Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1999-04-05
Astrophys.J.518:L13-L15,1999
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
7 pages, 1 figure, accepted in ApJ Letters 1999 April 2
Scientific paper
10.1086/312062
The recent HEGRA observations of the blazar Mkn 501 show strong curvature in the very high energy gamma-ray spectrum. Applying the gamma-ray opacity derived from an empirically based model of the intergalactic infrared background radiation field (IIRF), to these observations, we find that the intrinsic spectrum of this source is consistent with a power-law: dN/dE~ E^-alpha with alpha=2.00 +/- 0.03 over the range 500 GeV - 20 TeV. Within current synchrotron self-Compton scenarios, the fact that the TeV spectral energy distribution of Mkn 501 does not vary with luminosity, combined with the correlated, spectrally variable emission in X-rays, as observed by the BeppoSAX and RXTE instruments, also independently implies that the intrinsic spectrum must be close to alpha=2. Thus, the observed curvature in the spectrum is most easily understood as resulting from intergalactic absorption.
Kirk John G.
Konopelko Alexander K.
Mastichiadis Apostolos
Stecker Floyd W.
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