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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

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).

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.

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.

Discovery of high and very high-energy emission from the BL Lacertae object SHBL J001355.9-185406 (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Aharonian, Felix ; 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. ; 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. ; 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. ; 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. ; Gast, H. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Goering, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hague, J. D. ; 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. ; 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. ; Lemoine-Goumard, M. ; Lenain, J. -P. ; Lennarz, D. ; Lohse, T. ; Lopatin, A. ; Lu, C. -C. ; Marandon, V. ; Marcowith, A. ; Maxted, N. ; Mayer, M. ; McComb, T. J. L. ; Medina, M. C. ; Mehault, J. ; Menzler, U. ; Meyer, M. ; Moderski, R. ; Mohamed, M. ; Moulin, E. ; Murach, T. ; Naumann, C. L. ; de Naurois, M. ; Nedbal, D. ; 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. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Raue, M. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Renaud, M. ; de los Reyes, R. ; Rieger, F. ; Rob, L. ; 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. ; Spiess, F. ; Stawarz, L. ; Steenkamp, R. ; Stegmann, Christian ; 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. ; Vorster, M. ; Wagner, S. J. ; Wagner, P. ; Ward, M. ; Weidinger, M. ; White, R. ; Wierzcholska, A. ; Willmann, P. ; Woernlein, A. ; Wouters, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S.

The detection of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object (HBL) SHBL J001355.9-185406 (z = 0.095) at high (HE; 100 MeV < E < 300 GeV) and very high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is reported. Dedicated observations were performed with the H. E. S. S. telescopes, leading to a detection at the 5.5 sigma significance level. The measured flux above 310 GeV is (8.3 +/- 1.7(stat) +/- 1.7(sys)) x 10(-13) photons cm(-2) s(-1) (about 0.6% of that of the Crab Nebula), and the power-law spectrum has a photon index of Gamma = 3.4 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). Using 3.5 years of publicly available Fermi-LAT data, a faint counterpart has been detected in the LAT data at the 5.5 sigma significance level, with an integrated flux above 300 MeV of (9.3 +/- 3.4(stat) +/- 0.8(sys)) x 10(-10) photons cm(-2) s(-1) and a photon index of Gamma = 1.96 +/- 0.20(stat) +/- 0.08(sys). X-ray observations with Swift-XRT allow the synchrotron peak energy in vF(v) representation to be located at similar to 1.0 keV. The broadband spectral energy distribution is modelled with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model and the optical data by a black-body emission describing the thermal emission of the host galaxy. The derived parameters are typical of HBLs detected at VHE, with a particle-dominated jet.

HESS discovery of VHE gamma-rays from the quasar PKS 1510-089 (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Aharonian, Felix ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Behera, B. ; 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. ; Foester, A. ; Fuessling, M. ; Gajdus, M. ; Gallant, Y. A. ; Garrigoux, T. ; Gast, H. ; Giebels, B. ; Glicenstein, J. F. ; Glueck, B. ; Goeing, D. ; Grondin, M. -H. ; Grudzinska, M. ; Haeffner, S. ; Hague, J. D. ; Hahn, J. ; Hampf, D. ; Harris, J. ; Hauser, M. ; 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. ; 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. ; 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, Christian ; 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.

The quasar PKS 1510-089 (z = 0.361) was observed with the H.E.S.S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes during high states in the optical and GeV bands, to search for very high energy (VHE, defined as E >= 0.1 TeV) emission. VHE gamma-rays were detected with a statistical significance of 9.2 standard deviations in 15.8 h of H. E. S. S. data taken during March and April 2009. A VHE integral flux of I(0.15 TeV < E < 1.0TeV) = (1.0 +/- 0.2(stat) +/- 0.2(sys)) x 10(-11) cm(-2) s(-1) is measured. The best-fit power law to the VHE data has a photon index of G = 5.4 +/- 0.7(stat) +/- 0.3(sys). The GeV and optical light curves show pronounced variability during the period of H.E.S.S. observations. However, there is insufficient evidence to claim statistically significant variability in the VHE data. Because of its relatively high redshift, the VHE flux from PKS 1510-089 should suffer considerable attenuation in the intergalactic space due to the extragalactic background light (EBL). Hence, the measured gamma-ray spectrum is used to derive upper limits on the opacity due to EBL, which are found to be comparable with the previously derived limits from relatively-nearby BL Lac objects. Unlike typical VHE-detected blazars where the broadband spectrum is dominated by nonthermal radiation at all wavelengths, the quasar PKS 1510-089 has a bright thermal component in the optical to UV frequency band. Among all VHE detected blazars, PKS 1510-089 has the most luminous broad line region. The detection of VHE emission from this quasar indicates a low level of gamma - gamma absorption on the internal optical to UV photon field.

