Search for TeV $γ$ -rays from H1426+428 during 2004-07 with the TACTIC telescope

Abstract

The BL Lac object H1426+428 ($z\equiv 0.129$) is an established source of TeV $γ$-rays and detections of these photons from this object also have important implications for estimating the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) in addition to the understanding of the particle acceleration and $γ$-ray production mechanisms in the AGN jets. We have observed this source for about 244h in 2004, 2006 and 2007 with the TACTIC $γ$-ray telescope located at Mt. Abu, India. Detailed analysis of these data do not indicate the presence of any statistically significant TeV $γ$-ray signal from the source direction. Accordingly, we have placed an upper limit of $\leq1.18\times10^{-12}$ $photons$ $cm^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ on the integrated $γ$-ray flux at 3$σ$ significance level.