OBSERVATIONS OF MICROQUASAR CANDIDATES WITH THE MAGIC TELESCOPE

Abstract

We report on the results from the observations in very high energy band (VHE, Eγ ≥ 100 GeV ) of the γ-ray binary LS I +61 303 and the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. LS I +61 303 was recently discovered at VHE by MAGIC1 and here we present the preliminary results from an extensive observation campaign, comprising 112 observation hours covering 4 orbital cycles, aiming at determining the time-dependent features of the VHE emission. Cygnus X-1 was observed for a total of 40 hours during 26 nights, spanning the period between June and November 2006. We report on the results of the searches for steady and variable γ-ray signals from Cygnus X-1, including the first experimental evidence for an intense flare, of duration between 1.5 and 24 hours.