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HESS observations of the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around the 2010/2011 periastron passage (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Aharonian, Felix ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; deWilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Drury, L. O'C. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Fallon, L. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Gast, H. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Glueck, B. ; Goering, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hague, J. D. ; Hahn, J. ; Hampf, D. ; Harris, J. ; Heinz, S. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, Markus ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu ; Kosack, K. ; Kossakowski, R. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Masbou, J. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Medina, M. C. ; Mehault, J. ; Menzler, U. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Naumann, C. L. ; Naumann-Godo, M. ; de Naurois, M. ; Nedbal, D. ; Nguyen, N. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Ripken, J. ; Rob, L. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sheidaei, F. ; Skilton, J. L. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorobiov, S. ; Vorster, M. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Ward, M. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Wouters, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

Aims. We present very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the gamma-ray binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 taken around its periastron passage on 15th of December 2010 with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H. E. S. S.) of Cherenkov Telescopes. We aim to search for a possible TeV counterpart of the GeV flare detected by the Fermi LAT. In addition, we aim to study the current periastron passage in the context of previous observations taken at similar orbital phases, testing the repetitive behaviour of the source. Methods. Observations at VHEs were conducted with H.E.S.S. from 9th to 16th of January 2011. The total dataset amounts to similar to 6 h of observing time. The data taken around the 2004 periastron passage were also re-analysed with the current analysis techniques in order to extend the energy spectrum above 3 TeV to fully compare observation results from 2004 and 2011. Results. The source is detected in the 2011 data at a significance level of 11.5 sigma revealing an averaged integral flux above 1 TeV of (1.01 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.20(sys)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). The differential energy spectrum follows a power-law shape with a spectral index Gamma = 2.92 +/- 0.30(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of N-0 = (1.95 +/- 0.32(stat) +/- 0.39(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). The measured light curve does not show any evidence for variability of the source on the daily scale. The re-analysis of the 2004 data yields results compatible with the published ones. The differential energy spectrum measured up to similar to 10 TeV is consistent with a power law with a spectral index Gamma = 2.81 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.20(sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of N-0 = (1.29 +/- 0.08(stat) +/- 0.26(sys)) x 10(-12) TeV-1 cm(-2) s(-1). Conclusions. The measured integral flux and the spectral shape of the 2011 data are compatible with the results obtained around previous periastron passages. The absence of variability in the H.E.S.S. data indicates that the GeV flare observed by Fermi LAT in the time period covered also by H.E.S.S. observations originates in a different physical scenario than the TeV emission. Moreover, the comparison of the new results to the results from the 2004 observations made at a similar orbital phase provides a stronger evidence of the repetitive behaviour of the source.

Search for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from Galactic globular clusters with HESS (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Aharonian, Felix ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Bochow, A. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; deWilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Drury, L. O&rsquo ; C., ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Fallon, L. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Gast, H. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Glueck, B. ; Goering, D. ; Grondin, M-H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hague, J. D. ; Hahn, J. ; Hampf, D. ; Harris, J. ; Heinz, S. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Kossakowski, R. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J-P ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C-C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Masbou, J. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Medina, M. C. ; Mehault, J. ; Menzler, U. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Naumann, C. L. ; Naumann-Godo, M. ; de Naurois, M. ; Nedbal, D. ; Nguyen, N. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Ohm, S. ; de Ona Wilhelmi, E. ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P-O ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Ripken, J. ; Rob, L. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sheidaei, F. ; Skilton, J. L. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J-P ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorobiov, S. ; Vorster, M. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Ward, M. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H-S

Context. Globular clusters (GCs) are established emitters of high-energy (HE, 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray radiation which could originate from the cumulative emission of the numerous millisecond pulsars (msPSRs) in the clusters’ cores or from inverse Compton (IC) scattering of relativistic leptons accelerated in the GC environment. These stellar clusters could also constitute a new class of sources in the very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray regime, judging from the recent detection of a signal from the direction of Terzan 5 with the H.E.S.S. telescope array. Aims. To search for VHE gamma-ray sources associated with other GCs, and to put constraints on leptonic emission models, we systematically analyzed the observations towards 15 GCs taken with the H. E. S. S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Methods. We searched for point-like and extended VHE gamma-ray emission from each GC in our sample and also performed a stacking analysis combining the data from all GCs to investigate the hypothesis of a population of faint emitters. Assuming IC emission as the origin of the VHE gamma-ray signal from the direction of Terzan 5, we calculated the expected gamma-ray flux from each of the 15 GCs, based on their number of millisecond pulsars, their optical brightness and the energy density of background photon fields. Results. We did not detect significant VHE gamma-ray emission from any of the 15 GCs in either of the two analyses. Given the uncertainties related to the parameter determinations, the obtained flux upper limits allow to rule out the simple IC/msPSR scaling model for NGC6388 and NGC7078. The upper limits derived from the stacking analyses are factors between 2 and 50 below the flux predicted by the simple leptonic scaling model, depending on the assumed source extent and the dominant target photon fields. Therefore, Terzan 5 still remains exceptional among all GCs, as the VHE gamma-ray emission either arises from extra-ordinarily efficient leptonic processes, or from a recent catastrophic event, or is even unrelated to the GC itself.

