arXiv subjects

I. Jung-Richardt

Publications and source records attributed to I. Jung-Richardt.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

VHE $γ$-ray discovery and multi-wavelength study of the blazar 1ES 2322-409

A hotspot at a position compatible with the BL Lac object 1ES 2322-409 was serendipitously detected with H.E.S.S. during observations performed in 2004 and 2006 on the blazar PKS 2316-423. Additional data on 1ES 2322-409 were taken in 2011 and 2012, leading to a total live-time of 22.3h. Point-like very-high-energy (VHE; E>100GeV) $γ$-ray emission is detected from a source centred on the 1ES 2322-409 position, with an excess of 116.7 events at a significance of 6.0$σ$. The average VHE $γ$-ray spectrum is well described with a power law with a photon index $Γ=3.40\pm0.66_{\text{stat}}\pm0.20_{\text{sys}}$ and an integral flux $Φ(E>200GeV) = (3.11\pm0.71_{\rm stat}\pm0.62_{\rm sys})\times10^{-12} cm^{-2} s^{-1}$, which corresponds to 1.1$\%$ of the Crab nebula flux above 200 GeV. Multi-wavelength data obtained with Fermi LAT, Swift XRT and UVOT, RXTE PCA, ATOM, and additional data from WISE, GROND and Catalina, are also used to characterise the broad-band non-thermal emission of 1ES 2322-409. The multi-wavelength behaviour indicates day-scale variability. Swift UVOT and XRT data show strong variability at longer scales. A spectral energy distribution (SED) is built from contemporaneous observations obtained around a high state identified in Swift data. A modelling of the SED is performed with a stationary homogeneous one-zone synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) leptonic model. The redshift of the source being unknown, two plausible values were tested for the modelling. A systematic scan of the model parameters space is performed, resulting in a well-constrained combination of values providing a good description of the broad-band behaviour of 1ES 2322-409.

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arXiv2018

Searches for gamma-ray lines and `pure WIMP' spectra from Dark Matter annihilations in dwarf galaxies with H.E.S.S

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are among the most promising targets for detecting signals of Dark Matter (DM) annihilations. The H.E.S.S. experiment has observed five of these systems for a total of about 130 hours. The data are re-analyzed here, and, in the absence of any detected signals, are interpreted in terms of limits on the DM annihilation cross section. Two scenarios are considered: i) DM annihilation into mono-energetic gamma-rays and ii) DM in the form of pure WIMP multiplets that, annihilating into all electroweak bosons, produce a distinctive gamma-ray spectral shape with a high-energy peak at the DM mass and a lower-energy continuum. For case i), upper limits at 95\% confidence level of about $\langle σv \rangle \lesssim 3 \times 10^{-25}$ cm$^3$ s$^{-1}$ are obtained in the mass range of 400 GeV to 1 TeV. For case ii), the full spectral shape of the models is used and several excluded regions are identified, but the thermal masses of the candidates are not robustly ruled out.

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arXiv2018

First Ground-based Measurement of Sub-20 GeV to 100 GeV $γ$-rays from the Vela Pulsar with H.E.S.S. II

