Observations of the Crab nebula 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; F. Breitling; 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; 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; W. Hofmann; M. Holleran; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. de Jager; 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; 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; L. Saugé; S. Schlenker; R. Schlickeiser; U. Schwanke; 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:10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

Observations of the Crab nebula 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, F. Breitling, A. M. Brown, R. Bühler, I. Büsching, S. Carrigan, P. M. Chadwick, L. M. Chounet, R. Cornils, L. CostamanteB. 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, 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, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, O. C. de Jager, 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, 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, L. Saugé, S. Schlenker, R. Schlickeiser, U. Schwanke, 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

802 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context. The Crab nebula was observed with the HESS stereoscopic Cherenkov-telescope array between October 2003 and January 2005 for a total of 22.9 h (after data quality selection). This period of time partly overlapped with the commissioning phase of the experiment; observations were made with three operational telescopes in late 2003 and with the complete 4 telescope array in January-February 2004 and October 2004-January 2005. Aims. Observations of the Crab nebula are discussed and used as an example to detail the flux and spectral analysis procedures of HESS. The results are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in HESS flux measurements. Methods. The Crab nebula data are analysed using standard HESS analysis procedures, which are described in detail. The flux and spectrum of γ-rays from the source are calculated on run-by-run and monthly time-scales, and a correction is applied for long-term variations in the detector sensitivity. Comparisons of the measured flux and spectrum over the observation period, along with the results from a number of different analysis procedures are used to estimate systematic uncertainties in the measurements. Results. The data, taken at a range of zenith angles between 45° and 65°, show a clear signal with over 7500 excess events. The energy spectrum is found to follow a power law with an exponential cutoff, with photon index Γ = 2.39 ± 0.03 _stat and cutoff energy E _c = (14.3 ± 2.1 _stat) TeV between 440 GeV and 40 TeV. The observed integral flux above 1 TeV is (2.26 ± 0.08 _stat) × 10 ^-11 cm ^-2 s ^-1. The estimated systematic error on the flux measurement is estimated to be 20%, while the estimated systematic error on the spectral slope is 0.1.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	899-915
Number of pages	17
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	457
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065351
State	Published - Oct 2006

Keywords

Gamma rays: observations
ISM: individual objects: Crab nebula
ISM: supernova remnants

Access

10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

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., Breitling, F., Brown, A. M., Bühler, R., Büsching, I., Carrigan, S., Chadwick, P. M., Chounet, L. M., Cornils, R., ... Ward, M. (2006). Observations of the Crab nebula with HESS. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 457(3), 899-915. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Berge, D, Bernlöhr, K, Boisson, C, Bolz, O, Borrel, V, Braun, I, Breitling, F, 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, Gallant, YA, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Goret, P, Hadjichristidis, C, Hauser, D, Hauser, M, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hofmann, W, Holleran, M, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, de Jager, OC, 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, 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, Saugé, L, Schlenker, S, Schlickeiser, R, Schwanke, U, 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, 'Observations of the Crab nebula with HESS', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 457, no. 3, pp. 899-915. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

@article{69ae9f560feb4fea9830768e73e4ff6a,

title = "Observations of the Crab nebula with HESS",

abstract = "Context. The Crab nebula was observed with the HESS stereoscopic Cherenkov-telescope array between October 2003 and January 2005 for a total of 22.9 h (after data quality selection). This period of time partly overlapped with the commissioning phase of the experiment; observations were made with three operational telescopes in late 2003 and with the complete 4 telescope array in January-February 2004 and October 2004-January 2005. Aims. Observations of the Crab nebula are discussed and used as an example to detail the flux and spectral analysis procedures of HESS. The results are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in HESS flux measurements. Methods. The Crab nebula data are analysed using standard HESS analysis procedures, which are described in detail. The flux and spectrum of γ-rays from the source are calculated on run-by-run and monthly time-scales, and a correction is applied for long-term variations in the detector sensitivity. Comparisons of the measured flux and spectrum over the observation period, along with the results from a number of different analysis procedures are used to estimate systematic uncertainties in the measurements. Results. The data, taken at a range of zenith angles between 45° and 65°, show a clear signal with over 7500 excess events. The energy spectrum is found to follow a power law with an exponential cutoff, with photon index Γ = 2.39 ± 0.03 stat and cutoff energy E c = (14.3 ± 2.1 stat) TeV between 440 GeV and 40 TeV. The observed integral flux above 1 TeV is (2.26 ± 0.08 stat) × 10 -11 cm -2 s -1. The estimated systematic error on the flux measurement is estimated to be 20%, while the estimated systematic error on the spectral slope is 0.1.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: observations, ISM: individual objects: Crab nebula, ISM: supernova remnants",

