scholarly journals Effect of axion-like particles on the spectrum of the extragalactic gamma-ray background

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (11) ◽  
pp. 030
Author(s):  
Yun-Feng Liang ◽  
Xing-Fu Zhang ◽  
Ji-Gui Cheng ◽  
Hou-Dun Zeng ◽  
Yi-Zhong Fan ◽  
...  

Abstract Axion-like particles (ALPs) provide a feasible explanation for the observed lower TeV opacity of the Universe. If the anomaly TeV transparency is caused by ALPs, then the fluxes of distant extragalactic sources will be enhanced at photon energies beyond TeV, resulting in an enhancement of the observed extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB) spectrum. In this work, we have investigated the ALP modulation on the EGB spectrum at TeV energies. Our results show that in the most optimistic case, the existence of ALPs can cause the EGB spectrum to greatly deviate from the prediction of a pure extragalactic-background-light (EBL) absorption scenario. The deviation occurs at approximately ≳1 TeV, and the current EGB measurements by Fermi-LAT cannot identify such an effect. We also find that most of the sensitive ALP parameters have been ruled out by existing constraints, leaving only a small region of unrestricted parameters that can be probed using the EGB effect investigated in this work. Observations from forthcoming very-high-energy instruments like LHAASO and CTA may be beneficial for the study of this effect.

2012 ◽  
Vol 08 ◽  
pp. 178-183
Author(s):  
◽  
ULISSES BARRES DE ALMEIDA

The Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) experiment is an array of two 17-meter telescopes located in the Canary Island of La Palma that observes the very-high energy (VHE) gamma-ray sky in stereoscopic mode since 2009. MAGIC is distinguished by its low-energy threshold of approximately 50 GeV, which grants the system a unique potential in the study of distant extragalactic sources whose gamma-ray emission is significantly attenuated due to absorption by the extragalactic background light (EBL). The observation of non-thermal gamma rays in the GeV-TeV range from extragalactic sources is a characteristic signature of their relativistic nature and therefore fundamentally important for our understanding of the physics of these objects. Since the beginning of its stereo operation, MAGIC has observed a large number of active galactic nuclei (AGN) of different classes, including several blazars and distant quasars. In this paper we will review some of the most important results of these observations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Costamante

AbstractVery high energy (VHE ≳0.1 TeV) gamma-rays from extragalactic sources, interacting by γ-γ collisions with diffuse intergalactic radiation fields, provide an alternative way to constrain the diffuse background light, completely independent of direct measurements. The limits depend however on our knowledge of the physics of the gamma-ray sources. After clarifying the interplay between background light and VHE spectra, I summarize the extent and validity of the obtainable limits, and where future improvements can be expected.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S324) ◽  
pp. 70-73
Author(s):  
Alessio Berti ◽  

AbstractGamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the most violent explosions in the Universe, releasing a huge amount of energy in few seconds. While our understanding of the prompt and the afterglow phases has increased with Swift and Fermi, we have very few information about their High Energy (HE, E ≲ 100) emission components. This requires a ground-based experiment able to perform fast follow-up with enough sensitivity above ~ 50 GeV. The MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes have been designed to perform fast follow-up on GRBs thanks to fast slewing movement and low energy threshold (~ 50 GeV). Since the beginning of the operations, MAGIC followed-up 89 GRBs in good observational conditions. In this contribution the MAGIC GRBs follow-up campaign and the results which could be obtained by detecting HE and Very High Energy (VHE, E ≳ 100 GeV) γ-rays from GRBs will be reviewed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (2) ◽  
pp. 2188-2195
Author(s):  
Andrey Saveliev ◽  
Rafael Alves Batista

ABSTRACT The recent observation of high-energy neutrinos from the 2017 flare of the blazar TXS 0506+056, together with counterparts across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, opens up new possibilities for investigating the properties of this class of objects as well as the traversed medium. Propagation effects such as the attenuation of the very-high-energy gamma-ray component by the extragalactic background light are well known, and usually taken into account when fitting spectral energy distributions of objects. Other effects such as those of intergalactic magnetic fields are, however, often neglected. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of the influence of these fields and the extragalactic background light on the determination of the intrinsic gamma-ray spectrum of this blazar.


1995 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kifune

Very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays, with energies .<: 1 TeV = 1012 eV, are observed with ground-based telescopes using the atmospheric Cerenkov technique. This field of astronomy has recently experienced its coming of age, opening a new observational window on the universe after efforts spanning almost 30 years. Recent advances in this field have been aided by the results from satellite detectors with high-energy (HE) gamma ray 'eyes'. Satellite detectors are sensitive to HE gamma rays, up to energies of about 10 GeV = 1010 eV. In this paper, VHE gamma ray astronomy is reviewed, and the 3�8 m diameter telescope of the Japanese-Australian CANGAROO project is used to illustrate the detection techniques. As VHE gamma ray astronomy is closely related to observations in the HE region, results from recent satellite experiments are also discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 1330025 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIGI COSTAMANTE

Recent observations of blazars at high energy (0.1–100 GeV) and very high energy (> 0.1 TeV) have provided important constraints on the intensity and spectrum of the diffuse extragalactic background light (EBL), shedding light on its main origin. Several issues remain open, however, in particular in the mid- and far-infrared bands and in the blazar emission at multi-TeV energies. This review summarizes the observational and theoretical progress in the study of the EBL with gamma-rays and the most promising future improvements, which are mainly expected from spectra in the multi-TeV range.


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