Search for Photon-Linelike Signatures from Dark Matter Annihilations with H.E.S.S. (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Aharonian, Felix ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Bochow, A. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; deWilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Drury, L. O'C. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Fallon, L. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fussling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Gast, H. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Glueck, B. ; Goering, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hague, J. D. ; Hahn, J. ; Hampf, D. ; Harris, J. ; Heinz, S. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Komin, Nu ; Kosack, K. ; Kossakowski, R. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Masbou, J. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Medina, M. C. ; Mehault, J. ; Menzler, U. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Naumann, C. L. ; Naumann-Godo, M. ; de Naurois, M. ; Nedbal, D. ; Nekrassov, D. ; Nguyen, N. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Ohm, S. ; Awilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Ripken, J. ; Rob, L. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sheidaei, F. ; Skilton, J. L. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorobiov, S. ; Vorster, M. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Ward, M. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

Gamma-ray line signatures can be expected in the very-high-energy (E-gamma > 100 GeV) domain due to self-annihilation or decay of dark matter (DM) particles in space. Such a signal would be readily distinguishable from astrophysical gamma-ray sources that in most cases produce continuous spectra that span over several orders of magnitude in energy. Using data collected with the H. E. S. S. gamma-ray instrument, upper limits on linelike emission are obtained in the energy range between similar to 500 GeV and similar to 25 TeV for the central part of the Milky Way halo and for extragalactic observations, complementing recent limits obtained with the Fermi-LAT instrument at lower energies. No statistically significant signal could be found. For monochromatic gamma-ray line emission, flux limits of (2 x 10(-7)-2 x 10(-5)) m(-2)s(-1)sr(-1) and (1 x 10(-8)- 2 x 10(-6)) m(-2)s(-1)sr(-1) are obtained for the central part of the Milky Way halo and extragalactic observations, respectively. For a DM particle mass of 1 TeV, limits on the velocity- averaged DM annihilation cross section <sigma upsilon >(chi chi ->gamma gamma) reach similar to 10(-27)cm(3)s(-1), based on the Einasto parametrization of the Galactic DM halo density profile. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.041301

Long-term monitoring of PKS2155-304 with ATOM and HESS:investigation of optical/gamma-ray correlations in different spectral states (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Angüner, E. O. ; Backes, M. ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Berge, D. ; Bernhard, S. ; Bernlohr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Bottcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Bregeon, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bryan, M. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chakraborty, N. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; dewilt, P. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Donath, A. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, Kathrin ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Forster, A. ; Fuling, M. ; Gabici, S. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Gottschall, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Hadsch, D. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, Markus ; Horns, D. ; Ivascenko, A. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kiefeer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Kruger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lefranc, V. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Mitchell, A. M. W. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Mora, K. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Odaka, H. ; Ohm, S. ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puhlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Reichardt, I. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Salek, D. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schussler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spanier, F. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, Christian ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; Van Eldik, C. ; Van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Veh, J. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Vink, J. ; Volk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Wagner, R. M. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Wornlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Yang, R. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zaborov, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

In this paper we report on the analysis of all the available optical and very high-energy gamma-ray (> 200 GeV) data for the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304, collected simultaneously with the ATOM and H.E.S.S. telescopes from 2007 until 2009. This study also includes X-ray (RXTE, Swift) and high-energy gamma-ray (Fermi-LAT) data. During the period analysed, the source was transitioning from its flaring to quiescent optical states, and was characterized by only moderate flux changes at different wavelengths on the timescales of days and months. A flattening of the optical continuum with an increasing optical flux can be noted in the collected dataset, but only occasionally and only at higher flux levels. We did not find any universal relation between the very high-energy gamma-ray and optical flux changes on the timescales from days and weeks up to several years. On the other hand, we noted that at higher flux levels the source can follow two distinct tracks in the optical flux-colour diagrams, which seem to be related to distinct gamma-ray states of the blazar. The obtained results therefore indicate a complex scaling between the optical and gamma-ray emission of PKS 2155 304, with different correlation patterns holding at different epochs, and a gamma-ray flux depending on the combination of an optical flux and colour rather than a flux alone.