We report on the measurement and investigation of pulsed high-energy $γ$-ray emission from the Vela pulsar, PSR B0833$-$45, based on 40.3 hours of observations with the largest telescope of H.E.S.S., CT5, in monoscopic mode, and on 8 years of data obtained with the Fermi-LAT. A dedicated very-low-threshold event reconstruction and analysis pipeline was developed and, together with the CT5 telescope response model, was validated using the Fermi-LAT data as reference. A pulsed $γ$-ray signal at a significance level of more than $15σ$ is detected from the P2 peak of the Vela pulsar light curve. Of a total of 15835 events, more than 6000 lie at an energy below 20 GeV, implying a significant overlap between H.E.S.S. II-CT5 and the Fermi-LAT. While the investigation of the pulsar light curve with the LAT confirms characteristics previously known up to 20 GeV, in the tens of GeV energy range, CT5 data show a change in the pulse morphology of P2, i.e., an extreme sharpening of its trailing edge, together with the possible onset of a new component at 3.4$σ$ significance level. Assuming a power-law model for the P2 spectrum, an excellent agreement is found for the photon indices ($Γ\simeq$ 4.1) obtained with the two telescopes above 10 GeV and an upper bound of 8% is derived on the relative offset between their energy scales. Using both instruments data, it is however shown that the spectrum of P2 in the 10-100 GeV has a pronounced curvature, i.e. a confirmation of the sub-exponential cutoff form found at lower energies with the LAT. This is further supported by the weak evidence for an emission above 100 GeV obtained with CT5. In contrast, converging indications are found from both CT5 and LAT data for the emergence of a hard component above 50 GeV in the leading wing (LW2) of P2, which possibly extends beyond 100 GeV.

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arXiv2018

The $γ$-ray spectrum of the core of Centaurus A as observed with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

Centaurus A (Cen A) is the nearest radio galaxy discovered as a very-high-energy (VHE; 100 GeV-100 TeV) $γ$-ray source by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). It is a faint VHE $γ$-ray emitter, though its VHE flux exceeds both the extrapolation from early Fermi-LAT observations as well as expectations from a (misaligned) single-zone synchrotron-self Compton (SSC) description. The latter satisfactorily reproduces the emission from Cen A at lower energies up to a few GeV. New observations with H.E.S.S., comparable in exposure time to those previously reported, were performed and eight years of Fermi-LAT data were accumulated to clarify the spectral characteristics of the $γ$-ray emission from the core of Cen A. The results allow us for the first time to achieve the goal of constructing a representative, contemporaneous $γ$-ray core spectrum of Cen A over almost five orders of magnitude in energy. Advanced analysis methods, including the template fitting method, allow detection in the VHE range of the core with a statistical significance of 12$σ$ on the basis of 213 hours of total exposure time. The spectrum in the energy range of 250 GeV-6 TeV is compatible with a power-law function with a photon index $Γ=2.52\pm0.13_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm0.20_{\mathrm{sys}}$. An updated Fermi-LAT analysis provides evidence for spectral hardening by $ΔΓ\simeq0.4\pm0.1$ at $γ$-ray energies above $2.8^{+1.0}_{-0.6}$ GeV at a level of $4.0σ$. The fact that the spectrum hardens at GeV energies and extends into the VHE regime disfavour a single-zone SSC interpretation for the overall spectral energy distribution (SED) of the core and is suggestive of a new $γ$-ray emitting component connecting the high-energy emission above the break energy to the one observed at VHE energies.

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arXiv2018

The starburst galaxy NGC 253 revisited by H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

(Abridged) Context. NGC 253 is one of only two starburst galaxies found to emit $γ$-rays from hundreds of MeV to multi-TeV energies. Accurate measurements of the very-high-energy (VHE) (E $>$ 100 GeV) and high-energy (HE) (E $>$ 60 MeV) spectra are crucial to study the underlying particle accelerators and cosmic-ray interaction and transport. Aims. The measurement of the VHE $γ$-ray emission of NGC 253 published in 2012 by H.E.S.S. was limited by large systematic uncertainties. Here, a measurement of the $γ$-ray spectrum of NGC 253 is investigated in both HE and VHE $γ$-rays. Methods. The data of H.E.S.S. observations are reanalysed using an updated calibration and analysis chain. The $Fermi$-LAT analysis employs more than 8 years of data processed using pass 8. The cosmic-ray particle population is evaluated from the combined HE--VHE $γ$-ray spectrum using NAIMA. Results. The VHE $γ$-ray energy spectrum is best fit by a power-law with a flux normalisation of $(1.34\,\pm\,0.14^{\mathrm{stat}}\,\pm\,0.27^{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-13} \mathrm{cm^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1}}$ at 1 TeV -- about 40 \% above, but compatible with the value obtained in Abramowski et al. (2012). The spectral index $Γ= 2.39 \pm 0.14^{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.25^{\mathrm{sys}}$ is slightly softer than but consistent with the previous measurement. At energies above $\sim$3 GeV the HE spectrum is consistent with a power-law ranging into the VHE part of the spectrum measured by H.E.S.S. Conclusions. Two scenarios for the starburst nucleus are tested, in which the gas in the starburst nucleus acts as a target for hadronic cosmic rays. In these two models, the level to which NGC\,253 acts as a calorimeter is estimated to a range of $f_{\rm cal} = 0.1$ to $1$ while accounting for the measurement uncertainties.

