Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes Research Articles

Identifying TeV Source Candidates among Fermi-LAT Unclassified Blazars

Abstract Blazars, in particular the subclass of high synchrotron peaked active galactic nuclei are among the main targets for the present generation of Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes (IACTs), and they will remain of great importance for very high-energy γ-ray science in the era of the Cerenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Observations by IACTs, which have relatively small fields of view (∼few degrees), are limited by viewing conditions; therefore, it is important to select the most promising targets to increase the number of detections. The aim of this paper is to search for unclassified blazars among known γ-ray sources from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) third source catalog that are likely detectable with IACTs or CTA. We use an artificial neural network algorithm and updated analysis of Fermi-LAT data. We found 80 γ-ray source candidates, and for the highest-confidence candidates, we calculate their potential detectability with IACTs and CTA based on an extrapolation of their energy spectra. Follow-up observations of our source candidates could significantly increase the current TeV source population sample and ultimately confirm the efficiency of our algorithm to select TeV sources.

Search for anomalous features in gamma-ray blazar spectra corrected for the absorption on the extragalactic background light

We consider the ensemble of very-high-energy gamma-ray sources observed at distances and energies where a significant absorption of gamma rays is expected due to pair production on the extragalactic background light (EBL). Previous studies indicated that spectra of these sources, upon correction for the absorption, exhibit unusual spectral hardenings which happen precisely at the energies where the correction becomes significant. Here, we address this subject with the most recent clean sample of distant gamma-ray blazars, making use of published results of imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes and of the Fermi-LAT Pass 8 data, supplemented by the newest absorption models and individual measurements of sources' redshifts. We perform a search for spectral breaks at energies corresponding to unit optical depth with respect to the absorption on EBL. These energies are different for distant and nearby objects, and consequently, such features may not be related to intrinsic properties of the sources. While in some spectra such breaks are not seen, hardenings at distance-dependent energies are present in many of them, though the overall statistical significance of the effect is lower than reported in previous studies. The dependence of the break strength on the redshift found earlier is not confirmed in the new analysis.

DIFFUSE γ-RAY EMISSION FROM UNRESOLVED BL LAC OBJECTS

Blazars represent the most abundant class of high-energy extragalactic $\gamma$-ray sources. The subset of blazars known as BL Lac objects is on average closer to Earth and characterized by harder spectra at high energy than the whole sample. The fraction of BL Lacs that is too dim to be detected and resolved by current $\gamma$-ray telescopes is therefore expected to contribute to the high-energy isotropic diffuse $\gamma$-ray background (IGRB). The IGRB has been recently measured over a wide energy range by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Gamma-ray Space Telescope ({\it Fermi}). We present a new prediction of the diffuse $\gamma$-ray flux due to the unresolved BL Lac blazar population. The model is built upon the spectral energy distribution and the luminosity function derived from the fraction of BL Lacs detected (and spectrally characterized) in the $\gamma$-ray energy range. We focus our attention on the ${\cal O}(100)$ GeV energy range, predicting the emission up to the TeV scale and taking into account the absorption on the extragalactic background light. In order to better shape the BL Lac spectral energy distribution, we combine the {\it Fermi}-LAT data with Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes measurements of the most energetic sources. Our analysis is carried on separately for low- and intermediate-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs on one hand, and high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs on the other one: we find in fact statistically different features for the two. The diffuse emission from the sum of both BL Lac classes increases from about 10$\%$ of the measured IGRB at 100 MeV to $\sim$100$\%$ of the data level at 100 GeV. At energies greater than 100 GeV, our predictions naturally explain the IGRB data, accommodating their softening with increasing energy. Uncertainties are estimated to be within of a factor of two of the best-fit flux up to 500 GeV.

