Search for a TeV gamma-ray halo of Mkn 501

For distant extragalactic sources of gamma-rays in the PeV (10<sup>15<sup/> eV) energy range, interactions of the gamma rays with intergalactic diffuse radiation fields will initiate a pair cascade. Depending on the magnetic fields in the vicinity of the source, the cascade can either re...

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Main Authors: Aharonian, Felix A. (Author) , Akhperjanian, A. G. (Author) , Barrio, J. A. (Author) , Bernlöhr, Konrad (Author) , Heinzelmann, G. (Author) , Hermann, G. (Author) , Heusler, A. (Author) , Hofmann, Werner (Author) , Kettler, J. (Author) , Kohnle, A. (Author) , Konopelko, Alexander (Author) , Kornmeyer, H. (Author) , Kranich, D. (Author) , Krawczynski, Henric (Author) , Lampeitl, Hubert (Author) , Padilla, L. (Author) , Panter, M. (Author) , Plaga, R. (Author) , Plyasheshnikov, A. V. (Author) , Prahl, J. (Author) , Pühlhofer, Gerd (Author) , Schröder, F. (Author) , Siems, M. (Author) , Stamm, W. (Author) , Tluczykont, M. (Author) , Völk, Heinrich J. (Author) , Wiedner, C. (Author) , Wittek, W. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 15 February 2001
In: Astronomy and astrophysics
Year: 2001, Volume: 366, Issue: 3, Pages: 746-751
ISSN:1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361:20000481
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20000481
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2001/06/aah2395/aah2395.html
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Author Notes:F A. Aharonian, A.G. Akhperjanian, J.A. Barrio, K. Bernlöhr, O. Bolz, H. Börst, H. Bojahr, J.L. Contreras, J. Cortina, S. Denninghoff, V. Fonseca, J.C. Gonzalez, N. Götting, G. Heinzelmann, G. Hermann, A. Heusler, W. Hofmann, D. Horns, A. Ibarra, C. Iserlohe, I. Jung, R. Kankanyan, M. Kestel, J. Kettler, A. Kohnle, A. Konopelko, H. Kornmeyer, D. Kranich, H. Krawczynski, H. Lampeitl, E. Lorenz, F. Lucarelli, N. Magnussen, O. Mang, H. Meyer, R. Mirzoyan, A. Moralejo, L. Padilla, M. Panter, R. Plaga, A. Plyasheshnikov, J. Prahl, G. Pühlhofer, W. Rhode, A. Röhring, G.P. Rowell, V. Sahakian, M. Samorski, M. Schilling, F. Schröder, M. Siems, W. Stamm, M. Tluczykont, H.J. Völk, C. Wiedner, W. Wittek
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Summary:For distant extragalactic sources of gamma-rays in the PeV (10<sup>15<sup/> eV) energy range, interactions of the gamma rays with intergalactic diffuse radiation fields will initiate a pair cascade. Depending on the magnetic fields in the vicinity of the source, the cascade can either result in an isotropic halo around an initially beamed source, or remain more or less collimated. Data recorded by the HEGRA system of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes are used to derive limits on the halo flux from the AGN Mrk 501. This is achieved by comparing the angular distribution of TeV gamma-rays during the 1997 burst phase -where direct photons should dominate -with the distribution during the 1998/99 quiescent state, where a steady-state halo contribution should be most pronounced. The results depend on the assumptions concerning the angular distribution of the halo; limits on the halo flux within to from the source range between 0.1% and 1% of the peak burst flux.
Item Description:Gesehen am 10.12.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361:20000481