scholarly journals VHE observations of binary systems performed with the MAGIC telescopes

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1844010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia López-Oramas ◽  
Oscar Blanch ◽  
Emma de Oña Wilhelmi ◽  
Alba Fernández-Barral ◽  
Daniela Hadasch ◽  
...  

The improvement on the Imaging Air Cherenkov Technique (IACT) led to the discovery of a new type of sources that can emit at very high energies: the gamma-ray binaries. Only six systems are part of this exclusive class. We summarize the latest results from the observations performed with the MAGIC telescopes on different systems as the gamma-ray binary LS I [Formula: see text]303 and the microquasars SS 433, V404 Cygni and Cygnus X-1, which are considered potential VHE gamma-ray emitters. The binary system LS I [Formula: see text] 303 has been observed by MAGIC in a long-term monitoring campaign. We show the newest results of our search for super-orbital variability also in context of contemporaneous optical observations. Besides, we will present the results of the only super-critical accretor known in our galaxy: SS 433. We will introduce the VHE results achieved with MAGIC after 100[Formula: see text]h of observations on the microquasar Cygnus X-1 and report on the microquasar V404 Cyg, which has been observed with MAGIC after it went through a series of exceptional X-ray outbursts in June 2015.

Galaxies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
María González ◽  
Daniela Dorner ◽  
Thomas Bretz ◽  
José García-González ◽  

For the understanding of the variable, transient and non-thermal universe, unbiased long-term monitoring is crucial. To constrain the emission mechanisms at the highest energies, it is important to characterize the very high energy emission and its correlation with observations at other wavelengths. At very high energies, only a limited number of instruments is available. This article reviews the current status of monitoring of the extra-galactic sky at TeV energies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Shizuma ◽  
Wim Ikbal Nursal ◽  
Yushi Sakurai

Radiocesium monitoring in sediments and river water has been conducted along five rivers in Minami-Soma City during 2012–2016 to clarify the temporal changes of radiocesium contamination in these rivers. Sampling has been performed annually under normal flow conditions. Sediment and river water samples were collected from four or five sampling sites along each river. Gamma-ray measurements of sediments were performed using a low-background Ge detector and unfiltered river water was utilized to determine radiocesium concentration using a well-type Ge detector. The 137Cs concentration in sediments was highest at upstream sites and slowly decreased to downstream sites for all rivers reflecting the high radioactive contamination in the upstream area. Temporal decrease of the 137Cs concentration was observed in sediments and river water for each river. The effective half-lives were 1.3–2.1 y for sediments, and 0.9–2.1 y for river water from rivers with upstream dams. On the undammed river, the effective half-lives were 4.7 y and 3.7 y for sediment and river water, respectively. Much longer effective-half-lives might reflect the direct transfer of radiocesium from forests and plains to the river. The 137Cs concentration in riverbed was low in downstream areas, however, accumulation of 137Cs over the floodplain was observed. Rapid decrease of 137Cs contamination through rivers will put residents at ease, but high accumulation of radiocesium over floodplains should be noted for future river decontamination.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 1460178
Author(s):  
◽  
HEIKE PROKOPH

The majority of blazars detected at very high energies (VHE; E > 100 GeV) are high-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects (HBLs). Low- and intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacs (LBLs/IBLs with synchrotron-peak frequencies in the infrared and optical regime) are generally more powerful, more luminous, and have a richer jet environment than HBLs. However, only a handful of these IBL and LBLs have been detected by ground-based gamma-ray telescopes, typically during high-flux states. The VERITAS array has been monitoring five known VHE LBLs/IBLs since 2009: 3C 66A, W Comae, PKS 1424+240, S5 0716+714 and BL Lacertae, with typical exposures of 5-10 hours per year. The results of these long-term observations are presented, including a bright, subhour-scale VHE flare of BL Lacertae in June 2011, the first low-state detections of 3C 66A and W Comae, and the detection and characterization of the IBL B2 1215+30.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (13) ◽  
pp. 1842003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Nava

The number of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected at high energies ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GeV) has seen a rapid increase over the last decade, thanks to observations from the Fermi-Large Area Telescope. The improved statistics and quality of data resulted in a better characterization of the high-energy emission properties and in stronger constraints on theoretical models. In spite of the many achievements and progresses, several observational properties still represent a challenge for theoretical models, revealing how our understanding is far from being complete. This paper reviews the main spectral and temporal properties of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GeV emission from GRBs and summarizes the most promising theoretical models proposed to interpret the observations. Since a boost for the understanding of GeV radiation might come from observations at even higher energies, the present status and future prospects for observations at very-high energies (above [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]100[Formula: see text]GeV) are also discussed. The improved sensitivity of upcoming facilities, coupled to theoretical predictions, supports the concrete possibility for future ground GRB detections in the high/very-high energy domain.