Search for diffuse cosmic gamma-ray flux using fractal and wavelet analysis from galactic region using single imaging Cerenkov telescopes

We show from a simulations-based study of the TACTIC telescope that fractal and wavelet analysis of Cerenkov images, recorded in a single imaging Cerenkov telescope, enables almost complete segregation of isotropic gamma-ray initiated events from the overwhelming background of cosmic ray hadron-initiated events. This presents a new method for measuring galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray background above 1 TeV energy. Preliminary results based on this method are reported here. Primary aim is to explore the possibility of using data recorded by a single imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope ( IACT) for making accurate measurements of diffuse galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray flux above ∼1 TeV energy. Using simulated data of atmospheric Cerenkov images recorded in an IACT, initiated, both, by cosmic ray protons and diffuse gamma-rays with energies above 4 TeV and 2 TeV respectively, we identify the most efficient fractal/wavelet parameters of the recorded images for primary identification. The method is based on the pattern recognition technique and employs fractal and wavelet analysis of the recorded Cerenkov images for gamma-hadron segregation. We show that the value of wavelet dimension parameter B 6 can segregate Cerenkov images of hadronic origin from those of diffuse gamma-ray origin with almost 100% accuracy. We use the results to get a preliminary upper limit estimate of the diffuse galactic gamma-ray flux within galactic range of ∣ b∣ ⩽ −5° and ∣ l∣ ⩽ 200° above 2 TeV from a 36 h data set recorded by the TACTIC telescope.

Optimization of multivariate analysis for IACT stereoscopic systems

Multivariate methods have been recently introduced and successfully applied for the discrimination of signal from background in the selection of genuine very-high energy γ-ray events with the H.E.S.S. Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescope. The complementary performance of three independent reconstruction methods developed for the H.E.S.S. data analysis, namely Hillas, model and 3D-model suggests the optimization of their combination through the application of a resulting efficient multivariate estimator. In this work the boosted decision tree method is proposed leading to a significant increase in the signal over background ratio compared to the standard approaches. The improved sensitivity is also demonstrated through a comparative analysis of a set of benchmark astrophysical sources.

A high performance likelihood reconstruction of [formula omitted]-rays for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

We present a sophisticated γ -ray likelihood reconstruction technique for imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes. The technique is based on the comparison of the raw Cherenkov camera pixel images of a photon induced atmospheric particle shower with the predictions from a semi-analytical model. The approach was initiated by the CAT experiment in the 1990s, and has been further developed by a new fit algorithm based on a log-likelihood minimisation using all pixels in the camera, a precise treatment of night sky background noise, the use of stereoscopy and the introduction of first interaction depth as parameter of the model. The reconstruction technique provides a more precise direction and energy reconstruction of the photon induced shower compared to other techniques in use, together with a better gamma efficiency, especially at low energies, as well as an improved background rejection. For data taken with the H.E.S.S. experiment, the reconstruction technique yielded a factor of ∼2 better sensitivity compared to the H.E.S.S. standard reconstruction techniques based on second moments of the camera images (Hillas parameter technique).

SIMULTANEOUS MULTIWAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF MARKARIAN 421 DURING OUTBURST

We report on the results of two coordinated multiwavelength campaigns that focused on the blazar Markarian 421 during its 2006 and 2008 outbursts. These campaigns obtained UV and X-ray data using the XMM-Newton satellite, while the gamma-ray data were obtained utilizing three imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes, the Whipple 10 m telescope and VERITAS, both based in Arizona, as well as the MAGIC telescope, based on La Palma in the Canary Islands. The coordinated effort between the gamma-ray groups allowed for truly simultaneous data in UV/X-ray/gamma-ray wavelengths during a significant portion of the XMM-Newton observations. This simultaneous coverage allowed for a reliable search for correlations between UV, X-ray, and gamma-ray variability over the course of the observations. Investigations of spectral hysteresis and modeling of the spectral energy distributions are also presented.

Gamma-ray probe of cosmic ray pressure in galaxy clusters and cosmological implications

Cosmic rays produced in cluster accretion and merger shocks provide pressure to the intracluster medium (ICM) and affect the mass estimates of galaxy clusters. Although direct evidence for cosmic-ray ions in the ICM is still lacking, they produce gamma-ray emission through the decay of neutral pions produced in their collisions with ICM nucleons. We investigate the capability of the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) and imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes (IACTs) for constraining the cosmic-ray pressure contribution to the ICM. We show that GLAST can be used to place stringent upper limits, a few per cent for individual nearby rich clusters, on the ratio of pressures of the cosmic rays and thermal gas. We further show that it is possible to place tight (<~10%) constraints for distant (z <~ 0.25) clusters in the case of hard spectrum, by stacking signals from samples of known clusters. The GLAST limits could be made more precise with the constraint on the cosmic-ray spectrum potentially provided by IACTs. Future gamma-ray observations of clusters can constrain the evolution of cosmic-ray energy density, which would have important implications for cosmological tests with upcoming X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect cluster surveys.

