Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron

F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; G. Anton; U. Barres de Almeida; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; Y. Becherini; B. Behera; K. Bernlöhr; A. Bochow; C. Boisson; J. Bolmont; V. Borrel; J. Brucker; F. Brun; P. Brun; R. Bühler; T. Bulik; I. Büsching; T. Boutelier; P. M. Chadwick; A. Charbonnier; R. C. G. Chaves; A. Cheesebrough; L.-M. Chounet; A. C. Clapson; G. Coignet; 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; J. Dyks; M. Dyrda; K. Egberts; D. Emmanoulopoulos; P. Espigat; C. Farnier; F. Feinstein; A. Fiasson; A. Förster; G. Fontaine; M. Füssling; S. Gabici; Y.A. Gallant; L. Gérard; D. Gerbig; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; P. Goret; D. Göring; D. Hauser; M. Hauser; S. Heinz; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; A. Hoffmann; W. Hofmann; M. Holleran; S. Hoppe; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. de Jager; C. Jahn; I. Jung; K. Katarzyński; U. Katz; S. Kaufmann; M. Kerschhaggl; D. Khangulyan; B. Khélifi; D. Keogh; D. Klochkov; W. Kluźniak; T. Kneiske; Nu. Komin; K. Kosack; R. Kossakowski; G. Lamanna; J.-P. Lenain; T. Lohse; V. Marandon; O. Martineau-Huynh; A. Marcowith; Julien Masbou; D. Maurin; T. J. L. Mccomb; M. C. Medina; R. Moderski; Emmanuel Moulin; M. Naumann-Godo; M. de Naurois; D. Nedbal; D. Nekrassov; B. Nicholas; J. Niemiec; S. J. Nolan; S. Ohm; J.-F. Olive; E. de Oña Wilhelmi; K. J. Orford; M. Ostrowski; M. Panter; M. Paz Arribas; G. Pedaletti; G. Pelletier; P.-O. Petrucci; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; A. Quirrenbach; B. C. Raubenheimer; M. Raue; S. M. Rayner; M. Renaud; F. Rieger; J. Ripken; L. Rob; S. Rosier-Lees; G. Rowell; B. Rudak; C. B. Rulten; J. Ruppel; V. Sahakian; A. Santangelo; R. Schlickeiser; F. M. Schöck; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; A. Shalchi; M. Sikora; J. L. Skilton; H. Sol; D. Spangler; Ł. Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; F. Stinzing; G. Superina; A. Szostek; P. H. Tam; J.-P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; O. Tibolla; M. Tluczykont; C. van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; L. Venter; J.P. Vialle; P. Vincent; M. Vivier; H. J. Völk; F. Volpe; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward; A. A. Zdziarski; A. Zech

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200912339

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Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron

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Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron

F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, G. Anton, U. Barres de Almeida, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, Y. Becherini, B. Behera, K. Bernlöhr, A. Bochow, C. Boisson, …

Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, Vol.507, pp.389-396

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200912339

Abstract

Aims. This article presents very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the $\gamma$-ray binary PSR B1259-63 as taken during the years 2005, 2006 and before as well as shortly after the 2007 periastron passage. These data extend the knowledge of the lightcurve of this object to all phases of the 3.4 year binary orbit. The lightcurve constrains physical mechanisms present in this TeV source. Methods. Observations of VHE $\gamma$-rays with the HESS telescope array using the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique were performed. The HESS instrument features an angular resolution of < 0.1° and an energy resolution of < 20%. Gamma-ray events in an energy range of 0.5-70 TeV were recorded. From these data, energy spectra and lightcurve with a monthly time sampling were extracted. Results. VHE $\gamma$-ray emission from PSR B1259-63 was detected with an overall significance of 9.5 standard deviations using 55h of exposure, obtained from April to August 2007. The monthly flux of $\gamma$-rays during the observation period was measured, yielding VHE lightcurve data for the early pre-periastron phase of the system for the first time. No spectral variability was found on timescales of months. The spectrum is described by a power law with a photon index of $\Gamma$ = 2.8 $\pm$ 0.2stat $\pm$ 0.2sys and flux normalisation $\Phi_{0}$ = (1.1 $\pm$ 0.1stat $\pm$ 0.2sys) $\times$ 10-12 TeV-1 cm-2 s-1. PSR B1259-63 was also monitored in 2005 and 2006, far from periastron passage, comprising 8.9 h and 7.5 h of exposure, respectively. No significant excess of $\gamma$-rays is seen in those observations. Conclusions. PSR B1259-63 has been re-confirmed as a variable TeV $\gamma$-ray emitter. The firm detection of VHE photons emitted at a true anomaly $\theta$$\approx$-0.35 of the pulsar orbit, i.e. already ~50 days prior to the periastron passage, disfavors the stellar disc target scenario as a primary emission mechanism, based on current knowledge about the companion star's disc inclination, extension, and density profile. Results. VHE $\gamma$-ray emission from PSR B1259-63 was detected with an overall significance of 9.5 standard deviations using 55h of exposure, obtained from April to August 2007. The monthly flux of $\gamma$-rays during the observation period was measured, yielding VHE lightcurve data for the early pre-periastron phase of the system for the first time. No spectral variability was found on timescales of months. The spectrum is described by a power law with a photon index of $\Gamma$ = 2.8 $\pm$ 0.2stat $\pm$ 0.2sys and flux normalisation $\Phi_{0}$ = (1.1 $\pm$ 0.1stat $\pm$ 0.2sys) $\times$ 10-12 TeV-1 cm-2 s-1. PSR B1259-63 was also monitored in 2005 and 2006, far from periastron passage, comprising 8.9 h and 7.5 h of exposure, respectively. No significant excess of $\gamma$-rays is seen in those observations. Conclusions. PSR B1259-63 has been re-confirmed as a variable TeV $\gamma$-ray emitter. The firm detection of VHE photons emitted at a true anomaly $\theta$$\approx$-0.35 of the pulsar orbit, i.e. already ~50 days prior to the periastron passage, disfavors the stellar disc target scenario as a primary emission mechanism, based on current knowledge about the companion star's disc inclination, extension, and density profile.