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arXiv2018

Search for $γ$-ray line signals from dark matter annihilations in the inner Galactic halo from ten years of observations with H.E.S.S

Spectral lines are among the most powerful signatures for dark matter (DM) annihilation searches in very-high-energy $γ$-rays. The central region of the Milky Way halo is one of the most promising targets given its large amount of DM and proximity to Earth. We report on a search for a monoenergetic spectral line from self-annihilations of DM particles in the energy range from 300 GeV to 70 TeV using a two-dimensional maximum likelihood method taking advantage of both the spectral and spatial features of signal versus background. The analysis makes use of Galactic Center (GC) observations accumulated over ten years (2004 - 2014) with the H.E.S.S. array of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. No significant $γ$-ray excess above the background is found. We derive upper limits on the annihilation cross section $\langleσv\rangle$ for monoenergetic DM lines at the level of $\sim4\times10^{-28}$ cm$^{3}$s$^{-1}$ at 1 TeV, assuming an Einasto DM profile for the Milky Way halo. For a DM mass of 1 TeV, they improve over the previous ones by a factor of six. The present constraints are the strongest obtained so far for DM particles in the mass range 300 GeV - 70 TeV. Ground-based $γ$-ray observations have reached sufficient sensitivity to explore relevant velocity-averaged cross sections for DM annihilation into two $γ$-ray photons at the level expected from the thermal relic density for TeV DM particles.

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arXiv2018

Population study of Galactic supernova remnants at very high $γ$-ray energies with H.E.S.S.

Shell-type supernova remnants (SNRs) are considered prime candidates for the acceleration of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) up to the knee of the CR spectrum at $\mathrm{E} \approx \mathrm{3}\times \mathrm{10}^\mathrm{15}$ eV. Our Milky Way galaxy hosts more than 350 SNRs discovered at radio wavelengths and at high energies, of which 220 fall into the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey (HGPS) region. Of those, only 50 SNRs are coincident with a H.E.S.S source and in 8 cases the very high-energy (VHE) emission is firmly identified as an SNR. The H.E.S.S. GPS provides us with a legacy for SNR population study in VHE $γ$-rays and we use this rich data set to extract VHE flux upper limits from all undetected SNRs. Overall, the derived flux upper limits are not in contradiction with the canonical CR paradigm. Assuming this paradigm holds true, we can constrain typical ambient density values around shell-type SNRs to $n\leq 7~\textrm{cm}^\textrm{-3}$ and electron-to-proton energy fractions above 10~TeV to $ε_\textrm{ep} \leq 5\times 10^{-3}$. Furthermore, comparisons of VHE with radio luminosities in non-interacting SNRs reveal a behaviour that is in agreement with the theory of magnetic field amplification at shell-type SNRs.

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arXiv2018

Detection of variable VHE gamma-ray emission from the extra-galactic gamma-ray binary LMC P3

Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) $γ$-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic $γ$-ray binary. Aims. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) $γ$-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Energy spectra are obtained for the orbit-averaged data set, and for the orbital phase bin around the VHE maximum. Results. VHE $γ$-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 $σ$. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the $1-10$ TeV energy range is $(1.4 \pm 0.2) \times 10^{35}$ erg/s. A luminosity of $(5 \pm 1) \times 10^{35}$ erg/s is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE $γ$-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous $γ$-ray binary known so far.

