Very high energy (> 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission has been detected for the first time from the composite supernova remnant G0.9+0.1 using the H.E.S.S. instrument. The source is detected with a ...significance of 13 sigma, and a photon flux above 200 GeV of (5.7+/-0.7 stat +/- 1.2 sys) * 10^-12 cm^-2 s^-1, making it one of the weakest sources ever detected at TeV energies. The photon spectrum is compatible with a power law (dN/dE \propto E^-Gamma) with photon index Gamma = 2.40 +/- 0.11 stat +/- 0.20 sys. The gamma-ray emission appears to originate in the plerionic core of the remnant, rather than the shell, and can be plausibly explained as inverse Compton scattering of relativistic electrons.
The Supernova Remnant MSH 15-52 has been observed in very high energy (VHE) γ-rays using the HESS 4-telescope array located in Namibia. A γ-ray signal is detected at the 25 sigma level during an ...exposure of 22.1 h live time. The image reveals an elliptically shaped emission region around the pulsar PSR B1509–58, with semi-major axis ~$6'$ in the NW-SE direction and semi-minor axis ~$2'$. This morphology coincides with the diffuse pulsar wind nebula as observed at X-ray energies by ROSAT. The overall energy spectrum from 280 GeV up to 40 TeV can be fitted by a power law with photon index $\Gamma=2.27\pm0.03_{\textrm {\scriptsize \,stat}}\pm 0.20_{\textrm{\scriptsize \,syst}}$. The detected emission can be plausibly explained by inverse Compton scattering of accelerated relativistic electrons with soft photons.
Aims. Previous observations with the HESS telescope array revealed the existence of extended very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-ray emission, HESS J1023–575, coincident with the young stellar ...cluster Westerlund 2. At the time of discovery, the origin of the observed emission was not unambiguously identified, and follow-up observations have been performed to further investigate the nature of this γ-ray source. Methods. The Carina region towards the open cluster Westerlund 2 has been re-observed, increasing the total exposure to 45.9 h. The combined dataset includes 33 h of new data and now permits a search for energy-dependent morphology and detailed spectroscopy. Results. A new, hard spectrum VHE γ-ray source, HESS J1026–582, was discovered with a statistical significance of 7σ. It is positionally coincident with the Fermi LAT pulsar PSR J1028–5819. The positional coincidence and radio/γ-ray characteristics of the LAT pulsar favors a scenario where the TeV emission originates from a pulsar wind nebula. The nature of HESS J1023–575 is discussed in light of the deep HESS observations and recent multi-wavelength discoveries, including the Fermi LAT pulsar PSR J1022–5746 and giant molecular clouds in the region. Despite the improved VHE dataset, a clear identification of the object responsible for the VHE emission from HESS J1023–575 is not yet possible, and contribution from the nearby high-energy pulsar and/or the open cluster remains a possibility.
Due to its sensitivity and speed, the detector still widely used in Cerenkov astrophysics experiments remains the PhotoMultiplier Tube (PMT). For instance, recent pathbreaking experiments in Very ...High Energy astrophysics (VHE), such as MAGIC and HESS, have used mainstream PMT technology Aharonian, F. et al Astron. Astrophys. 492(1):L25–L28 (
2008
). Moreover the Cerenkov Telescope Array (CTA) which is now in its design phase, is also planed to be based on PMT’s. However, there are some disadvantages to the PMT technology: the rather poor quantum efficiency, the use of high voltages, the high cost when used in large number in a matrix arrangement and the large weight. Hence, we have investigated the possibility to design future Cerenkov telescopes based on solid state technology, specifically Geiger avalanche photodiodes. In a preliminary development test, we placed HAMAMATSU avalanche photodiodes at the focal plane of a 60 cm diameter telescope at the Pic du Midi in the French Pyrénées, in order to record incident cosmic rays. In this paper, we describe not only the experimental setup but we also put special emphasis to the reduction of the semi-conductor noise. We also show first data that were recorded during two runs in the fall of 2006, and conclude by the presentation of the design of an “integrated, low-cost solid state photodiode arrangement” which might be an alternative to PMT’s for future VHE telescopes.
Aims. The BL Lac object RGB J0152+017 ($z=0.080$) was predicted to be a very high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) γ-ray source, due to its high X-ray and radio fluxes. Our aim is to understand the radiative ...processes by investigating the observed emission and its production mechanism using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) experiment. Methods. We report recent observations of the BL Lac source RGB J0152+017 made in late October and November 2007 with the HESS array consisting of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous observations were made in X-rays by the Swift and RXTE satellites, in the optical band with the ATOM telescope, and in the radio band with the Nançay Radio Telescope. Results. A signal of 173 γ-ray photons corresponding to a statistical significance of 6.6σ was found in the data. The energy spectrum of the source can be described by a powerlaw with a spectral index of $\Gamma=2.95\pm0.36_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm 0.20_{\mathrm{syst}}$. The integral flux above 300 GeV corresponds to ~2% of the flux of the Crab nebula. The source spectral energy distribution (SED) can be described using a two-component non-thermal synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) leptonic model, except in the optical band, which is dominated by a thermal host galaxy component. The parameters that are found are very close to those found in similar SSC studies in TeV blazars. Conclusions. RGB J0152+017 is discovered as a source of VHE γ-rays by HESS The location of its synchrotron peak, as derived from the SED in Swift data, allows clear classification as a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL).
