Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess

F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; U. Barres De Almeida; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; B. Behera; M. Beilicke; W. Benbow; K. Bernlöhr; C. Boisson; A. Bochow; V. Borrel; I. Braun; E. Brion; J. Brucker; R. Bühler; T. Bulik; I. Büsching; T. Boutelier; S. Carrigan; P. M. Chadwick; A. Charbonnier; R. C.G. Chaves; L. M. Chounet; A. C. Clapson; G. Coignet; L. Costamante; M. Dalton; B. Degrange; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; W. Domainko; L. O.C. Drury; F. Dubois; G. Dubus; J. Dyks; 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; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; P. Goret; C. Hadjichristidis; D. Hauser; M. Hauser; 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; I. Jung; K. Katarzyński; S. Kaufmann; E. Kendziorra; M. Kerschhaggl; D. Khangulyan; B. Khélifi; D. Keogh; Nu Komin; K. Kosack; G. Lamanna; I. J. Latham; M. Lemoine-Goumard; J. P. Lenain; T. Lohse; V. Marandon; J. M. Martin; O. Martineau-Huynh; A. Marcowith; C. Masterson; D. Maurin; T. J.L. McComb; C. Medina; R. Moderski; E. Moulin; M. Naumann-Godo; M. De Naurois; D. Nedbal; D. Nekrassov; J. Niemiec; S. J. Nolan; S. Ohm; J. F. Olive; E. De Oña Wilhelmi; K. J. Orford; J. L. Osborne; M. Ostrowski; M. Panter; 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; J. Ruppel; V. Sahakian; A. Santangelo; R. Schlickeiser; F. M. Schöck; R. Schröder; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; A. Shalchi; J. L. Skilton; H. Sol; D. Spangler; Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; G. Superina; P. H. Tam; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; O. Tibolla; C. Van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; J. P. Vialle; P. Vincent; J. Vink; M. Vivier; H. J. Völk; F. Volpe; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward; A. A. Zdziarski; A. Zech

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess

F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, U. Barres De Almeida, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, B. Behera, M. Beilicke, W. Benbow, K. Bernlöhr, C. Boisson, A. Bochow, V. Borrel, I. Braun, E. Brion, J. Brucker, R. Bühler, T. Bulik, I. Büsching, T. Boutelier, S. Carrigan, P. M. ChadwickA. Charbonnier, R. C.G. Chaves, L. M. Chounet, A. C. Clapson, G. Coignet, L. Costamante, M. Dalton, B. Degrange, H. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï, W. Domainko, L. O.C. Drury, F. Dubois, G. Dubus, J. Dyks, 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, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, B. Glück, P. Goret, C. Hadjichristidis, D. Hauser, M. Hauser, 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, I. Jung, K. Katarzyński, S. Kaufmann, E. Kendziorra, M. Kerschhaggl, D. Khangulyan, B. Khélifi, D. Keogh, Nu Komin, K. Kosack, G. Lamanna, I. J. Latham, M. Lemoine-Goumard, J. P. Lenain, T. Lohse, V. Marandon, J. M. Martin, O. Martineau-Huynh, A. Marcowith, C. Masterson, D. Maurin, T. J.L. McComb, C. Medina, R. Moderski, E. Moulin, M. Naumann-Godo, M. De Naurois, D. Nedbal, D. Nekrassov, J. Niemiec, S. J. Nolan, S. Ohm, J. F. Olive, E. De Oña Wilhelmi, K. J. Orford, J. L. Osborne, M. Ostrowski, M. Panter, 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, J. Ruppel, V. Sahakian, A. Santangelo, R. Schlickeiser, F. M. Schöck, R. Schröder, U. Schwanke, S. Schwarzburg, S. Schwemmer, A. Shalchi, J. L. Skilton, H. Sol, D. Spangler, Stawarz, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, G. Superina, P. H. Tam, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, O. Tibolla, C. Van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, J. P. Vialle, P. Vincent, J. Vink, M. Vivier, H. J. Völk, F. Volpe, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward, A. A. Zdziarski, A. Zech

