arXiv subjects

Gernot Maier

Publications and source records attributed to Gernot Maier.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Dark matter substructure modelling and sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to Galactic dark halos

Hierarchical structure formation leads to a clumpy distribution of dark matter in the Milky Way. These clumps are possible targets to search for dark matter annihilation with present and future $γ$-ray instruments. Many uncertainties exist on the clump distribution, leading to disputed conclusions about the expected number of detectable clumps and the ensuing limits that can be obtained from non-detection. In this paper, we use the CLUMPY code to simulate thousands of skymaps for several clump distributions. This allows us to statistically assess the typical properties (mass, distance, angular size, luminosity) of the detectable clumps. Varying parameters of the clump distributions allows us to identify the key quantities to which the number of detectable clumps is the most sensitive. Focusing our analysis on two extreme clump configurations, yet consistent with results from numerical simulations, we revisit and compare various calculations made for the Fermi-LAT instrument, in terms of number of dark clumps expected and the angular power spectrum for the Galactic signal. We then focus on the prospects of detecting dark clumps with the future CTA instrument, for which we make a detailed sensitivity analysis using open-source CTA software. Based on a realistic scenario for the foreseen CTA extragalactic survey, and accounting for a post-trial sensitivity in the survey, we show that we obtain competitive and complementary limits to those based on long observation of a single bright dwarf spheroidal galaxy.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Optimal strategies for observation of active galactic nuclei variability with Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes

Variable emission is one of the defining characteristic of active galactic nuclei (AGN). While providing precious information on the nature and physics of the sources, variability is often challenging to observe with time- and field-of-view-limited astronomical observatories such as Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). In this work, we address two questions relevant for the observation of sources characterized by AGN-like variability: what is the most time-efficient way to detect such sources, and what is the observational bias that can be introduced by the choice of the observing strategy when conducting blind surveys of the sky. Different observing strategies are evaluated using simulated light curves and realistic instrument response functions of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), a future gamma-ray observatory. We show that strategies that makes use of very small observing windows, spread over large periods of time, allows for a faster detection of the source, and are less influenced by the variability properties of the sources, as compared to strategies that concentrate the observing time in a small number of large observing windows. Although derived using CTA as an example, our conclusions are conceptually valid for any IACTs facility, and in general, to all observatories with small field of view and limited duty cycle.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2015

The On-Site Analysis of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory will be one of the largest ground-based very high-energy gamma-ray observatories. The On-Site Analysis will be the first CTA scientific analysis of data acquired from the array of telescopes, in both northern and southern sites. The On-Site Analysis will have two pipelines: the Level-A pipeline (also known as Real-Time Analysis, RTA) and the level-B one. The RTA performs data quality monitoring and must be able to issue automated alerts on variable and transient astrophysical sources within 30 seconds from the last acquired Cherenkov event that contributes to the alert, with a sensitivity not worse than the one achieved by the final pipeline by more than a factor of 3. The Level-B Analysis has a better sensitivity (not be worse than the final one by a factor of 2) and the results should be available within 10 hours from the acquisition of the data: for this reason this analysis could be performed at the end of an observation or next morning. The latency (in particular for the RTA) and the sensitivity requirements are challenging because of the large data rate, a few GByte/s. The remote connection to the CTA candidate site with a rather limited network bandwidth makes the issue of the exported data size extremely critical and prevents any kind of processing in real-time of the data outside the site of the telescopes. For these reasons the analysis will be performed on-site with infrastructures co-located with the telescopes, with limited electrical power availability and with a reduced possibility of human intervention. This means, for example, that the on-site hardware infrastructure should have low-power consumption. A substantial effort towards the optimization of high-throughput computing service is envisioned to provide hardware and software solutions with high-throughput, low-power consumption at a low-cost.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2015

Long-term TeV Observations of the Gamma-ray Binary HESS J0632+057 with VERITAS

The gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057 has been observed at very-high energies for almost ten years by all major systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. We present new observations taken by the VERITAS observatory and an updated analysis of the previously published observations. HESS J0632+057 has been detected by VERITAS with a total significance $>20σ$ at energies above 350 GeV in about 200 hours of observations. The exposure covers now almost the entire orbital period of 315 days including the flux enhancements at phases $\approx$0.35 and, for the first time, detected with VERITAS, at phases $\approx$0.75. The results are discussed along with simultaneous observations by the X-ray satellite {\em Swift} XRT.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Search for Galactic dark matter substructures with Cherenkov telescopes

Weakly interacting massive dark matter (DM) particles are expected to self-annihilate or decay, generating high-energy photons in these processes. This establishes the possibility for indirect detection of DM by γ-ray telescopes. For probing the secondary products of DM, accurate knowledge about the DM density distribution in potential astrophysical targets is crucial. In this contribution, the prospects for the detection of subhalos in the Galactic DM halo with present and future imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACT) are investigated. The source count distribution and angular power spectra for γ-rays originating from annihilating DM in subhalos are calculated from N-body simulation results. To study the systematic uncertainties coming from the modeling of the DM density distribution, parameters describing the γ-ray yield from subhalos are varied in 16 benchmark models. We conclude that Galactic subhalos of annihilating DM are probably too faint to be a promising target for IACT observations, even with the prospective Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Impact of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) altitude on Dark Matter searches in the Milky Way Halo

