Author(s): A. Abdo A., Ballet J., Bellazzini R., Bregeon J., Bruel P., M. Casandjian J., Cohen-Tanugi J., Costamante L., Dumora D., Farnier C., J. Fegan S., Fortin P., Giebels B., A. Grenier I., Guillemot L., Guiriec Sylvain, Knödlseder J., Lemoine-Goumard M., Lott B., Nuss E., Parent D., Pelassa V., Piron F., Reposeur T., Sanchez D., D. Scargle J., Sgrò C., A. Smith D., Starck J.-L., Tibaldo L.
(Article) Published:
Science, vol. 328 p.725-729 (2010)
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Ref HAL: in2p3-00484510_v1
DOI: 10.1126/science.1184656
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166 citations
Abstract:
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the {gamma}-ray glow emanating from the giant radio lobes of the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The resolved {gamma}-ray image shows the lobes clearly separated from the central active source. In contrast to all other active galaxies detected so far in high-energy {gamma}-rays, the lobe flux constitutes a considerable portion (greater than one-half) of the total source emission. The {gamma}-ray emission from the lobes is interpreted as inverse Compton–scattered relic radiation from the cosmic microwave background, with additional contribution at higher energies from the infrared-to-optical extragalactic background light. These measurements provide {gamma}-ray constraints on the magnetic field and particle energy content in radio galaxy lobes, as well as a promising method to probe the cosmic relic photon fields.