HESS J1640-465-an exceptionally luminous TeV gamma-ray supernova remnant (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Bissaldi, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, Sabrina ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, Michael K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; deWilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, Marek ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, Krzysztof ; Katz, Uli ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, Michael ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, Olaf ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, Christopher ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Vink, J. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

The results of follow-up observations of the TeV gamma-ray source HESS J1640-465 from 2004 to 2011 with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) are reported in this work. The spectrum is well described by an exponential cut-off power law with photon index Gamma = 2.11 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.10(sys), and a cut-off energy of E-2 = 6.0(-1.2)(+2.0) TeV. The TeV emission is significantly extended and overlaps with the northwestern part of the shell of the SNR G338.3-0.0. The new HESS results, a re-analysis of archival XMM-Newton data and multiwavelength observations suggest that a significant part of the gamma-ray emission from HESS J1640-465 originates in the supernova remnant shell. In a hadronic scenario, as suggested by the smooth connection of the GeV and TeV spectra, the product of total proton energy and mean target density could be as high as W(p)n(H) similar to 4 x 10(52)(d/10kpc)(2) erg cm(-3).

Flux upper limits for 47 AGN observed with HESS in 2004-2011 (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, Arnim ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Bissaldi, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; dewilt, P. ; Dicldnson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; Reyes, R. de Los ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, Christian ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

Context. About 40% of the observation time of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is dedicated to studying active galactic nuclei (AGN), with the aim of increasing the sample of known extragalactic very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) sources and constraining the physical processes at play in potential emitters. Aims. H.E.S.S. observations of AGN, spanning a period from April 2004 to December 2011, are investigated to constrain their gamma-ray fluxes. Only the 47 sources without significant excess detected at the position of the targets are presented. Methods. Upper limits on VHE fluxes of the targets were computed and a search for variability was performed on the nightly time scale. Results. For 41 objects, the flux upper limits we derived are the most constraining reported to date. These constraints at VHE are compared with the flux level expected from extrapolations of Fermi-LAT measurements in the two-year catalog of AGN. The H.E.S.S. upper limits are at least a factor of two lower than the extrapolated Fermi-LAT fluxes for 11 objects Taking into account the attenuation by the extragalactic background light reduces the tension for all but two of them, suggesting intrinsic curvature in the high-energy spectra of these two AGN. Conclusions. Compilation efforts led by current VHE instruments are of critical importance for target-selection strategies before the advent of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).

Discovery of the hard spectrum VHE gamma-ray source Hess J1641-463 (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Uner, E. O. Ang ; Backes, M. ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Berge, D. ; Bernhard, S. ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Bregeon, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bryan, M. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chakraborty, N. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; deWilt, P. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Donath, A. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, Kathrin ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gabici, S. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Gottschall, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Hadasch, D. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, Markus ; Horns, D. ; Ivascenko, A. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung-Richardt, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lau, J. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lefranc, V. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Mitchell, A. M. W. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Mora, K. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Odaka, H. ; Ohm, S. ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Reichardt, I. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; Reyes, R. de Los ; Rieger, F. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Salek, D. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spanier, F. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, Christian ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; Van Eldik, C. ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Veh, J. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Vink, J. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Wagner, R. M. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Yang, R. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zaborov, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S. ; Fukui, Y. ; Sano, H. ; Fukuda, T. ; Yoshiike, S.

