Observations of the crab nebula with HESS

被引:686
作者
Aharonian, F.
Akhperjanian, A. G.
Bazer-Bachi, A. R.
Beilicke, M.
Benbow, W.
Berge, D.
Bernloehr, K.
Boisson, C.
Bolz, O.
Borrel, V.
Braun, I.
Breitling, F.
Brown, A. M.
Buehler, R.
Buesching, I.
Carrigan, S.
Chadwick, P. M.
Chounet, L. -M.
Cornils, R.
Costamante, L.
Degrange, B.
Dickinson, H. J.
Djannati-Atai, A.
Drury, L. O'C.
Dubus, G.
Egberts, K.
Emmanoulopoulos, D.
Espigat, P.
Feinstein, F.
Ferrero, E.
Fiasson, A.
Fontaine, G.
Funk, Seb.
Funk, S.
Gallant, Y. A.
Giebels, B.
Glicenstein, J. F.
Goret, P.
Hadjichristidis, C.
Hauser, D.
Hauser, M.
Heinzelmann, G.
Henri, G.
Hermann, G.
Hinton, J. A.
Hofmann, W.
Holleran, M.
Horns, D.
Jacholkowska, A.
de Jager, O. C.
机构
[1] Max Planck Inst Kernphys, D-69029 Heidelberg, Germany
[2] Yerevan Phys Inst, Yerevan 375036, Armenia
[3] UPS, CNRS, Ctr Etud Spatiale Rayonnements, F-31029 Toulouse, France
[4] Univ Hamburg, Inst Expt Phys, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany
[5] Humboldt Univ, Inst Phys, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
[6] Observ Paris, CNRS, UMR 8102, LUTH,Sect Meudon, F-92195 Meudon, France
[7] Univ Durham, Dept Phys, Durham DH1 3LE, England
[8] N W Univ, Unit Space Phys, ZA-2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa
[9] Ecole Polytech, CNRS, IN2P3, Lab Leprince Ringuet, F-91128 Palaiseau, France
[10] APC, F-75231 Paris 05, France
[11] Univ Paris 07, CNRS, UMR 7164, CEA,Observ Paris, F-75221 Paris 05, France
[12] Dublin Inst Adv Studies, Dublin 2, Ireland
[13] Univ Heidelberg, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
[14] Univ Montpellier 2, Lab Phys Theor & Astroparticules, CNRS, IN2P3, F-34095 Montpellier 5, France
[15] CE Saclay, CEA, DSM, DAPNIA, F-91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France
[16] Univ Grenoble 1, CNRS, INSU, Lab Astrophys Grenoble, F-38041 Grenoble 9, France
[17] Univ Tubingen, Inst Astron & Astrophys, D-72076 Tubingen, Germany
[18] Univ Paris 06, Phys Theor & Hautes Energies Lab, CNRS, IN2P3, F-75252 Paris 5, France
[19] Univ Paris 07, F-75252 Paris 5, France
[20] Charles Univ, Inst Nucl & Particle Phys, Prague 18000 8, Czech Republic
[21] Ruhr Univ Bochum, Inst Theoret Phys, Lehrstuhl Weltraum & Astrophys 4, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
[22] Univ Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
关键词
gamma rays : observations; ISM : individual objects : Crab nebula; ISM : supernova remnants;
D O I
10.1051/0004-6361:20065351
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
Context. The Crab nebula was observed with the HESS stereoscopic Cherenkov-telescope array between October 2003 and January 2005 for a total of 22.9 h ( after data quality selection). This period of time partly overlapped with the commissioning phase of the experiment; observations were made with three operational telescopes in late 2003 and with the complete 4 telescope array in January-February 2004 and October 2004-January 2005. Aims. Observations of the Crab nebula are discussed and used as an example to detail the flux and spectral analysis procedures of HESS. The results are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in HESS flux measurements. Methods. The Crab nebula data are analysed using standard HESS analysis procedures, which are described in detail. The flux and spectrum of gamma-rays from the source are calculated on run-by-run and monthly time-scales, and a correction is applied for long-term variations in the detector sensitivity. Comparisons of the measured flux and spectrum over the observation period, along with the results from a number of different analysis procedures are used to estimate systematic uncertainties in the measurements. Results. The data, taken at a range of zenith angles between 45 degrees and 65 degrees, show a clear signal with over 7500 excess events. The energy spectrum is found to follow a power law with an exponential cutoff with photon index Gamma = 2.39 +/- 0.03(stat) and cutoff energy E-c = (14.3 +/- 2.1(stat)) TeV between 440 GeV and 40 TeV. The observed integral flux above 1 TeV is ( 2.26 +/- 0.08(stat)) x 10(-11) cm(-2) s(-1). The estimated systematic error on the flux measurement is estimated to be 20%, while the estimated systematic error on the spectral slope is 0.1.
引用
收藏
页码:899 / 915
页数:17
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