Discovery of extended VHE γ-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361/201117928

Results obtained in very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) \gamma-ray observations performed with the H.E.S.S. telescope array are used to investigate particle acceleration processes in the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd 1). Imaging of Cherenkov light from \gamma-ray induced particle cascades in the Earth's atmosphere is used to search for VHE \gamma\ rays from the region around Wd 1. Possible catalogued counterparts are searched for and discussed in terms of morphology and energetics of the H.E.S.S. source. The detection of the degree-scale extended VHE \gamma-ray source HESS J1646-458 is reported based on 45 hours of H.E.S.S. observations performed between 2004 and 2008. The VHE \gamma-ray source is centred on the nominal position of Wd 1 and detected with a total statistical significance of ~20\sigma. The emission region clearly extends beyond the H.E.S.S. point-spread function (PSF). The differential energy spectrum follows a power law in energy with an index of \Gamma=2.19 \pm 0.08_{stat} \pm 0.20_{sys} and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of \Phi_0 = (9.0 \pm 1.4_{stat} \pm 1.8_{sys}) x 10^{-12} TeV^{-1} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. The integral flux above 0.2 TeV amounts to (5.2 \pm 0.9) x 10^{-11} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. Four objects coincident with HESS J1646-458 are discussed in the search of a counterpart, namely the magnetar CXOU J164710.2-455216, the X-ray binary 4U 1642-45, the pulsar PSR J1648-4611 and the massive stellar cluster Wd 1. In a single-source scenario, Wd 1 is favoured as site of VHE particle acceleration. Here, a hadronic parent population would be accelerated within the stellar cluster. Beside this, there is evidence for a multi-source origin, where a scenario involving PSR J1648-4611 could be viable to explain parts of the VHE \gamma-ray emission of HESS J1646-458.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Discovery of extended VHE γ-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Discovery of extended VHE γ-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Discovery of extended VHE γ-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-40825

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.