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arXiv2017

TeV gamma-ray observations of the binary neutron star merger GW170817 with H.E.S.S

We search for high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 with the H.E.S.S. Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes. The observations presented here have been obtained starting only 5.3h after GW170817. The H.E.S.S. target selection identified regions of high probability to find a counterpart of the gravitational wave event. The first of these regions contained the counterpart SSS17a that has been identified in the optical range several hours after our observations. We can therefore present the first data obtained by a ground-based pointing instrument on this object. A subsequent monitoring campaign with the H.E.S.S. telescopes extended over several days, covering timescales from 0.22 to 5.2 days and energy ranges between $270\,\mathrm{GeV}$ to $8.55\,\mathrm{TeV}$. No significant gamma-ray emission has been found. The derived upper limits on the very-high-energy gamma-ray flux for the first time constrain non-thermal, high-energy emission following the merger of a confirmed binary neutron star system.

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arXiv2017

HESS J1741-302: a hidden accelerator in the Galactic plane

The H.E.S.S. collaboration has discovered a new very high energy (VHE, E $>$ 0.1 TeV) $γ$-ray source, HESS J1741-302, located in the Galactic plane. Despite several attempts to constrain its nature, no plausible counterpart has been found so far at X-ray and MeV/GeV $γ$-ray energies, and the source remains unidentified. An analysis of 145-hour of observations of HESS J1741-302 at VHEs has revealed a steady and relatively weak TeV source ($\sim$1$\%$ of the Crab Nebula flux), with a spectral index of $Γ$ = 2.3 $\pm$ 0.2$_{\text{stat}}$ $\pm$ 0.2$_{\text{sys}}$, extending to energies up to 10 TeV without any clear signature of a cut-off. In a hadronic scenario, such a spectrum implies an object with particle acceleration up to energies of several hundred TeV. Contrary to most H.E.S.S. unidentified sources, the angular size of HESS J1741-302 is compatible with the H.E.S.S. point spread function at VHEs, with an extension constrained to be below 0.068$^{\circ}$ at a 99$\%$ confidence level. The $γ$-ray emission detected by H.E.S.S. can be explained both within a hadronic scenario, due to collisions of protons with energies of hundreds of TeV with dense molecular clouds, and in a leptonic scenario, as a relic pulsar wind nebula, possibly powered by the middle-aged (20 kyr) pulsar PSR B1737-30. A binary scenario, related to the compact radio source 1LC 358.266+0.038 found to be spatially coincident with the best fit position of HESS J1741-302, is also envisaged.

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arXiv2016

Characterizing the gamma-ray long-term variability of PKS 2155-304 with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

Studying the temporal variability of BL Lac objects at the highest energies provides unique insights into the extreme physical processes occurring in relativistic jets and in the vicinity of super-massive black holes. To this end, the long-term variability of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 is analyzed in the high (HE, 100 MeV < E < 300 GeV) and very high energy (VHE, E > 200 GeV) gamma-ray domain. Over the course of ~9 yr of H.E.S.S observations the VHE light curve in the quiescent state is consistent with a log-normal behavior. The VHE variability in this state is well described by flicker noise (power-spectral-density index ß_VHE = 1.10 +0.10 -0.13) on time scales larger than one day. An analysis of 5.5 yr of HE Fermi LAT data gives consistent results (ß_HE = 1.20 +0.21 -0.23, on time scales larger than 10 days) compatible with the VHE findings. The HE and VHE power spectral densities show a scale invariance across the probed time ranges. A direct linear correlation between the VHE and HE fluxes could neither be excluded nor firmly established. These long-term-variability properties are discussed and compared to the red noise behavior (ß ~ 2) seen on shorter time scales during VHE-flaring states. The difference in power spectral noise behavior at VHE energies during quiescent and flaring states provides evidence that these states are influenced by different physical processes, while the compatibility of the HE and VHE long-term results is suggestive of a common physical link as it might be introduced by an underlying jet-disk connection.

