H.E.S.S. discovery of VHE γ-rays from the quasar PKS 1510−089

H.E.S.S. Collaboration Abramowski, A. Acero; F. Aharonian, F. Akhperjanian; A.G. Anton, G. Balenderan; S. Balzer, A. Barnacka; A. Becherini, Y. Becker Tjus; J. Behera, B. Bernlöhr; K. Birsin, E. Biteau; J. Bochow, A. Boisson; C. Bolmont, J. Bordas; P. Brucker, J. Brun; F. Brun, P. Bulik; T. Carrigan, S. Casanova; S. Cerruti, M. *Chadwick; P.M. Chaves, R.C.G. Cheesebrough; A. Colafrancesco, S. Cologna; G. Conrad, J. Couturier; C. Dalton, M. Daniel; M.K. Davids, I.D. Degrange; B. Deil, C. deWilt; P. Dickinson, H.J. Djannati-Ataï; A. Domainko, W. Drury; L.O'C. Dubus, G. Dutson; K. Dyks, J. Dyrda; M. Egberts, K. Eger; P. Espigat, P. Fallon; L. Farnier, C. Fegan; S. Feinstein, F. Fernandes; M.V. Fernandez, D. Fiasson; A. Fontaine, G. Förster; A. Füßling, M. Gajdus; M. Gallant, Y.A. Garrigoux; T. Gast, H. Giebels; B. Glicenstein, J.F. Glück; B. Göring, D. Grondin; M.-H. Grudzińska, M. Häffner; S. Hague, J.D. Hahn; J. Hampf, D. Harris; J. Hauser, M. Heinz; S. Heinzelmann, G. Henri; G. Hermann...

Abstract

The quasar PKS 1510−089 (z = 0.361) was observed with the H.E.S.S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes during high states in the optical and GeV bands, to search for very high energy (VHE, defined as E ≥ 0.1 TeV) emission. VHE γ-rays were detected with a statistical significance of 9.2 standard deviations in 15.8 h of H.E.S.S. data taken during March and April 2009. A VHE integral flux of I(0.15 TeV < E < 1.0 TeV)= (1.0 ± 0.2stat ± 0.2sys) × 10-11 cm-2 s-1 is measured. The best-fit power law to the VHE data has a photon index of Γ = 5.4 ± 0.7stat ± 0.3sys. The GeV and optical light curves show pronounced variability during the period of H.E.S.S. observations. However, there is insufficient evidence to claim statistically significant variability in the VHE data. Because of its relatively high redshift, the VHE flux from PKS 1510−089 should suffer considerable attenuation in the intergalactic space due to the extragalactic background light (EBL). Hence, the measured γ-ray spectrum is used to derive upper limits on the opacity due to EBL, which are found to be comparable with the previously derived limits from relatively-nearby BL Lac objects. Unlike typical VHE-detected blazars where the broadband spectrum is dominated by nonthermal radiation at all wavelengths, the quasar PKS 1510−089 has a bright thermal component in the optical to UV frequency band. Among all VHE detected blazars, PKS 1510−089 has the most luminous broad line region. The detection of VHE emission from this quasar indicates a low level of γ − γ absorption on the internal optical to UV photon field.

Citation

H.E.S.S. Collaboration Abramowski, A. A., F. Aharonian, F. A., A.G. Anton, G. B., S. Balzer, A. B., A. Becherini, Y. B. T., J. Behera, B. B., …S., H. (2013). H.E.S.S. discovery of VHE γ-rays from the quasar PKS 1510−089. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 554, Article A107. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201321135

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 28, 2013
• Publication Date: Jun 12, 2013
• Deposit Date: May 29, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2014
• Journal: Astronomy and astrophysics.
• Print ISSN: 0004-6361
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-0746
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 554
• Article Number: A107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201321135
• Keywords: Gamma rays: galaxies, Quasars: individual: PKS 1510-089, Infrared: diffuse background.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1430272
• Related Public URLs: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013A%26A...554A.107H