Galactic TeV Gamma-Ray Sources: A Summary of H.E.S.S. Observations

Abstract

One of the major science goals of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is to unravel the mystery surrounding the origin of Galactic cosmic-rays (CRs), via observations at TeV γ-ray energies. Over past few years, H.E.S.S. has uncovered more than a dozen Galactic sources of TeV γ-rays, the majority of which are extended in size and exhibit generally hard energy spectra. Discussed here are observational highlights of the H.E.S.S. Galactic source programme, which in summary has revealed; shell-like TeV morphology from two young shelltype SNRs; extended emission from the plerion MSH 15–52; Established the Galactic Centre TeV source; TeV emission from a the composite SNR G0.9+0.1; the first variable Galactic TeV source PSR B1259–63; the second TeV unidenti.ed source HESS J1303-61 and also eight new sources from a scan of the inner Galactic plane.