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arXiv2016

Acceleration of petaelectronvolt protons in the Galactic Centre

Galactic cosmic rays reach energies of at least a few Peta-electronvolts (1 PeV =$10^\mathbf{15}$ electron volts). This implies our Galaxy contains PeV accelerators (PeVatrons), but all proposed models of Galactic cosmic-ray accelerators encounter non-trivial difficulties at exactly these energies. Tens of Galactic accelerators capable of accelerating particle to tens of TeV (1 TeV =$10^\mathbf{12}$ electron volts) energies were inferred from recent gamma-ray observations. None of the currently known accelerators, however, not even the handful of shell-type supernova remnants commonly believed to supply most Galactic cosmic rays, have shown the characteristic tracers of PeV particles: power-law spectra of gamma rays extending without a cutoff or a spectral break to tens of TeV. Here we report deep gamma-ray observations with arcminute angular resolution of the Galactic Centre regions, which show the expected tracer of the presence of PeV particles within the central 10~parsec of the Galaxy. We argue that the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* is linked to this PeVatron. Sagittarius A* went through active phases in the past, as demonstrated by X-ray outbursts and an outflow from the Galactic Centre. Although its current rate of particle acceleration is not sufficient to provide a substantial contribution to Galactic cosmic rays, Sagittarius A* could have plausibly been more active over the last $\gtrsim 10^{6-7}$ years, and therefore should be considered as a viable alternative to supernova remnants as a source of PeV Galactic cosmic rays.

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arXiv2016

Deep morphological and spectral study of the SNR RCW 86 with Fermi-LAT

RCW 86 is a young supernova remnant (SNR) showing a shell-type structure at several wavelengths and is thought to be an efficient cosmic-ray (CR) accelerator. Earlier \textit{Fermi} Large Area Telescope results reported the detection of $γ$-ray emission coincident with the position of RCW 86 but its origin (leptonic or hadronic) remained unclear due to the poor statistics. Thanks to 6.5 years of data acquired by the \textit{Fermi}-LAT and the new event reconstruction Pass 8, we report the significant detection of spatially extended emission coming from RCW 86. The spectrum is described by a power-law function with a very hard photon index ($Γ= 1.42 \pm 0.1_{\rm stat} \pm 0.06_{\rm syst}$) in the 0.1--500 GeV range and an energy flux above 100 MeV of ($2.91$ $\pm$ $0.8_{\rm stat}$ $\pm$ $0.12_{\rm syst}$) $\times$ $10^{-11}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Gathering all the available multiwavelength (MWL) data, we perform a broadband modeling of the nonthermal emission of RCW 86 to constrain parameters of the nearby medium and bring new hints about the origin of the $γ$-ray emission. For the whole SNR, the modeling favors a leptonic scenario in the framework of a two-zone model with an average magnetic field of 10.2 $\pm$ 0.7 $μ$G and a limit on the maximum energy injected into protons of 2 $\times$ 10$^{49}$ erg for a density of 1 cm$^{-3}$. In addition, parameter values are derived for the North-East (NE) and South-West (SW) regions of RCW 86, providing the first indication of a higher magnetic field in the SW region.

