Evidence for TeV gamma ray emission from Cassiopeia A

Authors
Aharonian, F Akhperjanian, A Barrio, J Bernlohr, K Borst, H Bojahr, H Bolz, O Contreras, J Cortina, J Denninghoff, S Fonseca, V Gonzalez, J Gotting, N Heinzelmann, G Hermann, G Heusler, A Hofmann, W Horns, D Ibarra, A Iserlohe, C Jung, I Kankanyan, R Kestel, M Kettler, J Kohnle, A Konopelko, A Kornmeyer, H Kranich, D Krawczynski, H Lampeitl, H Lopez, M Lorenz, E Lucarelli, F Magnussen, N Mang, O Meyer, H Mirzoyan, R Moralejo, A Ona, E Padilla, L Panter, M Plaga, R Plyasheshnikov, A Prahl, J Puhlhofer, G Rauterberg, G Rohring, A Rhode, W Rowell, GP Sahakian, V Samorski, M Schilling, M Schroder, F Siems, M Stamm, W Tluczykont, M Volk, HJ Wiedner, CA Wittek, W
Citation
F. Aharonian et al., Evidence for TeV gamma ray emission from Cassiopeia A, ASTRON ASTR, 370(1), 2001, pp. 112-120
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ISSN journal
00046361 → ACNP
Volume
370
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
112 - 120
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6361(200104)370:1<112:EFTGRE>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
232 hours of data were accumulated from 1997 to 1999, using the HEGRA Stere oscopic Cherenkov Telescope System to observe the supernova remnant Cassiop eia A. TeV gamma -ray emission was detected at the 5 sigma level, and a flu x of (5.8 +/- 1.2(stat) +/- 1.2(syst)) 10(-9) ph m(-2) s(-1) above 1 TeV wa s derived. The spectral distribution is consistent with a power law with a differential spectral index of -2.5 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.1(syst) between 1 a nd 10 TeV. As this is the first report of the detection of a TeV gamma -ray source on the "centi-Crab" scale, we present the analysis in some detail. Implications for the acceleration of cosmic rays depend on the details of t he source modeling. Sire discuss some important aspects in this paper.