_stat ± 0.2_syst. Up to now, no counterpart at other wavelengths is identified. Various possible TeV production scenarios are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1013-1021
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	439
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20053195
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2005
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Galaxy: disk
Gamma rays: observations

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10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

Cite this

Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Aye, K. M., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berge, D., Berghaus, P., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bolz, O., Braun, I., Breitling, F., Brown, A. M., Bussons Gordo, J., Chadwick, P. M., Chounet, L. M., Cornils, R., Costamante, L., ... Wagner, S. J. (2005). Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 439(3), 1013-1021. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

@article{a6358ce870ec45578ca79e4cdd927ef2,

title = "Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631",

abstract = "The serendipitous discovery of an unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source close to the galactic plane named HESS J1303-631 at a significance of 21 standard deviations is reported. The observations were performed between February and June 2004 with the HESS stereoscopic system of Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. HESS J1303-631 was discovered roughly 0.6° north of the binary system PSR B1259-63/SS 2883, the target object of the initial observation campaign which was also detected at TeV energies in the same field of view. HESS J1303-631 is extended with a width of an assumed intrinsic Gaussian emission profile of σ = (0.16 ± 0.02)° and the integral flux above 380 GeV is compatible with constant emission over the entire observational period of (17 ± 3)\% of the Crab Nebula flux. The measured energy spectrum can be described by a power-law dN/dE ∼ E-Γ with a photon index of Γ = 2.44 ±0.05stat ± 0.2syst. Up to now, no counterpart at other wavelengths is identified. Various possible TeV production scenarios are discussed.",

keywords = "Galaxy: disk, Gamma rays: observations",

author = "F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, \{A. G.\} and Aye, \{K. M.\} and Bazer-Bachi, \{A. R.\} and M. Beilicke and W. Benbow and D. Berge and P. Berghaus and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and C. Boisson and O. Bolz and I. Braun and F. Breitling and Brown, \{A. M.\} and \{Bussons Gordo\}, J. and Chadwick, \{P. M.\} and Chounet, \{L. M.\} and R. Cornils and L. Costamante and B. Degrange and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and Drury, \{L. O.C.\} and G. Dubus and D. Emmanoulopoulos and P. Espigat and F. Feinstein and P. Fleury and G. Fontaine and Y. Fuchs and S. Funk and Gallant, \{Y. A.\} and B. Giebels and S. Gillessen and Glicenstein, \{J. F.\} and P. Goret and C. Hadjichristidis and M. Hauser and G. Heinzelmann and G. Henri and G. Hermann and Hinton, \{J. A.\} and W. Hofmann and M. Holleran and D. Horns and \{de Jager\}, \{O. C.\} and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and N. Komin and A. Konopelko and Latham, \{I. J.\} and \{le Gallou\}, R. and A. Lemi{\`e}re and M. Lemoine-Goumard and N. Leroy and T. Lohse and O. Martineau-Huynh and A. Marcowith and C. Masterson and McComb, \{T. J.L.\} and \{de Naurois\}, M. and Nolan, \{S. J.\} and A. Noutsos and Orford, \{K. J.\} and Osborne, \{J. L.\} and M. Ouchrif and M. Panter and G. Pelletier and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and Raubenheimer, \{B. C.\} and M. Raue and J. Raux and Rayner, \{S. M.\} and I. Redondo and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and J. Ripken and L. Rob and L. Rolland and G. Rowell and V. Sahakian and L. Saug{\'e} and S. Schlenker and R. Schlickeiser and C. Schuster and U. Schwanke and M. Siewert and H. Sol and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and Tavernet, \{J. P.\} and R. Terrier and Th{\'e}oret, \{C. G.\} and M. Tluczykont and \{van der Walt\}, \{D. J.\} and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and P. Vincent and V{\"o}lk, \{H. J.\} and Wagner, \{S. J.\}",

year = "2005",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361:20053195",