This Letter reports the discovery of a remarkably hard spectrum source, HESS J1641-463, by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) in the very high energy (VHE) domain. HESS J1641-463 remained unnoticed by the usual analysis techniques due to confusion with the bright nearby source HESS J1640-465. It emerged at a significance level of 8.5 standard deviations after restricting the analysis to events with energies above 4 TeV. It shows a moderate flux level of phi(E > 1TeV) = (3.64 +/- 0.44(stat)+/- 0.73(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1), corresponding to 1.8% of the Crab Nebula flux above the same energy, and a hard spectrum with a photon index of Gamma = 2.07 +/- 0.11(stat)+/- 0.20(sys). It is a point-like source, although an extension up to a Gaussian width of sigma = 3 arcmin cannot be discounted due to uncertainties in the H.E.S.S. point-spread function. The VHE gamma-ray flux of HESS J1641-463 is found to be constant over the observed period when checking time binnings from the year-by-year to the 28 minute exposure timescales. HESS J1641-463 is positionally coincident with the radio supernova remnant SNR G338.5+0.1. No X-ray candidate stands out as a clear association; however, Chandra and XMM-Newton data reveal some potential weak counterparts. Various VHE gamma-ray production scenarios are discussed. If the emission from HESS J1641-463 is produced by cosmic ray protons colliding with the ambient gas, then their spectrum must extend close to 1 PeV. This object may represent a source population contributing significantly to the galactic cosmic ray flux around the knee.

Search for extended gamma-ray emission around AGN with HESS and Fermi-LAT (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; Anton, Gisela ; Backes, M. ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Bissaldi, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fussling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Odaka, H. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reichardt, I. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; Reyes, R. de los ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, Christian ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Wagner, R. M. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Yang, R. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S. ; Malyshev, D.

Context. Very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from blazars inevitably gives rise to electron-positron pair production through the interaction of these gamma-rays with the extragalactic background light (EBL). Depending on the magnetic fields in the proximity of the source, the cascade initiated from pair production can result in either an isotropic halo around an initially- beamed source or a magnetically- broadened cascade :aux. Aims. Both extended pair-halo (PH) and magnetically broadened cascade (MBC) emission from regions surrounding the blazars 1ES 1101-232, IRS 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 were searched for using VHE y-ray data taken with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS.) and high-energy (HE; 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray data with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Methods. By comparing the angular distributions of the reconstructed gamma-ray events to the angular profiles calculated from detailed theoretical models, the presence of PH and MBC was investigated. Results. Upper limits on the extended emission around lES 1101-232, lES 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 are found to be at a level of a few per cent of the Crab nebula flux above 1 TeV, depending on the assumed photon index of the cascade emission. Assuming strong extra-Galactic magnetic field (EGME) values, >10(-12) G, this limits the production of pair haloes developing from electromagnetic cascades. For weaker magnetic fields, in which electromagnetic cascades would result in MBCs. EGMF strengths in the range (0.3-3) x 10(-15) G were excluded for PKS 2155-304 at the 99% confidence level, under the assumption of a 1 Mpc coherence length.

HESS J1818-154, a new composite supernova remnant discovered in TeV gamma rays and X-rays (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Bissaldi, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; dewilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, D. ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, K. ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

Composite supernova remnants (SNRs) constitute a small subclass of the remnants of massive stellar explosions where non-thermal radiation is observed from both the expanding shell-like shock front and from a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) located inside of the SNR. These systems represent a unique evolutionary phase of SNRs where observations in the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray regimes allow the study of the co-evolution of both these energetic phenomena. In this article, we report results from observations of the shell-type SNR G15.4+0.1 performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H. E. S. S.) and XMM-Newton. A compact TeV gamma-ray source, HESS J1818-154, located in the center and contained within the shell of G15.4+0.1 is detected by H. E. S. S. and featurs a spectrum best represented by a power-law model with a spectral index of -2.3 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.2(sys) and an integral flux of F(>0.42 TeV) = (0.9 +/- 0.3(stat) +/- 0.2(sys)) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1). Furthermore, a recent observation with XMM-Newton reveals extended X-ray emission strongly peaked in the center of G15.4+0.1. The X-ray source shows indications of an energy-dependent morphology featuring a compact core at energies above 4 keV and more extended emission that fills the entire region within the SNR at lower energies. Together, the X-ray and VHE gamma-ray emission provide strong evidence of a PWN located inside the shell of G15.4+0.1 and this SNR can therefore be classified as a composite based on these observations. The radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray emission from the PWN is compatible with a one-zone leptonic model that requires a low average magnetic field inside the emission region. An unambiguous counterpart to the putative pulsar, which is thought to power the PWN, has been detected neither in radio nor in X-ray observations of G15.4+0.1.