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

100 Scopus citations

Abstract

The shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86, possibly associated with the historical supernova SN 185, with its relatively large size (about 40′ in diameter) and the presence of nonthermal X-rays is a promising target for γ-ray observations. The high sensitivity, good angular resolution of a few arcminutes and the large field of view of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) make it ideally suited for the study of γ-ray morphology of such extended sources. HESS observations have indeed led to the discovery of the SNR RCW 86 in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. With 31 hr of observation time, the source is detected with a statistical significance of 8.5σ and is significantly more extended than the HESS point-spread function. Morphological studies have been performed and show that the γ-ray flux does not correlate perfectly with the X-ray emission. The flux from the remnant is ∼10% of the flux from the Crab nebula, with a similar photon index of about 2.5. Possible origins of the VHE γ-ray emission, via either Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or the decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions, are discussed on the basis of spectral features obtained both in the X-ray and γ-ray regimes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1500-1505
Number of pages	6
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	692
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500
State	Published - Feb 20 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

ISM: individual (RCW 86, G315.4-2.3)
gamma rays: observations
supernova remnants

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

Cite this

Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., De Almeida, U. B., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Behera, B., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bochow, A., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brion, E., Brucker, J., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., Carrigan, S., ... Zech, A. (2009). Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess. Astrophysical Journal, 692(2), 1500-1505. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

@article{d9f274e769d44b4d8fc83b9c4b555d65,

title = "Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess",

abstract = "The shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86, possibly associated with the historical supernova SN 185, with its relatively large size (about 40′ in diameter) and the presence of nonthermal X-rays is a promising target for γ-ray observations. The high sensitivity, good angular resolution of a few arcminutes and the large field of view of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) make it ideally suited for the study of γ-ray morphology of such extended sources. HESS observations have indeed led to the discovery of the SNR RCW 86 in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. With 31 hr of observation time, the source is detected with a statistical significance of 8.5σ and is significantly more extended than the HESS point-spread function. Morphological studies have been performed and show that the γ-ray flux does not correlate perfectly with the X-ray emission. The flux from the remnant is ∼10% of the flux from the Crab nebula, with a similar photon index of about 2.5. Possible origins of the VHE γ-ray emission, via either Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or the decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions, are discussed on the basis of spectral features obtained both in the X-ray and γ-ray regimes.",

keywords = "ISM: individual (RCW 86, G315.4-2.3), gamma rays: observations, supernova remnants",

author = "F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, {A. G.} and {De Almeida}, {U. Barres} and Bazer-Bachi, {A. R.} and B. Behera and M. Beilicke and W. Benbow and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and C. Boisson and A. Bochow and V. Borrel and I. Braun and E. Brion and J. Brucker and R. B{\"u}hler and T. Bulik and I. B{\"u}sching and T. Boutelier and S. Carrigan and Chadwick, {P. M.} and A. Charbonnier and Chaves, {R. C.G.} and Chounet, {L. M.} and Clapson, {A. C.} and G. Coignet and L. Costamante and M. Dalton and B. Degrange and Dickinson, {H. J.} and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and W. Domainko and Drury, {L. O.C.} and F. Dubois and G. Dubus and J. Dyks and K. Egberts and D. Emmanoulopoulos and P. Espigat and C. Farnier and F. Feinstein and A. Fiasson and A. F{\"o}rster and G. Fontaine and M. F{\"u}ssling and S. Gabici and Gallant, {Y. A.} and L. G{\'e}rard and B. Giebels and Glicenstein, {J. F.} and B. Gl{\"u}ck and P. Goret and C. Hadjichristidis and D. Hauser and M. Hauser and G. Heinzelmann and G. Henri and G. Hermann and Hinton, {J. A.} and A. Hoffmann and W. Hofmann and M. Holleran and S. Hoppe and D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and {De Jager}, {O. C.} and I. Jung and K. Katarzy{\'n}ski and S. Kaufmann and E. Kendziorra and M. Kerschhaggl and D. Khangulyan and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and D. Keogh and Nu Komin and K. Kosack and G. Lamanna and Latham, {I. J.} and M. Lemoine-Goumard and Lenain, {J. P.} and T. Lohse and V. Marandon and Martin, {J. M.} and O. Martineau-Huynh and A. Marcowith and C. Masterson and D. Maurin and McComb, {T. J.L.} and C. Medina and R. Moderski and E. Moulin and M. Naumann-Godo and {De Naurois}, M. and D. Nedbal and D. Nekrassov and J. Niemiec and Nolan, {S. J.} and S. Ohm and Olive, {J. F.} and {De O{\~n}a Wilhelmi}, E. and Orford, {K. J.} and Osborne, {J. L.} and M. Ostrowski and M. Panter and G. Pedaletti and G. Pelletier and Petrucci, {P. O.} and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and A. Quirrenbach and Raubenheimer, {B. C.} and M. Raue and Rayner, {S. M.} and M. Renaud and F. Rieger and J. Ripken and L. Rob and S. Rosier-Lees and G. Rowell and B. Rudak and J. Ruppel and V. Sahakian and A. Santangelo and R. Schlickeiser and Sch{\"o}ck, {F. M.} and R. Schr{\"o}der and U. Schwanke and S. Schwarzburg and S. Schwemmer and A. Shalchi and Skilton, {J. L.} and H. Sol and D. Spangler and Stawarz and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and G. Superina and Tam, {P. H.} and Tavernet, {J. P.} and R. Terrier and O. Tibolla and {Van Eldik}, C. and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and Vialle, {J. P.} and P. Vincent and J. Vink and M. Vivier and V{\"o}lk, {H. J.} and F. Volpe and Wagner, {S. J.} and M. Ward and Zdziarski, {A. A.} and A. Zech",