The High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) has observed the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 in 2003 between October 19 and November 26 in Very High Energy (VHE) γ-rays ($E\geq ...160\,\rm GeV$ for these observations). Observations were carried out simultaneously with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) on board the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite (RXTE), the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE) and the Nançay decimetric radiotelescope (NRT). Intra-night variability is seen in the VHE band, the source being detected with a high significance on each night it was observed. Variability is also found in the X-ray and optical bands on kilosecond timescales, along with flux-dependent spectral changes in the X-rays. A transient X-ray event with a 1500 s timescale is detected, making this the fastest X-ray flare seen in this object. No correlation can be established between the X-ray and the γ-ray fluxes, or any of the other wavebands, over the small range of observed variability. The average HESS spectrum shows a very soft power law shape with a photon index of $3.37 \pm 0.07_{\rm stat} \pm 0.10_{\rm sys}$. The energy outputs in the 2–$10\,\rm keV$ and in the VHE γ-ray range are found to be similar, with the X-rays and the optical fluxes at a level comparable to some of the lowest historical measurements, indicating that PKS 2155-304 was in a low or quiescent state during the observations. Both a leptonic and a hadronic model are used to derive source parameters from these observations. These parameters are found to be sensitive to the model of Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) that attenuates the VHE signal at this source's redshift ($z=0.117$).
The high-frequency peaked BL Lac PG 1553+113 was observed in 2005 with the HESS stereoscopic array of imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. Using the HESS standard analysis, an excess ...was measured at the 4.0σ level in these observations (7.6 hours live time). Three alternative, lower-threshold analyses yield >5σ excesses. The observed integral flux above 200 GeV is $(4.8\pm1.3_{\rm stat}\pm1.0_{\rm syst})\times10^{-12}$ cm-2 s-1, and shows no evidence for variability. The measured energy spectrum is characterized by a very soft power law (photon index of $\Gamma=4.0\pm0.6$). Although the redshift of PG 1553+113 is unknown, there are strong indications that it is greater than $z=0.25$ and possibly larger than $z=0.78$. The observed spectrum is interpreted in the context of VHE γ-ray absorption by the Extragalactic Background Light, and is used to place an upper limit on the redshift of $z<0.74$.
APD photodetectors in the Geiger photon counter mode Pellion, D.; Jradi, K.; Moutier, F. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
10/2009, Letnik:
610, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Geiger APD technology, which has been used for a few years now
8 R.H. Haitz, J. Appl. Phys. 35 (5) (1964) 1370, is evolving towards better performances, including integration in multifunctional ...microsystems; one such achievement today is the so-called
SiPM
1 P. Buzhan, et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 567 (2006) 78. The present work has been conducted by a consortium of researchers from CESR and LAAS/CNRS and the manufacturing of components was achieved in the clean room of LAAS/CNRS.
We present here an original N/P technology of photodiode, designed so as to offer a very good homogeneity in the electrical operating characteristics. For this, we have chosen a design and technological process that defines the breakdown voltage from the substrate doping.
We present the technological process we developed, in which we took special care to maintain, by low transit temperature processes, at the highest quality level the initial characteristics of the materials.
We will also present the performances of the diodes produced, with sizes ranging from 10 to 100
μm, as a function of many parameters (gain, dark current, etc). We also produced SiPM, and also 8×8 arrays of SiPM.
Typical characteristics for a single diode are a
V
br between 43 and 44
V, and a dark current below 1
pA at ambient temperature. But the most important feature seems to be the high homogeneity of these performances all over the wafer surface. This gives us great confidence in the next step of our work, which is the manufacturing of very high-sensitivity imaging devices.
Context.We present the discovery of two very-high-energy γ-ray sources in an ongoing systematic search for emission above 100 GeV from pulsar wind nebulae in survey data from the HESS telescope ...array. Aims.Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes are ideal tools for searching for extended emission from pulsar wind nebulae in the very-high-energy regime. HESS, with its large field of view of 5° and high sensitivity, gives new prospects for the search for these objects. Methods.An ongoing systematic search for very-high-energy emission from energetic pulsars over the region of the Galactic plane between $-60^\circ < l < 30^\circ$, $-2^\circ < b < 2^\circ$ is performed. For the resulting candidates, the standard HESS analysis was applied and a search for multi-wavelength counterparts was performed. Results. We present the discovery of two new candidate γ-ray pulsar wind nebulae, HESS J1718-385 and HESS J1809-193. Conclusions.HESS has proven to be a suitable instrument for pulsar wind nebula searches.
We discovered the >100 GeV γ-ray source, HESS J1713-381, apparently associated with the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 37B, using HESS in 2006. In 2007 we performed X-ray follow-up ...observations with Chandra with the aim of identifying a synchrotron counterpart to the TeV source and/or thermal emission from the SNR shell. These new Chandra data, together with additional TeV data, allow us to investigate the nature of this object in much greater detail than was previously possible. The new X-ray data reveal thermal emission from a ~4' region in close proximity to the radio shell of CTB 37B. The temperature of this emission implies an age for the remnant of ~5000 years and an ambient gas density of ~0.5 cm-3. Both these estimates are considerably uncertain due to the asymmetry of the SNR and possible modifications of the kinematics due to efficient cosmic ray (CR) acceleration. A bright (≈ 7 $\times$ 10-13 erg cm-2 s-1) and unresolved (<1″) source (CXOU J171405.7-381031), with a soft (Γ≈3.3) non-thermal spectrum is also detected in coincidence with the radio shell. Absorption indicates a column density consistent with the thermal emission from the shell, suggesting a genuine association rather than a chance alignment. The observed TeV morphology is consistent with an origin in the complete shell of CTB 37B. The lack of diffuse non-thermal X-ray emission suggests an origin of the γ-ray emission via the decay of neutral pions produced in interactions of protons and nuclei, rather than inverse Compton (IC) emission from relativistic electrons.
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