arXiv subjects

V. Lefranc

Publications and source records attributed to V. Lefranc.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

H.E.S.S. observations of composite Seyfert-starburst galaxies

Context: Composite galaxies that contain both Seyfert and starburst components may produce very high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) gamma-ray emission at a wide range of spatial scales, from a few Schwarzschild radii of a supermassive black hole to dimensions of kiloparsec-size jet-driven outflows. In addition to supernova remnants, various sources have been suggested to explain data collected on composite galaxies, including multi-messenger neutrino and ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray data. Aims: The closest composite Seyfert-starburst galaxies (NGC 1068, the Circinus galaxy, and NGC 4945) are observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) to provide constraints on cosmic-ray populations in these systems. Methods: Data obtained in H.E.S.S. observations have been analyzed to search for VHE gamma-ray counterparts to the GeV gamma-ray signals detected with Fermi-LAT and for potential spectral components in the VHE range. Results: No significant signals have been found in these H.E.S.S. data. Upper limits on the VHE gamma-ray fluxes were applied to constrain theoretical models involving different spectral components.

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arXiv2023

Astro-COLIBRI 2 -- an advanced platform for real-time multi-messenger discoveries

The study of flaring astrophysical events in the multi-messenger approach requires instantaneous follow-up observations to better understand the nature of these events through complementary observational data. We present Astro-COLIBRI as a platform that integrates specific tools in the real-time multi-messenger ecosystem. The Astro-COLIBRI platform bundles and evaluates alerts about transients from various channels. It further automates the coordination of follow-up observations by providing and linking detailed information through its comprehensible graphical user interface. We present the functionalities with documented examples of Astro-COLIBRI usage through the community since its public release in August 2021. We highlight the use cases of Astro-COLIBRI for planning follow-up observations by professional and amateur astronomers, as well as checking predictions from theoretical models.

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arXiv2021

Realtime alerts of the transient sky on mobile devices

Follow-up observations of transient events are crucial in multimessenger astronomy. We present Astro-COLIBRI as a tool that informs users about flaring events in real-time via push notifications on their mobile phones, thus contributing to enhanced coordination of follow-up observations. We show the software's architecture that comprises a REST API, both a static and a real-time database, a cloud-based alert system, as well as a website and apps for iOS and Android as clients for users. The latter provide a graphical representation with a summary of the relevant data to allow for the fast identification of interesting phenomena along with an assessment of observing conditions at a large selection of observatories around the world in real-time.

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arXiv2021

Astro-COLIBRI -- The COincidence LIBrary for Real-time Inquiry for multimessenger astrophysics

Astro-COLIBRI is a novel tool that evaluates alerts of transient observations in real time, filters them by user-specified criteria, and puts them into their multiwavelength and multimessenger context. Through fast generation of an overview of persistent sources as well as transient events in the relevant phase space, Astro-COLIBRI contributes to an enhanced discovery potential of both serendipitous and follow-up observations of the transient sky. The software's architecture comprises a Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface, both a static and a real-time database, a cloud-based alert system, as well as a website and apps for iOS and Android as clients for users. The latter provide a graphical representation with a summary of the relevant data to allow for the fast identification of interesting phenomena along with an assessment of observing conditions at a large selection of observatories around the world.

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arXiv2017

Performance of the upgraded H.E.S.S. cameras

The 14 years old cameras of the H.E.S.S. 12-m telescopes have been upgraded in 2015/2016, with the goals of reducing the system failure rate, reducing the dead time and improving the overall performance of the array. This conference contribution describes the various tests that were carried out on the cameras and their sub-components both in the lab and on site. It also gives an overview of the commissioning and calibration procedures adopted during and after the installation, including e.g. flat-fielding and trigger threshold scans. Finally, it reports in detail about the overall performance of the four new H.E.S.S. I cameras, using very recent data.

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arXiv2017

Hardware and software architecture of the upgraded H.E.S.S. cameras

In 2015/16, the photomultiplier cameras of the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes CT1-4 have undergone a major upgrade. The entire electronics has been replaced, using NECTAr chips for the front-end readout. A new ventilation system has been installed and several auxiliary components have been replaced. Besides this, the internal control and readout software was rewritten from scratch in a modern and modular way. Ethernet technology was used wherever possible to ensure both flexibility, stability and high bandwidth. An overview of the installed components will be given.