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arXiv2016

Detailed spectral and morphological analysis of the shell type SNR RCW 86

Aims: We aim for an understanding of the morphological and spectral properties of the supernova remnant RCW~86 and for insights into the production mechanism leading to the RCW~86 very high-energy gamma-ray emission. Methods: We analyzed High Energy Spectroscopic System data that had increased sensitivity compared to the observations presented in the RCW~86 H.E.S.S. discovery publication. Studies of the morphological correlation between the 0.5-1~keV X-ray band, the 2-5~keV X-ray band, radio, and gamma-ray emissions have been performed as well as broadband modeling of the spectral energy distribution with two different emission models. Results:We present the first conclusive evidence that the TeV gamma-ray emission region is shell-like based on our morphological studies. The comparison with 2-5~keV X-ray data reveals a correlation with the 0.4-50~TeV gamma-ray emission.The spectrum of RCW~86 is best described by a power law with an exponential cutoff at $E_{cut}=(3.5\pm 1.2_{stat})$ TeV and a spectral index of $Γ$~$1.6\pm 0.2$. A static leptonic one-zone model adequately describes the measured spectral energy distribution of RCW~86, with the resultant total kinetic energy of the electrons above 1 GeV being equivalent to $\sim$0.1\% of the initial kinetic energy of a Type I a supernova explosion. When using a hadronic model, a magnetic field of $B$~100$μ$G is needed to represent the measured data. Although this is comparable to formerly published estimates, a standard E$^{-2}$ spectrum for the proton distribution cannot describe the gamma-ray data. Instead, a spectral index of $Γ_p$~1.7 would be required, which implies that ~$7\times 10^{49}/n_{cm^{-3}}$erg has been transferred into high-energy protons with the effective density $n_{cm^{-3}}=n/ 1$ cm^-3. This is about 10\% of the kinetic energy of a typical Type Ia supernova under the assumption of a density of 1~cm^-3.

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arXiv2015

Discovery of variable VHE gamma-ray emission from the binary system 1FGL J1018.6-5856

Re-observations with the H.E.S.S. telescope array of the very-high-energy (VHE) source HESS J1018-589 A coincident with the Fermi-LAT $γ$-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 have resulted in a source detection significance of more than 9$σ$, and the detection of variability ($χ^2$/$ν$ of 238.3/155) in the emitted $γ$-ray flux. This variability confirms the association of HESS J1018-589 A with the high-energy $γ$-ray binary detected by Fermi-LAT, and also confirms the point-like source as a new very-high-energy binary system. The spectrum of HESS J1018-589 A is best fit with a power-law function with photon index $Γ= 2.20 \pm 0.14_{\rm stat} \pm 0.2_{\rm sys}$. Emission is detected up to ~20 TeV. The mean differential flux level is $(2.9 \pm 0.4)\times10^{-13}$ TeV$^{-1}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ at 1 TeV, equivalent to ~1% of the flux from the Crab Nebula at the same energy. Variability is clearly detected in the night-by-night lightcurve. When folded on the orbital period of 16.58 days, the rebinned lightcurve peaks in phase with the observed X-ray and high-energy phaseograms. The fit of the H.E.S.S. phaseogram to a constant flux provides evidence of periodicity at the level of 3$σ$. The shape of the VHE phaseogram and measured spectrum suggest a low inclination, low eccentricity system with a modest impact from VHE $γ$-ray absorption due to pair production ($τ$ < 1 at 300 GeV).

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arXiv2015

H.E.S.S. reveals a lack of TeV emission from the supernova remnant Puppis A

Puppis A is an interesting ~4 kyr-old supernova remnant (SNR) that shows strong evidence of interaction between the forward shock and a molecular cloud. It has been studied in detail from radio frequencies to high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) gamma-rays. An analysis of the Fermi-LAT data has shown an extended HE gamma-ray emission with a 0.2-100 GeV spectrum exhibiting no significant deviation from a power law, unlike most of the GeV-emitting SNRs known to be interacting with molecular clouds. This makes it a promising target for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) to probe the gamma-ray emission above 100 GeV. Very-high-energy (VHE, E >= 0.1 TeV) gamma-ray emission from Puppis A is for the first time searched for with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The analysis of the H.E.S.S. data does not reveal any significant emission towards Puppis A. The derived upper limits on the differential photon flux imply that its broadband gamma-ray spectrum must exhibit a spectral break or cutoff. By combining Fermi-LAT and H.E.S.S. measurements, the 99% confidence level upper limits on such a cutoff are found to be 450 and 280 GeV, assuming a power law with a simple exponential and a sub-exponential cutoff, respectively. It is concluded that none of the standard limitations (age, size, radiative losses) on the particle acceleration mechanism, assumed to be still on-going at present, can explain the lack of VHE signal. The scenario in which particle acceleration has ceased some time ago is considered as an alternative explanation. The HE/VHE spectrum of Puppis A could then exhibit a break of non-radiative origin, (as observed in several other interacting SNRs, albeit at somewhat higher energies) owing to the interaction with dense and neutral material in particular towards the northeastern region.