Observation of an Extended Very High Energy Gamma‐Ray Emission from MSH 15‐52 with CANGAROO‐III

We have observed the supernova remnant MSH 15-52 (G320.4-1.2), which contains the gamma-ray pulsar PSR B1509–58, using the CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array from 2006 April to June. We detected gamma rays above 810 GeV at the 7 σ level during a total effective exposure of 48.4 hr. We obtained a differential gamma-ray flux at 2.35 TeV of (7.9 ± 1.5stat± 1.7sys) × 10−13 cm−2 s−1 TeV−1, with a photon index of 2.21 ± 0.39stat± 0.40sys, which is compatible with that of the H.E.S.S. observation in 2004. The morphology shows extended emission compared to our point spread function. We consider the plausible origin of the high-energy emission based on a multiwavelength spectral analysis and energetics arguments.

CANGAROO III Search for Gamma Rays from Centaurus A and the ω Centauri Region

We have observed the giant radio galaxy Centaurus A and the globular cluster ω Centauri in the TeV energy region using the CANGAROO III stereoscopic system. The system has been in operation since 2004 with an array of four Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes (IACT) with ~100 m spacings. The observations were carried out in 2004 March and April. In total, approximately 10 hr of data were obtained for each target. No statistically significant gamma-ray signal has been found above 420 GeV over a wide angular region (a 1° radius from the pointing center), and we derive flux upper limits using the wholefield of view. Implications for the total energy of cosmic rays and the density of the cold dark matter are considered.

Can Astrophysical Gamma-Ray Sources Mimic Dark Matter Annihilation in Galactic Satellites?

The nature of the cosmic dark matter is unknown. The most compelling hypothesis is that dark matter consists of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) in the 100 GeV mass range. Such particles would annihilate in the galactic halo, producing high-energy gamma rays which might be detectable in gamma ray telescopes such as the GLAST satellite. We investigate the ability of GLAST to distinguish between the WIMP annihilation spectrum and the spectrum of known astrophysical source classes. Focusing on the emission from the galactic satellite halos predicted by the cold dark matter model, we find that the WIMP gamma-ray spectrum is unique; the separation from known source classes can be done in a convincing way. We discuss the follow-up of possible WIMP sources with Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes. Finally we discuss the impact that Large Hadron Collider data might have on the study of galactic dark matter.

A Search for Sub‐TeV Gamma Rays from the Vela Pulsar Region with CANGAROO‐III

We made stereoscopic observations of the Vela pulsar region with two of the 10 m diameter CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes in 2004 January and February in a search for sub-TeV gamma rays from the pulsar and surrounding regions. We describe the observations, provide a detailed account of the calibration methods, and introduce the improved and bias-free analysis techniques employed for CANGAROO-III data. No evidence of gamma-ray emission is found from either the pulsar position or the previously reported position offset by 013, and the resulting upper limits are a factor of 5 less than the previously reported flux from observations with the CANGAROO-I 3.8 m telescope. Following the recent report by the H.E.S.S. group of TeV gamma-ray emission from the pulsar wind nebula, which is ~05 south of the pulsar position, we examined this region and found supporting evidence for emission extended over ~06.

The Search for pulsed TeV gamma-ray sources

The EGRET experiment detected pulsed emission from several pulsars in the HE energy range 20 MeV 130 GeV and detecting the signature periodicity of pulsars if it exists. Data recorded on the Crab pulsar with the Whipple Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescope has been analysed with this software and upper limits on pulsed emission have been obtained.

Spectrum of Very High Energy Gamma‐Rays from the blazar 1ES 1959+650 during Flaring Activity in 2002

The blazar 1ES 1959+650 was observed in a flaring state with the Whipple 10 m Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescope in 2002 May. A spectral analysis has been carried out on the data from that time period, and the resulting very high energy gamma-ray spectrum (E ≥ 316 GeV) can be well fitted by a power law of differential spectral index α = 2.78 ± 0.12stat ± 0.21sys. On 2002 June 4, the source flared dramatically in the gamma-ray range without any coincident increase in the X-ray emission, providing the first unambiguous example of an "orphan" gamma-ray flare from a blazar. The gamma-ray spectrum for these data can also be described by a simple power-law fit with α = 2.82 ± 0.15stat ± 0.30sys. There is no compelling evidence for spectral variability or for any cutoff to the spectrum.

