Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS

F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; M. Beilicke; W. Benbow; D. Berge; K. Bernlöhr; C. Boisson; O. Bolz; V. Borrel; I. Braun; A. M. Brown; R. Bühler; I. Büsching; S. Carrigan; P. M. Chadwick; L. M. Chounet; R. Cornils; L. Costamante; B. Degrange; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; L. O C Drury; G. Dubus; K. Egberts; D. Emmanoulopoulos; P. Espigat; F. Feinstein; E. Ferrero; A. Fiasson; G. Fontaine; S. Funk; S. Funk; M. Füßling; Y. A. Gallant; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; P. Goret; C. Hadjichristidis; D. Hauser; M. Hauser; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; A. Hoffmann; W. Hofmann; M. Holleran; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. de Jager; E. Kendziorra; B. Khélifi; N. Komin; A. Konopelko; K. Kosack; I. J. Latham; R. le Gallou; A. Lemière; M. Lemoine-Goumard; T. Lohse; J. M. Martin; O. Martineau-Huynh; A. Marcowith; C. Masterson; G. Maurin; T. J L McComb; M. de Naurois; D. Nedbal; S. J. Nolan; A. Noutsos; K. J. Orford; J. L. Osborne; M. Ouchrif; M. Panter; G. Pelletier; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; B. C. Raubenheimer; M. Raue; S. M. Rayner; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; J. Ripken; L. Rob; L. Rolland; G. Rowell; V. Sahakian; A. Santangelo; L. Saugé; S. Schlenker; R. Schlickeiser; R. Schroder; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; A. Shalchi; H. Sol; D. Spangler; F. Spanier; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; G. Superina; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; C. G. Théoret; M. Tluczykont; C. van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; P. Vincent; H. J. Völk; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS

F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, M. Beilicke, W. Benbow, D. Berge, K. Bernlöhr, C. Boisson, O. Bolz, V. Borrel, I. Braun, A. M. Brown, R. Bühler, I. Büsching, S. Carrigan, P. M. Chadwick, L. M. Chounet, R. Cornils, L. Costamante, B. DegrangeH. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï, L. O C Drury, G. Dubus, K. Egberts, D. Emmanoulopoulos, P. Espigat, F. Feinstein, E. Ferrero, A. Fiasson, G. Fontaine, S. Funk, S. Funk, M. Füßling, Y. A. Gallant, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, P. Goret, C. Hadjichristidis, D. Hauser, M. Hauser, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, A. Hoffmann, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, O. C. de Jager, E. Kendziorra, B. Khélifi, N. Komin, A. Konopelko, K. Kosack, I. J. Latham, R. le Gallou, A. Lemière, M. Lemoine-Goumard, T. Lohse, J. M. Martin, O. Martineau-Huynh, A. Marcowith, C. Masterson, G. Maurin, T. J L McComb, M. de Naurois, D. Nedbal, S. J. Nolan, A. Noutsos, K. J. Orford, J. L. Osborne, M. Ouchrif, M. Panter, G. Pelletier, S. Pita, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, S. M. Rayner, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, J. Ripken, L. Rob, L. Rolland, G. Rowell, V. Sahakian, A. Santangelo, L. Saugé, S. Schlenker, R. Schlickeiser, R. Schroder, U. Schwanke, S. Schwarzburg, A. Shalchi, H. Sol, D. Spangler, F. Spanier, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, G. Superina, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, C. G. Théoret, M. Tluczykont, C. van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, P. Vincent, H. J. Völk, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