year = "2009",

month = feb,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "692",

pages = "1500--1505",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2",

}

Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, De Almeida, UB, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Behera, B, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Bernlöhr, K, Boisson, C, Bochow, A, Borrel, V, Braun, I, Brion, E, Brucker, J, Bühler, R, Bulik, T, Büsching, I, Boutelier, T, Carrigan, S, Chadwick, PM, Charbonnier, A, Chaves, RCG, Chounet, LM, Clapson, AC, Coignet, G, Costamante, L, Dalton, M, Degrange, B, Dickinson, HJ, Djannati-Ataï, A, Domainko, W, Drury, LOC, Dubois, F, Dubus, G, Dyks, J, Egberts, K, Emmanoulopoulos, D, Espigat, P, Farnier, C, Feinstein, F, Fiasson, A, Förster, A, Fontaine, G, Füssling, M, Gabici, S, Gallant, YA, Gérard, L, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Glück, B, Goret, P, Hadjichristidis, C, Hauser, D, Hauser, M, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hoffmann, A, Hofmann, W, Holleran, M, Hoppe, S, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, De Jager, OC, Jung, I, Katarzyński, K, Kaufmann, S, Kendziorra, E, Kerschhaggl, M, Khangulyan, D, Khélifi, B, Keogh, D, Komin, N, Kosack, K, Lamanna, G, Latham, IJ, Lemoine-Goumard, M, Lenain, JP, Lohse, T, Marandon, V, Martin, JM, Martineau-Huynh, O, Marcowith, A, Masterson, C, Maurin, D, McComb, TJL, Medina, C, Moderski, R, Moulin, E, Naumann-Godo, M, De Naurois, M, Nedbal, D, Nekrassov, D, Niemiec, J, Nolan, SJ, Ohm, S, Olive, JF, De Oña Wilhelmi, E, Orford, KJ, Osborne, JL, Ostrowski, M, Panter, M, Pedaletti, G, Pelletier, G, Petrucci, PO, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Quirrenbach, A, Raubenheimer, BC, Raue, M, Rayner, SM, Renaud, M, Rieger, F, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rosier-Lees, S, Rowell, G, Rudak, B, Ruppel, J, Sahakian, V, Santangelo, A, Schlickeiser, R, Schöck, FM, Schröder, R, Schwanke, U, Schwarzburg, S, Schwemmer, S, Shalchi, A, Skilton, JL, Sol, H, Spangler, D, Stawarz, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Superina, G, Tam, PH, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Tibolla, O, Van Eldik, C, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Vialle, JP, Vincent, P, Vink, J, Vivier, M, Völk, HJ, Volpe, F, Wagner, SJ, Ward, M, Zdziarski, AA & Zech, A 2009, 'Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 692, no. 2, pp. 1500-1505. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

TY - JOUR

T1 - Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - De Almeida, U. Barres

AU - Bazer-Bachi, A. R.

AU - Behera, B.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Benbow, W.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bochow, A.

AU - Borrel, V.

AU - Braun, I.

AU - Brion, E.

AU - Brucker, J.

AU - Bühler, R.

AU - Bulik, T.

AU - Büsching, I.

AU - Boutelier, T.

AU - Carrigan, S.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Charbonnier, A.

AU - Chaves, R. C.G.

AU - Chounet, L. M.

AU - Clapson, A. C.

AU - Coignet, G.

AU - Costamante, L.

AU - Dalton, M.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Dickinson, H. J.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Domainko, W.

AU - Drury, L. O.C.

AU - Dubois, F.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Dyks, J.

AU - Egberts, K.

AU - Emmanoulopoulos, D.

AU - Espigat, P.

AU - Farnier, C.

AU - Feinstein, F.

AU - Fiasson, A.

AU - Förster, A.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Füssling, M.