Luminous Infrared Galaxies as Plausible Gamma-Ray Sources for the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope and the Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes

We argue that luminous infrared galaxies may constitute a newly detectable population of γ-ray sources for the next generation of ground- and space-based high-energy telescopes. In addition, we report for the first time upper limits on their fluxes using data obtained with the EGRET telescope.

Constraints on Cold Dark Matter in the Gamma‐Ray Halo of NGC 253

A gamma-ray halo in the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253 was found by the CANGAROO-II Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescope. By fitting the energy spectrum with expected curves from cold dark matter (CDM) annihilations, we constrain the CDM annihilation rate in the halo of NGC 253. Upper limits for the CDM density were obtained in the wide mass range between 0.5 and 50 TeV. Although these limits are higher than the expected values, they are complementary to the other experimental techniques, especially considering the extended energy coverage. We also investigate the next astronomical targets to improve these limits.

A Search for TeV Gamma Rays from SN 1987A in 2001

We searched for TeV gamma rays from the remnant of SN 1987A around 5400 days after the supernova. The observations were carried out in 2001, from November 16 to December 11, using the CANGAROO-II imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. In total, 708 minutes of ON- and 1019 minutes of OFF-source data were obtained under good conditions. The detection threshold was estimated to be 1 TeV, owing to the mean zenith angle of 39°. The upper limits for the gamma-ray flux were obtained and compared with the previous observations and theoretical models. The observations indicate that the gamma-ray luminosity is lower than 1 × 1037 ergs s-1 at ~10 TeV.

Search for TeV Emissions from Pulsars in Binary Systems

A survey of binary systems containing pulsars was conducted, with the intention of detecting Galactic sources of very high energy � -ray emission. Observations were carried out with the Whipple 10 m imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. Standard analysis techniques were applied to these sources to search for steady, unpulsed emission. Periodic tests were also performed to search for emission correlated with both the orbital and spin phases, where appropriate. Analyses indicate that the binaries in this study do not emit detectable levels of very high energy photons within the sensitivity of our instrument. The flux upper limits presented here fail to seriously constrain emission models. Subject headings: gamma rays: observations — pulsars: general

Monte Carlo studies on the sensitivity of the HEGRA imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope system in observations of extended gamma-ray sources

In this paper, we present the results of Monte Carlo simulations of atmospheric showers induced by diffuse γ-rays as detected by the high-energy gamma-ray astronomy (HEGRA) system of five imaging atmospheric Čerenkov telescopes (IACTs). We have investigated the sensitivity of observations on extended γ-ray emission over the entire field of view of the instrument. We discuss a technique to search for extended γ-ray sources within the field of view of the instrument. We give estimates for HEGRA sensitivity of observations on extended TeV γ-ray sources.

Very High Energy Gamma‐Ray Observations of PSR B1509−58 with the CANGAROO 3.8 Meter Telescope

The gamma-ray pulsar PSR B1509-58 and its surrounding nebulae have been observed with the Collaboration of Australia and Nippon for a Gamma-Ray Observatory in the Outback (CANGAROO) 3.8 m imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. The observations were performed from 1996 to 1998 in Woomera, South Australia, under different instrumental conditions with estimated threshold energies of 4.5 (1996), 1.9 (1997), and 2.5 TeV (1998) at zenith angles of ~30°. Although no strong evidence of gamma-ray emission was found, the lowest energy threshold data of 1997 showed a marginal excess of gamma-ray-like events at the 4.1 σ significance level. The corresponding gamma-ray flux is calculated to be (2.9 ± 0.7) × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 above 1.9 TeV. The observations of 1996 and 1998 yielded only upper limits (99.5% confidence level) of 1.9 × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 above 4.5 TeV and 2.0 × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 above 2.5 TeV. Assuming that the 1997 excess is due to very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the pulsar nebula, our result, when combined with the X-ray observations, leads to a value of the magnetic field strength 5 μG. This is consistent with the equipartition value previously estimated in the X-ray nebula surrounding the pulsar. No significant periodicity at the 150 ms pulsar period has been found in any of the three years' data. The flux upper limits set from our observations are 1 order of magnitude below previously reported detections of pulsed TeV emission.