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

A. Abramowski; Fabio Acero; F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; G. Anton; Agnès Balzer; A. Barnacka; U. Barres de Almeida; Y. Becherini; J. Becker; B. Behera; K. Bernlöhr; E. Birsin; J. Biteau; A. Bochow; C. Boisson; J. Bolmont; P. Bordas; J. Brucker; F. Brun; P. Brun; T. Bulik; I. Büsching; S. Carrigan; S. Casanova; M. Cerruti; P. M. Chadwick; A. Charbonnier; R. C. G. Chaves; A. Cheesebrough; L. -M. Chounet; A. C. Clapson; G. Coignet; G. Cologna; J. Conrad; M. Dalton; M. K. Daniel; I. D. Davids; B. Degrange; C. Deil; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; W. Domainko; L. O'C. Drury; F. Dubois; G. Dubus; K. Dutson; J. Dyks; M. Dyrda; K. Egberts; P. Eger; P. Espigat; L. Fallon; C. Farnier; S. Fegan; F. Feinstein; M. V. Fernandes; A. Fiasson; G. Fontaine; A. Förster; M. Füssling; Y. A. Gallant; H. Gast; L. Gérard; D. Gerbig; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; P. Goret; D. Göring; S. Häffner; J. D. Hague; D. Hampf; M. Hauser; S. Heinz; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; A. Hoffmann; W. Hofmann; P. Hofverberg; M. Holler; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. de Jager; C. Jahn; M. Jamrozy; I. Jung; M. A. Kastendieck; K. Katarzynski; U. Katz; S. Kaufmann; D. Keogh; D. Khangulyan; B. Khélifi; D. Klochkov; W. Kluźniak; T. Kneiske; Nu. Komin; K. Kosack; R. Kossakowski; H. Laffon; G. Lamanna; D. Lennarz; T. Lohse; A. Lopatin; C. -C. Lu; V. Marandon; Alexandre Marcowith; Julien Masbou; D. Maurin; N. Maxted; M. Mayer; T. J. L. Mccomb; M. C. Medina; J. Méhault; R. Moderski; Emmanuel Moulin; C. L. Naumann; M. Naumann-Godo; M. de Naurois; D. Nedbal; D. Nekrassov; N. Nguyen; B. Nicholas; J. Niemiec; S. J. Nolan; S. Ohm; E. de Ona Wilhelmi; B. Opitz; M. Ostrowski; I. Oya; M. Panter; M. Paz Arribas; G. Pedaletti; G. Pelletier; P. -O. Petrucci; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; A. Quirrenbach; M. Raue; S. M. Rayner; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; Matthieu Renaud; R. de Los Reyes; F. Rieger; J. Ripken; L. Rob; S. Rosier-Lees; G. Rowell; B. Rudak; C. B. Rulten; J. Ruppel; V. Sahakian; D. Sanchez; A. Santangelo; R. Schlickeiser; F. M. Schöck; A. Schulz; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; F. Sheidaei; M. Sikora; J. L. Skilton; H. Sol; G. Spengler; L. Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; F. Stinzing; K. Stycz; I. Sushch; A. Szostek; J. -P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; M. Tluczykont; K. Valerius; C. van Eldik; George Vasileiadis; C. Venter; J. P. Vialle; A. Viana; P. Vincent; H. J. Völk; F. Volpe; S. Vorobiov; M. Vorster; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward; R. White; A. Wierzcholska; M. Zacharias; A. Zajczyk; A. A. Zdziarski; A. Zech; H. -S. Zechlin

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117928

Back

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

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

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

A. Abramowski, Fabio Acero, F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, G. Anton, Agnès Balzer, A. Barnacka, U. Barres de Almeida, Y. Becherini, J. Becker, …

Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, Vol.537

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117928

Abstract

open clusters and associations: general

gamma rays: stars

astroparticle physics

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.

Files and links (2)