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Title: Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron
Creators - without role: F. Aharonian - Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies
A. G. Akhperjanian
G. Anton - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
U. Barres de Almeida
A. R. Bazer-Bachi - Centre d'étude spatiale des rayonnements
Y. Becherini - Université Paris Cité
B. Behera - Heidelberg University
K. Bernlöhr - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Bochow - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
C. Boisson - Délégation Paris 7
J. Bolmont - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
V. Borrel - Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier
J. Brucker - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
F. Brun - Sorbonne Université
P. Brun - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
R. Bühler - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
T. Bulik - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
I. Büsching - North-West University
T. Boutelier - Université Joseph Fourier
P. M. Chadwick
A. Charbonnier - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
R. C. G. Chaves
A. Cheesebrough - Durham University
L.-M. Chounet - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
A. C. Clapson
G. Coignet - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
M. Dalton - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
M. K. Daniel
I. D. Davids
B. Degrange - École Polytechnique
C. Deil - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
H. J. Dickinson
A. Djannati-Ataï - APC - Astrophysique des Hautes Energies
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
J. Dyks - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
M. Dyrda - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
K. Egberts - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
D. Emmanoulopoulos - Heidelberg University
P. Espigat - Université Paris Cité
C. Farnier - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique
F. Feinstein - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
A. Fiasson - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
A. Förster - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
G. Fontaine - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
M. Füssling
S. Gabici - Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies
Y.A. Gallant - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique
L. Gérard - Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie
D. Gerbig - Ruhr University Bochum
B. Giebels - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
J. F. Glicenstein - Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
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
D. Hauser - Heidelberg University
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
A. Hoffmann - University of Tübingen
W. Hofmann - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Holleran - North-West University
S. Hoppe - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
D. Horns - Universität Hamburg
A. Jacholkowska - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
O. C. de Jager
C. Jahn - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
I. Jung - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
K. Katarzyński - Nicolaus Copernicus University
U. Katz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
S. Kaufmann - Heidelberg University
M. Kerschhaggl - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
D. Khangulyan - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
B. Khélifi - École Polytechnique
D. Keogh - Durham University
D. Klochkov - University of Tübingen
W. Kluźniak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
T. Kneiske - Universität Hamburg
Nu. Komin - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
K. Kosack - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
R. Kossakowski - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Lamanna - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
J.-P. Lenain - Délégation Paris 7
T. Lohse - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
V. Marandon - Université Paris Cité
O. Martineau-Huynh - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
A. Marcowith - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique
Julien Masbou - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
D. Maurin - Sorbonne Université
T. J. L. Mccomb
M. C. Medina - Laboratoire Univers et Théories
R. Moderski - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
Emmanuel Moulin - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
M. Naumann-Godo - École Polytechnique
M. de Naurois - Sorbonne Université
D. Nedbal - Charles University
D. Nekrassov - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
B. Nicholas - University of Adelaide
J. Niemiec - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
S. J. Nolan
S. Ohm - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J.-F. Olive - Centre d'étude spatiale des rayonnements
E. de Oña Wilhelmi - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
K. J. Orford
M. Ostrowski - Jagiellonian University
M. Panter - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Paz Arribas
G. Pedaletti - Heidelberg University
G. Pelletier - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
P.-O. Petrucci - Université Joseph Fourier
S. Pita - Université Paris Cité
G. Pühlhofer - Heidelberg University
M. Punch - Université Paris Cité
A. Quirrenbach - Heidelberg University
B. C. Raubenheimer
M. Raue - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
S. M. Rayner
M. Renaud - Université Paris Cité
F. Rieger - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J. Ripken - Universität Hamburg
L. Rob - Charles University
S. Rosier-Lees - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
G. Rowell - University of Adelaide
B. Rudak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
C. B. Rulten
J. Ruppel - Ruhr University Bochum
V. Sahakian - A. Alikhanyan National Laboratory
A. Santangelo - University of Tübingen
R. Schlickeiser - Ruhr University Bochum
F. M. Schöck
U. Schwanke - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
S. Schwarzburg - University of Tübingen
S. Schwemmer - Heidelberg University
A. Shalchi - Ruhr University Bochum
M. Sikora - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
J. L. Skilton
H. Sol - Délégation Paris 7
D. Spangler - Durham University
Ł. Stawarz - Jagiellonian University
R. Steenkamp - University of Namibia
C. Stegmann - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
F. Stinzing - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
G. Superina - École Polytechnique
A. Szostek - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
P. H. Tam
J.-P. Tavernet - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
R. Terrier - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
O. Tibolla - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Tluczykont - Universität Hamburg
C. van Eldik - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
G. Vasileiadis - Université de Montpellier
C. Venter - North-West University
L. Venter - Université Paris Cité
J.P. Vialle - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
P. Vincent - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
M. Vivier - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
H. J. Völk
F. Volpe - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
S. J. Wagner
M. Ward - Durham University
A. A. Zdziarski
A. Zech - Délégation Paris 7
Publication Details: Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, Vol.507, pp.389-396
Identifiers: 9939337409311
Academic Unit: Université de Montpellier
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
Local Fields: in2p3-00438793