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

78 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims. Search for Very High Energy γ-ray emission in the Kookaburra complex through observations with the HESS array. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of the γ-ray showers in the atmosphere is used for the reconstruction and selection of the events to search for γ-ray signals. Their spectrum is derived by a forward-folding maximum likelihood fit. Results. Two extended γ-ray sources with an angular (68%) radius of 3.3-3.4′ are discovered at high (>13σ) statistical significance: HESS J1420-607 and HESS J1418-609. They exhibit a flux above 1 TeV of (2.97 ±0.188_stat ±0.60_sys) × 10¹² and (2.17 ±0.17_stat ±0.43_sys) × 10¹² cm^-2 s^-1, respectively, and similar hard photon indices ∼2.2. Multi-wavelength comparisons show spatial coincidence with the wings of the Kookaburra. Two pulsar wind nebulae candidates, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit, lie on the edge of the HESS sources. Conclusions. The two new sources confirm the non-thermal nature of at least parts of the two radio wings which overlap with the γ-ray emission and establish their connection with the two X-ray pulsar wind nebulae candidates. Given the large point spread function of EGRET, the unidentified source(s) 3EG J1420-6038/GeV J1417-6100 could possibly be related to either or both HESS sources. The most likely explanation for the Very High Energy γ-rays discovered by HESS is inverse Compton emission of accelerated electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background near the two candidate pulsar wind nebulæ, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit. Two scenarios which could lead to the observed large (∼10 pc) offset-nebula type morphologies are briefly discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	245-251
Number of pages	7
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	456
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065511
State	Published - Sep 2006

Keywords

Gamma rays: observations
ISM: general
Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

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10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

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Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Berge, D., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bolz, O., Borrel, V., Braun, I., Brown, A. M., Bühler, R., Büsching, I., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Chounet, L. M., Cornils, R., Costamante, L., ... Ward, M. (2006). Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 456(1), 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Berge, D, Bernlöhr, K, Boisson, C, Bolz, O, Borrel, V, Braun, I, Brown, AM, Bühler, R, Büsching, I, Carrigan, S, Chadwick, PM, Chounet, LM, Cornils, R, Costamante, L, Degrange, B, Dickinson, HJ, Djannati-Ataï, A, Drury, LOC, Dubus, G, Egberts, K, Emmanoulopoulos, D, Espigat, P, Feinstein, F, Ferrero, E, Fiasson, A, Fontaine, G, Funk, S, Funk, S, Füßling, M, Gallant, YA, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Goret, P, Hadjichristidis, C, Hauser, D, Hauser, M, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hoffmann, A, Hofmann, W, Holleran, M, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, de Jager, OC, Kendziorra, E, Khélifi, B, Komin, N, Konopelko, A, Kosack, K, Latham, IJ, le Gallou, R, Lemière, A, Lemoine-Goumard, M, Lohse, T, Martin, JM, Martineau-Huynh, O, Marcowith, A, Masterson, C, Maurin, G, McComb, TJL, de Naurois, M, Nedbal, D, Nolan, SJ, Noutsos, A, Orford, KJ, Osborne, JL, Ouchrif, M, Panter, M, Pelletier, G, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Raubenheimer, BC, Raue, M, Rayner, SM, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rolland, L, Rowell, G, Sahakian, V, Santangelo, A, Saugé, L, Schlenker, S, Schlickeiser, R, Schroder, R, Schwanke, U, Schwarzburg, S, Shalchi, A, Sol, H, Spangler, D, Spanier, F, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Superina, G, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Théoret, CG, Tluczykont, M, van Eldik, C, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Vincent, P, Völk, HJ, Wagner, SJ & Ward, M 2006, 'Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 456, no. 1, pp. 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

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title = "Discovery of the two {"}wings{"} of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS",