language = "English",

volume = "439",

pages = "1013--1021",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

number = "3",

}

Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Aye, KM, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Berge, D, Berghaus, P, Bernlöhr, K, Boisson, C, Bolz, O, Braun, I, Breitling, F, Brown, AM, Bussons Gordo, J, Chadwick, PM, Chounet, LM, Cornils, R, Costamante, L, Degrange, B, Djannati-Ataï, A, Drury, LOC, Dubus, G, Emmanoulopoulos, D, Espigat, P, Feinstein, F, Fleury, P, Fontaine, G, Fuchs, Y, Funk, S, Gallant, YA, Giebels, B, Gillessen, S, Glicenstein, JF, Goret, P, Hadjichristidis, C, Hauser, M, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hofmann, W, Holleran, M, Horns, D, de Jager, OC, Khélifi, B, Komin, N, Konopelko, A, Latham, IJ, le Gallou, R, Lemière, A, Lemoine-Goumard, M, Leroy, N, Lohse, T, Martineau-Huynh, O, Marcowith, A, Masterson, C, McComb, TJL, de Naurois, M, Nolan, SJ, Noutsos, A, Orford, KJ, Osborne, JL, Ouchrif, M, Panter, M, Pelletier, G, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Raubenheimer, BC, Raue, M, Raux, J, Rayner, SM, Redondo, I, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rolland, L, Rowell, G, Sahakian, V, Saugé, L, Schlenker, S, Schlickeiser, R, Schuster, C, Schwanke, U, Siewert, M, Sol, H, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Théoret, CG, Tluczykont, M, van der Walt, DJ, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Vincent, P, Völk, HJ & Wagner, SJ 2005, 'Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 439, no. 3, pp. 1013-1021. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

TY - JOUR

T1 - Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - Aye, K. M.

AU - Bazer-Bachi, A. R.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Benbow, W.

AU - Berge, D.

AU - Berghaus, P.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolz, O.

AU - Braun, I.

AU - Breitling, F.

AU - Brown, A. M.

AU - Bussons Gordo, J.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Chounet, L. M.

AU - Cornils, R.

AU - Costamante, L.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Drury, L. O.C.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Emmanoulopoulos, D.

AU - Espigat, P.

AU - Feinstein, F.

AU - Fleury, P.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Fuchs, Y.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Gillessen, S.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

AU - Goret, P.

AU - Hadjichristidis, C.

AU - Hauser, M.

AU - Heinzelmann, G.

AU - Henri, G.

AU - Hermann, G.

AU - Hinton, J. A.

AU - Hofmann, W.

AU - Holleran, M.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - de Jager, O. C.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Komin, N.

AU - Konopelko, A.

AU - Latham, I. J.

AU - le Gallou, R.

AU - Lemière, A.

AU - Lemoine-Goumard, M.

AU - Leroy, N.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Martineau-Huynh, O.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masterson, C.

AU - McComb, T. J.L.

AU - de Naurois, M.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Orford, K. J.

AU - Osborne, J. L.

AU - Ouchrif, M.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Raubenheimer, B. C.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Raux, J.

AU - Rayner, S. M.

AU - Redondo, I.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Ripken, J.

AU - Rob, L.

AU - Rolland, L.

AU - Rowell, G.

AU - Sahakian, V.

AU - Saugé, L.

AU - Schlenker, S.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schuster, C.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Siewert, M.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Théoret, C. G.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - van der Walt, D. J.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Völk, H. J.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

PY - 2005/9/1

Y1 - 2005/9/1

N2 - The serendipitous discovery of an unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source close to the galactic plane named HESS J1303-631 at a significance of 21 standard deviations is reported. The observations were performed between February and June 2004 with the HESS stereoscopic system of Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. HESS J1303-631 was discovered roughly 0.6° north of the binary system PSR B1259-63/SS 2883, the target object of the initial observation campaign which was also detected at TeV energies in the same field of view. HESS J1303-631 is extended with a width of an assumed intrinsic Gaussian emission profile of σ = (0.16 ± 0.02)° and the integral flux above 380 GeV is compatible with constant emission over the entire observational period of (17 ± 3)% of the Crab Nebula flux. The measured energy spectrum can be described by a power-law dN/dE ∼ E-Γ with a photon index of Γ = 2.44 ±0.05stat ± 0.2syst. Up to now, no counterpart at other wavelengths is identified. Various possible TeV production scenarios are discussed.

AB - The serendipitous discovery of an unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source close to the galactic plane named HESS J1303-631 at a significance of 21 standard deviations is reported. The observations were performed between February and June 2004 with the HESS stereoscopic system of Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. HESS J1303-631 was discovered roughly 0.6° north of the binary system PSR B1259-63/SS 2883, the target object of the initial observation campaign which was also detected at TeV energies in the same field of view. HESS J1303-631 is extended with a width of an assumed intrinsic Gaussian emission profile of σ = (0.16 ± 0.02)° and the integral flux above 380 GeV is compatible with constant emission over the entire observational period of (17 ± 3)% of the Crab Nebula flux. The measured energy spectrum can be described by a power-law dN/dE ∼ E-Γ with a photon index of Γ = 2.44 ±0.05stat ± 0.2syst. Up to now, no counterpart at other wavelengths is identified. Various possible TeV production scenarios are discussed.

KW - Galaxy: disk

KW - Gamma rays: observations

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/24944526209

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361:20053195

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:24944526209

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 439

SP - 1013

EP - 1021

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - 3

ER -

Serendipitous discovery of the unidentified extended TeV γ-ray source HESS J1303-631

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Keywords

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