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 F. Breitling 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 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 W. Hofmann and M. Holleran and D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and {de Jager}, {O. C.} 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 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 L. Saug{\'e} and S. Schlenker and R. Schlickeiser and U. Schwanke 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 = oct,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361:20065351",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "457",

pages = "899--915",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations of the Crab nebula 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 - Breitling, F.

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 - 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 - Hofmann, W.

AU - Holleran, M.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - de Jager, O. C.

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 - 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 - Saugé, L.

AU - Schlenker, S.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schwanke, U.

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 - 2006/10

Y1 - 2006/10

N2 - Context. The Crab nebula was observed with the HESS stereoscopic Cherenkov-telescope array between October 2003 and January 2005 for a total of 22.9 h (after data quality selection). This period of time partly overlapped with the commissioning phase of the experiment; observations were made with three operational telescopes in late 2003 and with the complete 4 telescope array in January-February 2004 and October 2004-January 2005. Aims. Observations of the Crab nebula are discussed and used as an example to detail the flux and spectral analysis procedures of HESS. The results are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in HESS flux measurements. Methods. The Crab nebula data are analysed using standard HESS analysis procedures, which are described in detail. The flux and spectrum of γ-rays from the source are calculated on run-by-run and monthly time-scales, and a correction is applied for long-term variations in the detector sensitivity. Comparisons of the measured flux and spectrum over the observation period, along with the results from a number of different analysis procedures are used to estimate systematic uncertainties in the measurements. Results. The data, taken at a range of zenith angles between 45° and 65°, show a clear signal with over 7500 excess events. The energy spectrum is found to follow a power law with an exponential cutoff, with photon index Γ = 2.39 ± 0.03 stat and cutoff energy E c = (14.3 ± 2.1 stat) TeV between 440 GeV and 40 TeV. The observed integral flux above 1 TeV is (2.26 ± 0.08 stat) × 10 -11 cm -2 s -1. The estimated systematic error on the flux measurement is estimated to be 20%, while the estimated systematic error on the spectral slope is 0.1.

AB - Context. The Crab nebula was observed with the HESS stereoscopic Cherenkov-telescope array between October 2003 and January 2005 for a total of 22.9 h (after data quality selection). This period of time partly overlapped with the commissioning phase of the experiment; observations were made with three operational telescopes in late 2003 and with the complete 4 telescope array in January-February 2004 and October 2004-January 2005. Aims. Observations of the Crab nebula are discussed and used as an example to detail the flux and spectral analysis procedures of HESS. The results are used to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in HESS flux measurements. Methods. The Crab nebula data are analysed using standard HESS analysis procedures, which are described in detail. The flux and spectrum of γ-rays from the source are calculated on run-by-run and monthly time-scales, and a correction is applied for long-term variations in the detector sensitivity. Comparisons of the measured flux and spectrum over the observation period, along with the results from a number of different analysis procedures are used to estimate systematic uncertainties in the measurements. Results. The data, taken at a range of zenith angles between 45° and 65°, show a clear signal with over 7500 excess events. The energy spectrum is found to follow a power law with an exponential cutoff, with photon index Γ = 2.39 ± 0.03 stat and cutoff energy E c = (14.3 ± 2.1 stat) TeV between 440 GeV and 40 TeV. The observed integral flux above 1 TeV is (2.26 ± 0.08 stat) × 10 -11 cm -2 s -1. The estimated systematic error on the flux measurement is estimated to be 20%, while the estimated systematic error on the spectral slope is 0.1.

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - ISM: individual objects: Crab nebula

KW - ISM: supernova remnants

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749987730&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749987730&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361:20065351

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33749987730

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 457

SP - 899

EP - 915

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - 3

ER -

Observations of the Crab nebula with HESS

Abstract

Keywords

Access

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this