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arXiv2015

Constraints on an Annihilation Signal from a Core of Constant Dark Matter Density around the Milky Way Center with H.E.S.S

An annihilation signal of dark matter is searched for from the central region of the Milky Way. Data acquired in dedicated ON/OFF observations of the Galactic center region with H.E.S.S. are analyzed for this purpose. No significant signal is found in a total of $\sim 9$ h of ON/OFF observations. Upper limits on the velocity averaged cross section, $<σv >$, for the annihilation of dark matter particles with masses in the range of $\sim 300$ GeV to $\sim 10$ TeV are derived. In contrast to previous constraints derived from observations of the Galactic center region, the constraints that are derived here apply also under the assumption of a central core of constant dark matter density around the center of the Galaxy. Values of $<σv >$ that are larger than $3\cdot 10^{-24}\:\mathrm{cm^3/s}$ are excluded for dark matter particles with masses between $\sim 1$ and $\sim 4$ TeV at 95% CL if the radius of the central dark matter density core does not exceed $500$ pc. This is the strongest constraint that is derived on $<σv>$ for annihilating TeV mass dark matter without the assumption of a centrally cusped dark matter density distribution in the search region.

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arXiv2014

H.E.S.S. detection of TeV emission from the interaction region between the supernova remnant G349.7+0.2 and a molecular cloud

G349.7+0.2 is a young Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) located at the distance of 11.5 kpc and observed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio to high energy (HE) Gamma-rays. Radio and infrared observations indicate that the remnant is interacting with a molecular cloud. In this paper, the detection of very high energy (VHE) Gamma-ray emission coincident with this SNR with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is reported. An integral flux F(E>400GeV)=(6.5 +-1.1stat +-1.3syst) x 10^{-13} ph/cm/s corresponding to 0.7% of that of the Crab Nebula and to a luminosity of 10^34 erg/s above the same energy threshold, and a steep photon index Gamma_VHE = 2.8 +-0.27stat +-0.20syst are measured. The analysis of more than 5 yr of Fermi-LAT data towards this source shows a power-law like spectrum with a best-fit photon index Gamma_HE = 2.2 +-0.04stat +0.13-0.31syst. The combined Gamma-ray spectrum of G349.7+0.2 can be described by either a broken power-law (BPL) or a power-law with exponential (or sub-exponential) cutoff (PLC). In the former case, the photon break energy is found at E_br,gamma = 55 +70-30 GeV, slightly higher than what is usually observed in the HE/VHE Gamma-ray emitting middle-aged SNRs known to be interacting with molecular clouds. In the latter case, the exponential (respectively sub-exponential) cutoff energy is measured at E_cut,gamma = 1.4 +1.6-0.55 (respectively 0.35 +0.75-0.21) TeV. A pion-decay process resulting from the interaction of the accelerated protons and nuclei with the dense surrounding medium is clearly the preferred scenario to explain the Gamma-ray emission. The BPL with a spectral steepening of 0.5-1 and the PLC provide equally good fits to the data. The product of the average gas density and the total energy content of accelerated protons and nuclei amounts to nH Wp ~ 5 x 10^51 erg/cm3.

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