Discovery of TeV gamma-ray emission from PKS 0447-439 and derivation of an upper limit on its redshift (2013)

Abramowski, Attila ; Acero, F. ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anton, Gisela ; Balenderan, S. ; Balzer, A. ; Barnacka, A. ; Becherini, Y. ; Tjus, J. Becker ; Behera, B. ; 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. ; Fussling, 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. ; 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. ; Wouters, D. ; Zacharias, M. ; Zajczyk, A. ; Zdziarski, A. A. ; Zech, A. ; Zechlin, H. -S. ; Pelat, D.

Very high-energy gamma-ray emission from PKS 0447-439 was detected with the H. E. S. S. Cherenkov telescope array in December 2009. This blazar is one of the brightest extragalactic objects in the Fermi bright source list and has a hard spectrum in the MeV to GeV range. In the TeV range, a photon index of 3.89 +/- 0.37 (stat) +/- 0.22 (sys) and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV, phi(1) (TeV) = (3.5 +/- 1.1(stat) +/- 0.9(sys)) x 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1) TeV-1 were found. The detection with H. E. S. S. triggered observations in the X-ray band with the Swift and RXTE telescopes. Simultaneous UV and optical data from Swift UVOT and data from the optical telescopes ATOM and ROTSE are also available. The spectrum and light curve measured with H. E. S. S. are presented and compared to the multi-wavelength data at lower energies. A rapid flare is seen in the Swift XRT and RXTE data, together with a flux variation in the UV band, at a time scale of the order of one day. A firm upper limit of z < 0.59 on the redshift of PKS 0447-439 is derived from the combined Fermi-LAT and H. E. S. S. data, given the assumptions that there is no upturn in the intrinsic spectrum above the Fermi-LAT energy range and that absorption on the extragalactic background light (EBL) is not weaker than the lower limit provided by current models. The spectral energy distribution is well described by a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton scenario, if the redshift of the source is less than z less than or similar to 0.4.

Search for dark matter annihilation signatures in HESS observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies (2014)

Abramowski, Attila ; Aharonian, Felix ; Benkhali, F. Ait ; Akhperjanian, A. G. ; Anguener, E. O. ; 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. ; Goudelis, A. ; 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, M. ; 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. ; 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. ; 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. ; Puehlhofer, G. ; Punch, M. ; Quirrenbach, A. ; Raab, S. ; Reichardt, I. ; 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. ; Salek, D. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Santangelo, A. ; Schlickeiser, R. ; Schuessler, Fabian ; Schulz, A. ; Schwanke, U. ; Schwarzburg, S. ; Schwemmer, S. ; Serpico, P. ; Sol, H. ; Spanier, F. ; Spengler, G. ; Spiess, F. ; 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.

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies of the Local Group are close satellites of the Milky Way characterized by a large mass-to-light ratio and are not expected to be the site of nonthermal high-energy gamma-ray emission or intense star formation. Therefore they are among the most promising candidates for indirect dark matter searches. During the last years the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes observed five of these dwarf galaxies for more than 140 hours in total, searching for TeV gamma-ray emission from annihilation of dark matter particles. The new results of the deep exposure of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy, the first observations of the Coma Berenices and Fornax dwarves and the reanalysis of two more dwarf spheroidal galaxies already published by the H.E.S.S. Collaboration, Carina and Sculptor, are presented. In the absence of a significant signal new constraints on the annihilation cross section applicable to weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are derived by combining the observations of the five dwarf galaxies. The combined exclusion limit depends on the WIMP mass and the best constraint is reached at 1-2 TeV masses with a cross-section upper bound of similar to 3.9 x 10(-24) cm(3) s(-1) at a 95% confidence level.

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