143 articles – 1857 Notices  [english version]
HAL : in2p3-00438793, version 1
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361/200912339
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Astronomy and Astrophysics 507 (2009) 389-396
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-Bachi1, Y. Becherini2, B. Behera, K. Bernlöhr, A. Bochow, C. Boisson3, J. Bolmont4, V. Borrel, J. Brucker, F. Brun, P. Brun5, R. Bühler, T. Bulik, I. Büsching, T. Boutelier6, P. M. Chadwick, A. Charbonnier4, R. C. G. Chaves, A. Cheesebrough, L.-M. Chounet7, A. C. Clapson, G. Coignet8, M. Dalton, M. K. Daniel, I. D. Davids, B. Degrange7, C. Deil, H. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï2, W. Domainko, L. O'C. Drury, F. Dubois8, G. Dubus6, J. Dyks, M. Dyrda, K. Egberts, D. Emmanoulopoulos, P. Espigat2, C. Farnier9, F. Feinstein9, A. Fiasson8, A. Förster, G. Fontaine7, M. Füßling, S. Gabici, Y. A. Gallant9, L. Gérard2, D. Gerbig, B. Giebels7, J. F. Glicenstein5, B. Glück, P. Goret5, D. Göring, D. Hauser, M. Hauser, S. Heinz, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri6, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, A. Hoffmann, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, S. Hoppe, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska4, O. C. De Jager, C. Jahn, I. Jung, K. Katarzyński, U. Katz, S. Kaufmann, M. Kerschhaggl, D. Khangulyan, B. Khélifi7, D. Keogh, D. Klochkov, W. Kluźniak, T. Kneiske, Nu. Komin5, K. Kosack, R. Kossakowski8, G. Lamanna8, J.-P. Lenain3, T. Lohse, V. Marandon2, O. Martineau-Huynh4, A. Marcowith9, J. Masbou8, D. Maurin4, T. J. L. Mccomb, M. C. Medina3, R. Moderski, E. Moulin5, M. Naumann-Godo7, M. De Naurois4, D. Nedbal, D. Nekrassov, B. Nicholas, J. Niemiec, S. J. Nolan, S. Ohm, J.-F. Olive1, E. de Oña Wilhelmi2, K. J. Orford, M. Ostrowski, M. Panter, M. Paz Arribas, G. Pedaletti, G. Pelletier6, P.-O. Petrucci6, S. Pita2, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch2, A. Quirrenbach, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, S. M. Rayner, M. Renaud2, F. Rieger, J. Ripken, L. Rob, S. Rosier-Lees8, 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. Sol3, D. Spangler, Ł. Stawarz, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, F. Stinzing, G. Superina7, A. Szostek6, P. H. Tam, J.-P. Tavernet4, R. Terrier2, O. Tibolla, M. Tluczykont, C. Van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis9, C. Venter, L. Venter3, J.P. Vialle8, P. Vincent4, M. Vivier5, H. J. Völk, F. Volpe, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward, A. A. Zdziarski, A. Zech3
HESS Collaboration(s)
(2009)
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.
1 :  CESR - Centre d'étude spatiale des rayonnements
2 :  APC - AstroParticule et Cosmologie
3 :  LUTH - Laboratoire Univers et Théories
4 :  LPNHE - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
5 :  IRFU - Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (ex DAPNIA)
6 :  LAOG - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
7 :  LLR - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
8 :  LAPP - Laboratoire d'Annecy le Vieux de Physique des Particules
9 :  LPTA - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Astroparticules
équipe(s) de recherche : APC - AHE
Thème(s)  :  Physique/Astrophysique/Phénomènes cosmiques de haute energie

Planète et Univers/Astrophysique/Phénomènes cosmiques de haute energie
in2p3-00438793, version 1
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Contributeur : Nicole Berger <>
Soumis le : Vendredi 4 Décembre 2009, 16:27:38
Dernière modification le : Lundi 25 Juin 2012, 11:10:44