Ref HAL: in2p3-00289653_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0806.3347
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809401
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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22 citations
Résumé:

Observations of Kepler's supernova remnant (G4.5+6.8) with the H.E.S.S. telescope array in 2004 and 2005 with a total live time of 13 h are presented. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. No evidence for a very high energy (VHE: >100 GeV) gamma-ray signal from the direction of the remnant is found. An upper limit (99% confidence level) on the energy flux in the range 230 GeV - 12.8 TeV of 8.6 x 10^{-13} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1} is obtained. In the context of an existing theoretical model for the remnant, the lack of a detectable gamma-ray flux implies a distance of at least 6.4 kpc. A corresponding upper limit for the density of the ambient matter of 0.7 cm^{-3} is derived. With this distance limit, and assuming a spectral index Gamma = 2, the total energy in accelerated protons is limited to E_p < 8.6 x 10^{49} erg. In the synchrotron/inverse Compton framework, extrapolating the power law measured by RXTE between 10 and 20 keV down in energy, the predicted gamma-ray flux from inverse Compton scattering is below the measured upper limit for magnetic field values greater than 52 muG.

Commentaires: 5 pages, 3 figures; Accepted for publication in A&A on June 12, 2008

Ref HAL: in2p3-00288992_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0806.2981
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.78.072008
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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22 citations
Résumé:

The H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes has performed, from 2004 to 2007, a survey of the inner Galactic plane at photon energies above 100 GeV. About 400 hours of data have been accumulated in the region between -30 and +60 degrees in Galactic longitude, and between -3 and +3 degrees in Galactic latitude. Assuming that dark matter is composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, we calculate here the H.E.S.S. sensitivity map for dark matter annihilations, and derive the first experimental constraints on the ''mini-spikes'' scenario, in which a gamma-ray signal arises from dark matter annihilation around Intermediate Mass Black Holes. The data exclude the proposed scenario at a 90% confidence level for dark matter particles with velocity-weighted annihilation cross section sigma v above 10^28 cm3s^-1 and mass between 800 GeV and 10 TeV.

Commentaires: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D on June 16, 2008

Ref HAL: in2p3-00274401_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0803.0702
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809722
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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56 citations
Résumé:

The supernova remnant (SNR) complex CTB 37 is an interesting candidate for observations with Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray telescopes such as H.E.S.S. In this region, three SNRs are seen. One of them is potentially associated with several molecular clouds, a circumstance that can be used to probe the acceleration of hadronic cosmic rays. This region was observed with the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes and the data were analyzed with standard H.E.S.S. procedures. Recent X-ray observations with Chandra and XMM-Newton were used to search for X-ray counterparts. The discovery of a new VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1714-385 coincident with the remnant CTB 37A is reported. The energy spectrum is well described by a power-law with a photon index of Gamma =2.30pm0.13 and a differential flux at 1 TeV of Phi_0 = (8.7 pm 1.0_{stat} pm 1.8_{sys})x10^{-13}cm^{-2}s^{-1}TeV^{-1}. The integrated flux above 1 TeV is equivalent to 3% of the flux of the Crab nebula above the same energy. This VHE gamma-ray source is a counterpart candidate for the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1714-3857. The observed VHE emission is consistent with the molecular gas distribution around CTB 37A; a close match is expected in a hadronic scenario for gamma-ray production. The X-ray observations reveal the presence of thermal X-rays from the NE part of the SNR. In the NW part of the remnant, an extended non-thermal X-ray source, CXOU J171419.8-383023, is discovered as well. Possible connections of the X-ray emission to the newly found VHE source are discussed.

Commentaires: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to A&A

Ref HAL: in2p3-00274380_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0803.2844
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20079230
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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67 citations
Résumé:

HESS J1745-303 is an extended, unidentified VHE (very high energy) gamma-ray source discovered using HESS in the Galactic Plane Survey. Since no obvious counterpart has previously been found in longer-wavelength data, the processes that power the VHE emission are not well understood. Combining the latest VHE data with recent XMM-Newton observations and a variety of source catalogs and lower-energy survey data, we attempt to match (from an energetic and positional standpoint) the various parts of the emission of HESS J1745-303 with possible candidates. Though no single counterpart is found to fully explain the VHE emission, we postulate that at least a fraction of the VHE source may be explained by a supernova-remnant/molecular-cloud association and/or a high-spin-down-flux pulsar.