AU - Gabici, S.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Gérard, L.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

AU - Glück, B.

AU - Goret, P.

AU - Hadjichristidis, C.

AU - Hauser, D.

AU - Hauser, M.

AU - Heinzelmann, G.

AU - Henri, G.

AU - Hermann, G.

AU - Hinton, J. A.

AU - Hoffmann, A.

AU - Hofmann, W.

AU - Holleran, M.

AU - Hoppe, S.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - De Jager, O. C.

AU - Jung, I.

AU - Katarzyński, K.

AU - Kaufmann, S.

AU - Kendziorra, E.

AU - Kerschhaggl, M.

AU - Khangulyan, D.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Keogh, D.

AU - Komin, Nu

AU - Kosack, K.

AU - Lamanna, G.

AU - Latham, I. J.

AU - Lemoine-Goumard, M.

AU - Lenain, J. P.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Marandon, V.

AU - Martin, J. M.

AU - Martineau-Huynh, O.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masterson, C.

AU - Maurin, D.

AU - McComb, T. J.L.

AU - Medina, C.

AU - Moderski, R.

AU - Moulin, E.

AU - Naumann-Godo, M.

AU - De Naurois, M.

AU - Nedbal, D.

AU - Nekrassov, D.

AU - Niemiec, J.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Ohm, S.

AU - Olive, J. F.

AU - De Oña Wilhelmi, E.

AU - Orford, K. J.

AU - Osborne, J. L.

AU - Ostrowski, M.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Pedaletti, G.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Quirrenbach, A.

AU - Raubenheimer, B. C.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Rayner, S. M.

AU - Renaud, M.

AU - Rieger, F.

AU - Ripken, J.

AU - Rob, L.

AU - Rosier-Lees, S.

AU - Rowell, G.

AU - Rudak, B.

AU - Ruppel, J.

AU - Sahakian, V.

AU - Santangelo, A.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schöck, F. M.

AU - Schröder, R.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Schwarzburg, S.

AU - Schwemmer, S.

AU - Shalchi, A.

AU - Skilton, J. L.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Spangler, D.

AU - Stawarz,

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Superina, G.

AU - Tam, P. H.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Tibolla, O.

AU - Van Eldik, C.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Vialle, J. P.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Vink, J.

AU - Vivier, M.

AU - Völk, H. J.

AU - Volpe, F.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

AU - Ward, M.

AU - Zdziarski, A. A.

AU - Zech, A.

PY - 2009/2/20

Y1 - 2009/2/20

N2 - The shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86, possibly associated with the historical supernova SN 185, with its relatively large size (about 40′ in diameter) and the presence of nonthermal X-rays is a promising target for γ-ray observations. The high sensitivity, good angular resolution of a few arcminutes and the large field of view of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) make it ideally suited for the study of γ-ray morphology of such extended sources. HESS observations have indeed led to the discovery of the SNR RCW 86 in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. With 31 hr of observation time, the source is detected with a statistical significance of 8.5σ and is significantly more extended than the HESS point-spread function. Morphological studies have been performed and show that the γ-ray flux does not correlate perfectly with the X-ray emission. The flux from the remnant is ∼10% of the flux from the Crab nebula, with a similar photon index of about 2.5. Possible origins of the VHE γ-ray emission, via either Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or the decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions, are discussed on the basis of spectral features obtained both in the X-ray and γ-ray regimes.

AB - The shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86, possibly associated with the historical supernova SN 185, with its relatively large size (about 40′ in diameter) and the presence of nonthermal X-rays is a promising target for γ-ray observations. The high sensitivity, good angular resolution of a few arcminutes and the large field of view of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) make it ideally suited for the study of γ-ray morphology of such extended sources. HESS observations have indeed led to the discovery of the SNR RCW 86 in very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. With 31 hr of observation time, the source is detected with a statistical significance of 8.5σ and is significantly more extended than the HESS point-spread function. Morphological studies have been performed and show that the γ-ray flux does not correlate perfectly with the X-ray emission. The flux from the remnant is ∼10% of the flux from the Crab nebula, with a similar photon index of about 2.5. Possible origins of the VHE γ-ray emission, via either Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or the decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions, are discussed on the basis of spectral features obtained both in the X-ray and γ-ray regimes.

KW - ISM: individual (RCW 86, G315.4-2.3)

KW - gamma rays: observations

KW - supernova remnants

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876764862&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/692/2/1500

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84876764862

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 692

SP - 1500

EP - 1505

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Discovery of gamma-ray emission from the shell-type supernova remnant RCW 86 with Hess

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this