abstract = "Aims. Search for Very High Energy γ-ray emission in the Kookaburra complex through observations with the HESS array. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of the γ-ray showers in the atmosphere is used for the reconstruction and selection of the events to search for γ-ray signals. Their spectrum is derived by a forward-folding maximum likelihood fit. Results. Two extended γ-ray sources with an angular (68%) radius of 3.3-3.4′ are discovered at high (>13σ) statistical significance: HESS J1420-607 and HESS J1418-609. They exhibit a flux above 1 TeV of (2.97 ±0.188stat ±0.60sys) × 1012 and (2.17 ±0.17stat ±0.43sys) × 1012 cm-2 s-1, respectively, and similar hard photon indices ∼2.2. Multi-wavelength comparisons show spatial coincidence with the wings of the Kookaburra. Two pulsar wind nebulae candidates, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit, lie on the edge of the HESS sources. Conclusions. The two new sources confirm the non-thermal nature of at least parts of the two radio wings which overlap with the γ-ray emission and establish their connection with the two X-ray pulsar wind nebulae candidates. Given the large point spread function of EGRET, the unidentified source(s) 3EG J1420-6038/GeV J1417-6100 could possibly be related to either or both HESS sources. The most likely explanation for the Very High Energy γ-rays discovered by HESS is inverse Compton emission of accelerated electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background near the two candidate pulsar wind nebul{\ae}, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit. Two scenarios which could lead to the observed large (∼10 pc) offset-nebula type morphologies are briefly discussed.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: observations, ISM: general, Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal",

author = "F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, {A. G.} and Bazer-Bachi, {A. R.} and M. Beilicke and W. Benbow and D. Berge and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and C. Boisson and O. Bolz and V. Borrel and I. Braun and Brown, {A. M.} and R. B{\"u}hler and I. B{\"u}sching and S. Carrigan and Chadwick, {P. M.} and Chounet, {L. M.} and R. Cornils and L. Costamante and B. Degrange and Dickinson, {H. J.} and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and Drury, {L. O C} and G. Dubus and K. Egberts and D. Emmanoulopoulos and P. Espigat and F. Feinstein and E. Ferrero and A. Fiasson and G. Fontaine and S. Funk and S. Funk and M. F{\"u}{\ss}ling and Gallant, {Y. A.} and B. Giebels and Glicenstein, {J. F.} 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 D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and {de Jager}, {O. C.} and E. Kendziorra and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and N. Komin and A. Konopelko and K. Kosack and Latham, {I. J.} and {le Gallou}, R. and A. Lemi{\`e}re and M. Lemoine-Goumard and T. Lohse and Martin, {J. M.} and O. Martineau-Huynh and A. Marcowith and C. Masterson and G. Maurin and McComb, {T. J L} and {de Naurois}, M. and D. Nedbal and Nolan, {S. J.} and A. Noutsos and Orford, {K. J.} and Osborne, {J. L.} and M. Ouchrif and M. Panter and G. Pelletier and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and Raubenheimer, {B. C.} and M. Raue and Rayner, {S. M.} and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and J. Ripken and L. Rob and L. Rolland and G. Rowell and V. Sahakian and A. Santangelo and L. Saug{\'e} and S. Schlenker and R. Schlickeiser and R. Schroder and U. Schwanke and S. Schwarzburg and A. Shalchi and H. Sol and D. Spangler and F. Spanier and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and G. Superina and Tavernet, {J. P.} and R. Terrier and Th{\'e}oret, {C. G.} and M. Tluczykont and {van Eldik}, C. and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and P. Vincent and V{\"o}lk, {H. J.} and Wagner, {S. J.} and M. Ward",

year = "2006",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361:20065511",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "456",

pages = "245--251",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - Bazer-Bachi, A. R.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Benbow, W.

AU - Berge, D.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolz, O.

AU - Borrel, V.

AU - Braun, I.

AU - Brown, A. M.

AU - Bühler, R.

AU - Büsching, I.

AU - Carrigan, S.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Chounet, L. M.

AU - Cornils, R.

AU - Costamante, L.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Dickinson, H. J.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Drury, L. O C

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Egberts, K.

AU - Emmanoulopoulos, D.

AU - Espigat, P.

AU - Feinstein, F.

AU - Ferrero, E.

AU - Fiasson, A.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Füßling, M.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

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 - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - de Jager, O. C.

AU - Kendziorra, E.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Komin, N.

AU - Konopelko, A.

AU - Kosack, K.

AU - Latham, I. J.

AU - le Gallou, R.

AU - Lemière, A.

AU - Lemoine-Goumard, M.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Martin, J. M.