Commentaires: 11 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Ref HAL: in2p3-00263434_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0802.4021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809603
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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46 citations
Résumé:

Aims: The BL Lac object RGB J0152+017 (z=0.080) was predicted to be a very high-energy (VHE; > 100 GeV) gamma-ray source, due to its high X-ray and radio fluxes. Our aim is to understand the radiative processes by investigating the observed emission and its production mechanism using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) experiment. Methods: We report recent observations of the BL Lac source RGB J0152+017 made in late October and November 2007 with the H.E.S.S. array consisting of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous observations were made in X-rays by the Swift and RXTE satellites, in the optical band with the ATOM telescope, and in the radio band with the Nancay Radio Telescope. Results: A signal of 173 gamma-ray photons corresponding to a statistical significance of 6.6 sigma was found in the data. The energy spectrum of the source can be described by a powerlaw with a spectral index of 2.95+/-0.36stat+/-0.20syst. The integral flux above 300 GeV corresponds to ~2% of the flux of the Crab nebula. The source spectral energy distribution (SED) can be described using a two-component non-thermal synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) leptonic model, except in the optical band, which is dominated by a thermal host galaxy component. The parameters that are found are very close to those found in similar SSC studies in TeV blazars. Conclusions: RGB J0152+017 is discovered as a source of VHE gamma-rays by H.E.S.S. The location of its synchrotron peak, as derived from the SED in Swift data, allows clearly classification it as a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL).

Commentaires: 6 pages, 2 figures; Accepted for publication in A&A on February 20, 2008

Ref HAL: in2p3-00263525_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0803.0682
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809655
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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35 citations
Résumé:

The >100 GeV gamma-ray source, HESS J1713-381, apparently associated with the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 37B, was discovered using H.E.S.S. in 2006. X-ray follow-up observations with Chandra were performed in 2007 with the aim of identifying a synchrotron counterpart to the TeV source and/or thermal emission from the SNR shell. These new Chandra data, together with additional TeV data, allow us to investigate the nature of this object in much greater detail than was previously possible. The new X-ray data reveal thermal emission from a ~4' region in close proximity to the radio shell of CTB 37B. The temperature of this emission implies an age for the remnant of ~5000 years (assuming a spherical Sedov expansion), disfavouring a suggested association with the supernova of AD 373. A bright (approx 7 x10^-13erg cm^-2 s^-1) and unresolved (<1'') source (CXOU J171405.7-381031) with a soft (Gamma ~ 3.3) non -thermal spectrum is also detected in coincidence with the radio shell. Absorption indicates a column density consistent with the thermal emission from the shell suggesting a genuine association rather than a chance alignment. The observed TeV morphology is consistent with an origin in the complete shell of CTB 37B. The relatively high apparent gas density of the CTB 37B environment (n < 1 cm^-3) and the lack of diffuse non-thermal X-ray emission, are suggestive of an origin of the gamma-ray emission via the decay of neutral pions produced in interactions of protons and nuclei rather than inverse Compton (IC) emission from relativistic electrons.

Commentaires: Submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics (8 pages, 6 figures)

Ref HAL: in2p3-00260702_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0802.3841
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20078715
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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22 citations
Résumé:

The H.E.S.S. experiment, an array of four Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes with high sensitivity and large field-of-view, has been used to search for emitters of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) gamma-rays along the Galactic plane, covering the region 30 deg < l < 60 deg, 280 deg < l < 330 deg, and -3 deg < b < 3 deg. In this continuation of the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Scan, a new extended VHE gamma-ray source was discovered at alpha(2000)=19h12m49s, delta(2000)=+10d09'06'' (HESS J1912+101). Its integral flux between 1-10 TeV is ~10% of the Crab Nebula flux in the same energy range. The measured energy spectrum can be described by a power law with a photon index Gamma = 2.7+-0.2(stat)+-0.3(sys). HESS J1912+101 is plausibly associated with the high spin-down luminosity pulsar PSR J1913+1011. We also discuss associations with an as yet unconfirmed SNR candidate proposed from low frequency radio observation and/or with molecular clouds found in 13CO data.

Commentaires: 6 pages, 2 figures; Accepted for publication in A&A on February 20, 2008