2004 ◽  
Vol 218 ◽  
pp. 399-406
Author(s):  
D. J. Thompson

Pulsars seen at gamma-ray energies offer insight into particle acceleration to very high energies, along with information about the geometry and interaction processes in the magnetospheres of these rotating neutron stars. During the next decade, a number of new gamma-ray facilities will become available for pulsar studies. This brief review describes the motivation for gamma-ray pulsar studies, the opportunities for such studies, and some specific discussion of the capabilities of the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Large Area Telescope (LAT) for pulsar measurements.


Author(s):  
G. L. CASE ◽  
E. ANZALONE ◽  
M.L. CHERRY ◽  
J. C. RODI ◽  
J. C. LING ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 612 ◽  
pp. A5 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
H. Abdalla ◽  
A. Abramowski ◽  
F. Aharonian ◽  
F. Ait Benkhali ◽  
...  

The supernova remnant (SNR) W49B originated from a core-collapse supernova that occurred between one and four thousand years ago, and subsequently evolved into a mixed-morphology remnant, which is interacting with molecular clouds (MC). Gamma-ray observations of SNR-MC associations are a powerful tool to constrain the origin of Galactic cosmic rays, as they can probe the acceleration of hadrons through their interaction with the surrounding medium and subsequent emission of non-thermal photons. We report the detection of a γ-ray source coincident with W49B at very high energies (VHE; E > 100 GeV) with the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes together with a study of the source with five years of Fermi-LAT high-energy γ-ray (0.06–300 GeV) data. The smoothly connected, combined source spectrum, measured from 60 MeV to multi-TeV energies, shows two significant spectral breaks at 304 ± 20 MeV and 8.4−2.5+2.2 GeV; the latter is constrained by the joint fit from the two instruments. The detected spectral features are similar to those observed in several other SNR-MC associations and are found to be indicative of γ-ray emission produced through neutral-pion decay.


2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. 241
Author(s):  
C. B. Adams ◽  
W. Benbow ◽  
A. Brill ◽  
J. H. Buckley ◽  
M. Capasso ◽  
...  

Abstract The results of gamma-ray observations of the binary system HESS J0632 + 057 collected during 450 hr over 15 yr, between 2004 and 2019, are presented. Data taken with the atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS at energies above 350 GeV were used together with observations at X-ray energies obtained with Swift-XRT, Chandra, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and Suzaku. Some of these observations were accompanied by measurements of the Hα emission line. A significant detection of the modulation of the very high-energy gamma-ray fluxes with a period of 316.7 ± 4.4 days is reported, consistent with the period of 317.3 ± 0.7 days obtained with a refined analysis of X-ray data. The analysis of data from four orbital cycles with dense observational coverage reveals short-timescale variability, with flux-decay timescales of less than 20 days at very high energies. Flux variations observed over a timescale of several years indicate orbit-to-orbit variability. The analysis confirms the previously reported correlation of X-ray and gamma-ray emission from the system at very high significance, but cannot find any correlation of optical Hα parameters with fluxes at X-ray or gamma-ray energies in simultaneous observations. The key finding is that the emission of HESS J0632 + 057 in the X-ray and gamma-ray energy bands is highly variable on different timescales. The ratio of gamma-ray to X-ray flux shows the equality or even dominance of the gamma-ray energy range. This wealth of new data is interpreted taking into account the insufficient knowledge of the ephemeris of the system, and discussed in the context of results reported on other gamma-ray binary systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (2) ◽  
pp. 2178-2182
Author(s):  
Juhani Mönkkönen ◽  
Victor Doroshenko ◽  
Sergey S Tsygankov ◽  
Armin Nabizadeh ◽  
Pavel Abolmasov ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We report on the analysis of the spin evolution of a slow X-ray pulsar GX 301–2 along the orbit using long-term monitoring by Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. Based on the observationally confirmed accretion scenario and an analytical model for the accretion of angular momentum, we demonstrate that in this system, the neutron star spins retrogradely, that is, in a direction opposite to the orbital motion. This first-of-a-kind discovery of such a system proves the principal possibility of retrograde rotation in accreting systems with suitable accretion torque, and might have profound consequences for our understanding of the spin evolution of X-ray pulsars, estimates of their initial spin periods, and the ultimate result of their evolution.


2012 ◽  
Vol 08 ◽  
pp. 400-403
Author(s):  
B. VAN SOELEN ◽  
P. J. MEINTJES

The gamma-ray binary system PSR B1259-63 has recently passed through periastron and has been of particular interest as it was observed by Fermi near the December 2010 periastron passage. The system has been detected at very high energies with H.E.S.S. The most probable production mechanism is inverse Compton scattering between target photons from the optical companion and disc, and relativistic electrons in the pulsar wind. We present results of a full anisotropic inverse Compton scattering model of the system, taking into account the IR excess from the extended circumstellar disc around the optical companion.


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