Observations of dwarf galaxies and of the Milky Way halo with current ground-based Cherenkov telescopes have resulted in interesting limits on the cross-section for dark matter (DM) self- annihilation for WIMP masses above some 100 GeV. The future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is expected to further explore the parameter space of dark matter candidates that are predicted in extensions of the standard model of particle physics. Due to its low energy threshold (of order of few tens of GeV) and high sensitivity, CTA will also probe lower WIMP masses than current experiments, but the actual performance in this regime will be influenced by the altitude of the observatory above sea level. Using the response of possible CTA candidate arrays to simulated photons and hadrons, we estimate how searches for a WIMP annihilation signal from the Milky Way halo will be influenced by altitude of different possible CTA sites.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

VERITAS and H.E.S.S. observations of the gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057

HESS J0632+057 has been recently identified as a new gamma-ray binary system. The source, located in the Monoceros region and associated with the massive Be star MWC 148, shows variability from radio to very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays, displaying a maximum of its non-thermal emission about 100 days after periastron passage (at orbital phases close to 0.3). We present here the results obtained with the VERITAS and H.E.S.S Cherenkov telescopes spanning a wide time interval from 2004 to 2012. The source is detected at TeV gamma-rays at a high significance level at orbital phase 0.3. We also report for the first time TeV observations belonging to orbital phases never explored so far. The VHE gamma-ray results are discussed in a multiwavelength context, focusing on contemporaneous observations obtained with the Swift-XRT.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Observation of binary systems at very-high energies with VERITAS

Non-thermal variable emission from radio to very-high energy gamma rays (VHE; >100 GeV) are the prime characteristics of gamma-ray binaries. The underlying physical processes leading to the observed VHE emission are not well understood, as even the most basic features of these systems are under dispute (microquasar model vs shocked pulsar wind model). VHE binaries can be difficult to observe, some have orbital periods of the order of years (e.g. HESS J0632+057 or PSR B1259-69) or show irregular emission patterns as observed in LS I +61 303. We present here new VERITAS observations of the binary systems LS I +61 303 and HESS J0632+057 carried out with higher sensitivity and more dense temporal coverage than previous observations. The gamma-ray results and their astrophysical implications are discussed in the context of contemporaneous observations with Swift XRT and Fermi LAT at X-ray and gamma-ray energies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

VHE Observations of the Binary Candidate HESS J0632+057 with H.E.S.S. and VERITAS

HESS J0632+057 is an unidentified gamma-ray source located in the Monoceros region, probably associated with the massive Be star MWC 148. H.E.S.S. and VERITAS observations in the very high energy (VHE) range combined with Swift X-ray data indicate that this object is a new member of the elusive gamma-ray binary class. We present here results of VHE gamma-ray observations from VERITAS and HESS at energies above 100 GeV taken over more than six years. The observations confirm HESS J0632+057 as a point-like VHE source with a significance of more than 12 standard deviations. The VHE gamma-ray results are discussed in the context of contemporaneous X-ray observations with Swift XRT.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

VHE Observations of Galactic binary systems with VERITAS

A few Galactic objects are known to be variable sources of photons with energies above 100 GeV. These systems are mostly binaries, where variability can often be connected to the orbital period. Particle acceleration and gamma-ray production processes in binaries are generally not well understood. We present here an overview of VERITAS observations of binary systems at very-high energies (VHE) with emphasis on LS I +61 303 and 1A0535+262. The results are discussed in the context of recent observations of RXTE, Swift and Fermi LAT at X- and Gamma-ray energies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

VERITAS Telescope 1 Relocation: Details and Improvements

The first VERITAS telescope was installed in 2002-2003 at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory and was originally operated as a prototype instrument. Subsequently the decision was made to locate the full array at the same site, resulting in an asymmetric array layout. As anticipated, this resulted in less than optimal sensitivity due to the loss in effective area and the increase in background due to local muon initiated triggers. In the summer of 2009, the VERITAS collaboration relocated Telescope 1 to improve the overall array layout. This has provided a 30% improvement in sensitivity corresponding to a 60% change in the time needed to detect a source.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2007

Observation of LS I +61 303 with VERITAS

The high mass X-ray binary LS I +61 303 has been observed over several months in 2006 and 2007 with the VERITAS array of imaging air-Cherenkov telescopes. A signal of high energy gamma rays with energies above 350 GeV is detected in several orbital cycles of the binary system. The detected flux of gamma rays is strongly variable with the orbital period of 26.5 days, while the maximum flux (corresponding to about 10% of the flux of the Crab Nebula)is always found at approximately apastron, suggesting a strong dependence of particle acceleration and/or propagation on the relative position of the two objects in the system.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Cosmic-Ray Events as Background in Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes

The dominant background for observations of gamma-rays in the energy region above 50 GeV with Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes are cosmic-ray events. The images of most of the cosmic ray showers look significantly different from those of gamma-rays and are therefore easily discriminated. However, a small fraction of events seems to be indistinguishable from gamma-rays. This constitutes an irreducible background to the observation of high-energy gamma-ray sources, and limits the sensitivity achievable with a given instrument. Here, a Monte Carlo study of gamma-like cosmic-ray events is presented. The nature of gamma-like cosmic-ray events, the shower particles that are responsible for the gamma-like appearance, and the dependence of these results on the choice of the hadronic interaction model are investigated. Most of the gamma-like cosmic ray events are characterised by the production of high-energy pi0's early in the shower development which dump most of the shower energy into electromagnetic sub-showers. Also Cherenkov light from single muons can mimic gamma-rays in close-by pairs of telescopes. Differences of up to 25% in the collection area for gamma-like proton showers between QGSJet/FLUKA and Sibyll/FLUKA simulations have been found.

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