HESS observations of the Crab during its March 2013 GeV gamma-ray flare (2014)

Collaboration, H. E. S. S. ; Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, Arnim ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Bernloehr, K. ; Birsin, E. ; Bissaldi, E. ; Biteau, J. ; Boettcher, M. ; Boisson, C. ; Bolmont, J. ; Bordas, P. ; Brucker, J. ; Brun, F. ; Brun, P. ; Bulik, T. ; Carrigan, S. ; Casanova, S. ; Cerruti, M. ; Chadwick, P. M. ; Chalme-Calvet, R. ; Chaves, R. C. G. ; Cheesebrough, A. ; Chretien, M. ; Colafrancesco, S. ; Cologna, G. ; Conrad, J. ; Couturier, C. ; Cui, Y. ; Dalton, M. ; Daniel, M. K. ; Davids, I. D. ; Degrange, B. ; Deil, C. ; de Wilt, P. ; Dickinson, H. J. ; Djannati-Ataï, A. ; Domainko, W. ; Dubus, G. ; Dutson, K. ; Dyks, J. ; Dyrda, M. ; Edwards, T. ; Egberts, K. ; Eger, P. ; Espigat, P. ; Farnier, C. ; Fegan, S. ; Feinstein, F. ; Fernandes, M. V. ; Fernandez, D. ; Fiasson, A. ; Fontaine, G. ; Foerster, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Giavitto, G. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hahn, J. ; Harris, J. ; Heinzelmann, G. ; Henri, G. ; Hermann, G. ; Hervet, O. ; Hillert, A. ; Hinton, J. A. ; Hofmann, W. ; Hofverberg, P. ; Holler, M. ; Horns, Dieter ; Jacholkowska, A. ; Jahn, C. ; Jamrozy, M. ; Janiak, M. ; Jankowsky, F. ; Jung, I. ; Kastendieck, M. A. ; Katarzynski, K. ; Katz, U. ; Kaufmann, S. ; Khelifi, B. ; Kieffer, M. ; Klepser, S. ; Klochkov, D. ; Kluzniak, W. ; Kneiske, T. ; Kolitzus, D. ; Komin, Nu. ; Kosack, K. ; Krakau, S. ; Krayzel, F. ; Krueger, P. P. ; Laffon, H. ; Lamanna, G. ; Lefaucheur, J. ; Lemiere, A. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Marx, R. ; Maurin, G. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Mehault, J. ; Meintjes, P. J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Niemiec, J. ; Nolan, S. J. ; Oakes, L. ; Ohm, S. ; Wilhelmi, E. de Ona ; Opitz, B. ; Ostrowski, M. ; Oya, I. ; Panter, M. ; Parsons, R. D. ; Arribas, M. Paz ; Pekeur, N. W. ; Pelletier, G. ; Perez, J. ; Petrucci, P. -O. ; Peyaud, B. ; Pita, S. ; Poon, H. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; Romoli, C. ; Rosier-Lees, S. ; Rowell, G. ; Rudak, B. ; Rulten, C. B. ; Sahakian, V. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, F. ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Sol, H. ; Spengler, G. ; Spies, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, C. ; Stinzing, F. ; Stycz, Kornelia ; Sushch, I. ; Szostek, A. ; Tavernet, J. -P. ; Tavernier, T. ; Taylor, A. M. ; Terrier, R. ; Tluczykont, M. ; Trichard, C. ; Valerius, K. ; van Eldik, C. ; van Soelen, B. ; Vasileiadis, G. ; Venter, C. ; Viana, A. ; Vincent, P. ; Voelk, H. J. ; Volpe, F. ; Vorster, M. ; Vuillaume, T. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; Weitzel, Q. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zabalza, V. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

Context. On March 4, 2013 the Fermi-EAT and AGILE reported a flare from the direction of the Crab nebula in which the high-energy (HE; E > 100 MeV) flux was six times above its quiescent level. Simultaneous observations in other energy bands give us hints about the emission processes during the flare episode and the physics of pulsar wind nebulae in general. Aims. We search for variability in the emission of the Crab nebula at very-high energies (VHF,; E > 100 GeV), using contemporaneous data taken with the H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes. Methods. Observational data taken with the H.E.S.S. instrument on five consecutive days during the flare were analysed for the flux and spectral shape of the emission from the Crab nebula. Night-wise light curves are presented with energy thresholds of 1 TeV and 5 TeV. Results. The observations conducted with H.E.S.S. on March 6 to March 10, 2013 show no significant changes in the flux. They limit the variation in the integral flux above 1 TeV to less than 63% and the integral flux above 5 TeV to less than 78% at a 95% confidence level.

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