AU - Martineau-Huynh, O.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masterson, C.

AU - Maurin, G.

AU - McComb, T. J L

AU - de Naurois, M.

AU - Nedbal, D.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Orford, K. J.

AU - Osborne, J. L.

AU - Ouchrif, M.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Raubenheimer, B. C.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Rayner, S. M.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Ripken, J.

AU - Rob, L.

AU - Rolland, L.

AU - Rowell, G.

AU - Sahakian, V.

AU - Santangelo, A.

AU - Saugé, L.

AU - Schlenker, S.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schroder, R.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Schwarzburg, S.

AU - Shalchi, A.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Spangler, D.

AU - Spanier, F.

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Superina, G.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Théoret, C. G.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - van Eldik, C.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Völk, H. J.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

AU - Ward, M.

PY - 2006/9

Y1 - 2006/9

N2 - Aims. Search for Very High Energy γ-ray emission in the Kookaburra complex through observations with the HESS array. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of the γ-ray showers in the atmosphere is used for the reconstruction and selection of the events to search for γ-ray signals. Their spectrum is derived by a forward-folding maximum likelihood fit. Results. Two extended γ-ray sources with an angular (68%) radius of 3.3-3.4′ are discovered at high (>13σ) statistical significance: HESS J1420-607 and HESS J1418-609. They exhibit a flux above 1 TeV of (2.97 ±0.188stat ±0.60sys) × 1012 and (2.17 ±0.17stat ±0.43sys) × 1012 cm-2 s-1, respectively, and similar hard photon indices ∼2.2. Multi-wavelength comparisons show spatial coincidence with the wings of the Kookaburra. Two pulsar wind nebulae candidates, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit, lie on the edge of the HESS sources. Conclusions. The two new sources confirm the non-thermal nature of at least parts of the two radio wings which overlap with the γ-ray emission and establish their connection with the two X-ray pulsar wind nebulae candidates. Given the large point spread function of EGRET, the unidentified source(s) 3EG J1420-6038/GeV J1417-6100 could possibly be related to either or both HESS sources. The most likely explanation for the Very High Energy γ-rays discovered by HESS is inverse Compton emission of accelerated electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background near the two candidate pulsar wind nebulæ, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit. Two scenarios which could lead to the observed large (∼10 pc) offset-nebula type morphologies are briefly discussed.

AB - Aims. Search for Very High Energy γ-ray emission in the Kookaburra complex through observations with the HESS array. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of the γ-ray showers in the atmosphere is used for the reconstruction and selection of the events to search for γ-ray signals. Their spectrum is derived by a forward-folding maximum likelihood fit. Results. Two extended γ-ray sources with an angular (68%) radius of 3.3-3.4′ are discovered at high (>13σ) statistical significance: HESS J1420-607 and HESS J1418-609. They exhibit a flux above 1 TeV of (2.97 ±0.188stat ±0.60sys) × 1012 and (2.17 ±0.17stat ±0.43sys) × 1012 cm-2 s-1, respectively, and similar hard photon indices ∼2.2. Multi-wavelength comparisons show spatial coincidence with the wings of the Kookaburra. Two pulsar wind nebulae candidates, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit, lie on the edge of the HESS sources. Conclusions. The two new sources confirm the non-thermal nature of at least parts of the two radio wings which overlap with the γ-ray emission and establish their connection with the two X-ray pulsar wind nebulae candidates. Given the large point spread function of EGRET, the unidentified source(s) 3EG J1420-6038/GeV J1417-6100 could possibly be related to either or both HESS sources. The most likely explanation for the Very High Energy γ-rays discovered by HESS is inverse Compton emission of accelerated electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background near the two candidate pulsar wind nebulæ, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit. Two scenarios which could lead to the observed large (∼10 pc) offset-nebula type morphologies are briefly discussed.

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - ISM: general

KW - Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

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U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361:20065511

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33748701002

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 456

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EP - 251

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - 1

ER -

Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS

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