url

Find in HALView

url

https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117928View

Published (Version of record) Open

Metrics

1 Record Views

See more details

Details

Title: Discovery of extended VHE γ-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1
Creators - without role: A. Abramowski - Universität Hamburg
Fabio Acero - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
F. Aharonian - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. G. Akhperjanian - National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
G. Anton - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Agnès Balzer - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
A. Barnacka - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
U. Barres de Almeida - Durham University
Y. Becherini - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
J. Becker - Ruhr University Bochum
B. Behera - Heidelberg University
K. Bernlöhr - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
E. Birsin - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
J. Biteau - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
A. Bochow - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
C. Boisson - Délégation Paris 7
J. Bolmont - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
P. Bordas - University of Tübingen
J. Brucker - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
F. Brun - École Polytechnique
P. Brun - CEA Paris-Saclay
T. Bulik - University of Warsaw
I. Büsching - Ruhr University Bochum
S. Carrigan - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
S. Casanova - Ruhr University Bochum
M. Cerruti - Délégation Paris 7
P. M. Chadwick - Durham University
A. Charbonnier - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
R. C. G. Chaves - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Cheesebrough - Durham University
L. -M. Chounet - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
A. C. Clapson - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
G. Coignet - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Cologna - Heidelberg University
J. Conrad - Stockholm University
M. Dalton - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
M. K. Daniel - Durham University
I. D. Davids - University of Namibia
B. Degrange - École Polytechnique
C. Deil - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
H. J. Dickinson - Stockholm University
A. Djannati-Ataï - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
W. Domainko - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
L. O'C. Drury
F. Dubois - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
G. Dubus - Université Joseph Fourier
K. Dutson - University of Leicester
J. Dyks - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
M. Dyrda - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
K. Egberts - Universität Innsbruck
P. Eger - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
P. Espigat - Université Paris Cité
L. Fallon - Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies
C. Farnier - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
S. Fegan - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
F. Feinstein - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
M. V. Fernandes - Universität Hamburg
A. Fiasson - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Fontaine - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
A. Förster - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Füssling
Y. A. Gallant - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
H. Gast - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
L. Gérard - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
D. Gerbig - Ruhr University Bochum
B. Giebels - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
J. F. Glicenstein - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
B. Glück - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
P. Goret - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
D. Göring - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
S. Häffner - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
J. D. Hague - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
D. Hampf - Universität Hamburg
M. Hauser - Heidelberg University
S. Heinz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
G. Heinzelmann - Universität Hamburg
G. Henri - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
G. Hermann - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J. A. Hinton - University of Leicester
A. Hoffmann - University of Tübingen
W. Hofmann - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
P. Hofverberg - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Holler - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
D. Horns - Universität Hamburg
A. Jacholkowska - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
O. C. de Jager - North-West University
C. Jahn - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M. Jamrozy - Jagiellonian University
I. Jung - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M. A. Kastendieck - Universität Hamburg
K. Katarzynski - Nicolaus Copernicus University
U. Katz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
S. Kaufmann - Heidelberg University
D. Keogh - Durham University
D. Khangulyan - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
B. Khélifi - École Polytechnique
D. Klochkov - University of Tübingen
W. Kluźniak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
T. Kneiske - Universität Hamburg
Nu. Komin - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
K. Kosack - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
R. Kossakowski - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
H. Laffon - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
G. Lamanna - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
D. Lennarz - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
T. Lohse - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
A. Lopatin - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
C. -C. Lu - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
V. Marandon - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
Alexandre Marcowith - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
Julien Masbou - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
D. Maurin - Sorbonne Université
N. Maxted - University of Adelaide
M. Mayer - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
T. J. L. Mccomb - Durham University
M. C. Medina - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
J. Méhault - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
R. Moderski - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
Emmanuel Moulin - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
C. L. Naumann - Sorbonne Université
M. Naumann-Godo - CEA Paris-Saclay
M. de Naurois - École Polytechnique
D. Nedbal - Charles University
D. Nekrassov - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
N. Nguyen - Universität Hamburg
B. Nicholas - University of Adelaide
J. Niemiec - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
S. J. Nolan - Durham University
S. Ohm - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
E. de Ona Wilhelmi
B. Opitz - Universität Hamburg
M. Ostrowski - Jagiellonian University
I. Oya
M. Panter - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Paz Arribas - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
G. Pedaletti - Heidelberg University
G. Pelletier - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
P. -O. Petrucci - Université Joseph Fourier
S. Pita - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
G. Pühlhofer - University of Tübingen
M. Punch - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
A. Quirrenbach - Heidelberg University
M. Raue - Universität Hamburg
S. M. Rayner - Durham University
A. Reimer - Universität Innsbruck
O. Reimer - Universität Innsbruck
Matthieu Renaud - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
R. de Los Reyes
F. Rieger - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J. Ripken - Stockholm University
L. Rob - Charles University
S. Rosier-Lees - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Rowell - University of Adelaide
B. Rudak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
C. B. Rulten - Durham University
J. Ruppel - Ruhr University Bochum
V. Sahakian - A. Alikhanyan National Laboratory
D. Sanchez - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Santangelo - University of Tübingen
R. Schlickeiser - Ruhr University Bochum
F. M. Schöck - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
A. Schulz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
U. Schwanke - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
S. Schwarzburg - University of Tübingen
S. Schwemmer - Heidelberg University
F. Sheidaei - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
M. Sikora - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
J. L. Skilton - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
H. Sol - Université Paris Cité
G. Spengler - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
L. Stawarz
R. Steenkamp - University of Namibia
C. Stegmann - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
F. Stinzing - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
K. Stycz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
I. Sushch - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
A. Szostek - Jagiellonian University
J. -P. Tavernet - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
R. Terrier - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
M. Tluczykont - Universität Hamburg
K. Valerius - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
C. van Eldik - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
George Vasileiadis - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
C. Venter - North-West University
J. P. Vialle - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
A. Viana - CEA Paris-Saclay
P. Vincent - Sorbonne Université
H. J. Völk - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
F. Volpe - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
S. Vorobiov - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
M. Vorster - North-West University
S. J. Wagner - Heidelberg University
M. Ward - Durham University
R. White - University of Leicester
A. Wierzcholska - Jagiellonian University
M. Zacharias - Ruhr University Bochum
A. Zajczyk - Université de Montpellier
A. A. Zdziarski - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
A. Zech - Délégation Paris 7
H. -S. Zechlin - Universität Hamburg
Publication Details: Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, Vol.537
Identifiers: 9938684009311
Academic Unit: Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
Local Fields: in2p3-00640986