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arXiv2016

Dark matter search in the inner galactic center halo with H.E.S.S

The presence of dark matter in the universe is nowadays supported by a substantial set of astronomical and cosmological observations. A large amount of dark matter is expected in the Galactic Center (GC) region. Thanks also to its proximity, it is one of the best targets to look for dark matter particle self-annihilation into very high energy gamma-rays. We perform a search for annihilating dark matter in the central 300 parsecs around the GC with the H.E.S.S. array of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. Using the full H.E.S.S.- I dataset (2004-2014) of GC observations, new constraints are derived on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section $\langle σv \rangle$ with a 2D likelihood method using spectral and spatial morphologies of the DM signal compared to background. These constraints are the strongest obtained so far in the TeV mass range and improve the previous constraints by a factor of 5. Considering an Einasto profile, the constraints reach $\langle σv \rangle$ values of $6\times 10^{-26}$cm$^{3}$s$^{-1}$ for a DM particle mass of 1.5 TeV annihilation into W$^+$W$^-$ pairs. In the $τ^+τ^-$ channel, the constraints probe the natural scale for thermal relic cross section for DM particles of masses between 400 GeV and 2 TeV.

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arXiv2015

Dark matter search in the inner Galactic halo with H.E.S.S. I and H.E.S.S. II

The presence of dark matter in the Universe is nowadays widely supported by a large body of astronomical and cosmological observations. One of the best targets to look for dark matter particle self-annihilation into very high energy gamma-rays is the Galactic Center (GC) region. A search for annihilating dark matter in the central 300 parsecs around the GC is performed with the H.E.S.S. array of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. Using the full H.E.S.S.- I dataset (2004-2014) for this region, new constraints are derived on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross section with a 2D likelihood method, taking advantage of differences in both spectral and spatial morphologies of signal and background. Higher statistics from the 10-years GC dataset of H.E.S.S. I together with a novel analysis technique, allow to improve the present constraints by a factor of 2 for a DM particle mass of 1 TeV. The expected improvement in sensitivity of the new analysis technique, applied to performances of the H.E.S.S.-II array, is also presented.

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arXiv2015

Sgr A* Observations with H.E.S.S. II

The Galactic Centre has been studied with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) for over 10 years, revealing a bright, complex gamma-ray morphology. Besides a strong point-like very-high-energy gamma-ray source coincident with the supermassive black hole Sgr A*, pre- vious analyses also revealed a diffuse ridge of gamma-ray emission, indicative of a powerful cosmic-ray accelerator in this region. The addition of a fifth telescope with 600 m 2 mirror area to the centre of the H.E.S.S. array has increased the energy range accessible, allowing observations to take place down to 100 GeV and potentially below. This wider energy range allows an important overlap in observations with satellite instruments such as the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray telescope. We will present the results of new H.E.S.S observations of the Galactic Centre region and show a detailed analysis of the central source, including comparisons to results at other wavelengths.

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arXiv2015

A major electronics upgrade for the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes 1-4

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) located in the Khomas Highland in Namibia. It consists of four 12-m telescopes (CT1-4), which started operations in 2003, and a 28-m diameter one (CT5), which was brought online in 2012. It is the only IACT system featuring telescopes of different sizes, which provides sensitivity for gamma rays across a very wide energy range, from ~30 GeV up to ~100 TeV. Since the camera electronics of CT1-4 are much older than the one of CT5, an upgrade is being carried out; first deployment was in 2015, full operation is planned for 2016. The goals of this upgrade are threefold: reducing the dead time of the cameras, improving the overall performance of the array and reducing the system failure rate related to aging. Upon completion, the upgrade will assure the continuous operation of H.E.S.S. at its full sensitivity until and possibly beyond the advent of CTA. In the design of the new components, several CTA concepts and technologies were used and are thus being evaluated in the field: The upgraded read-out electronics is based on the NECTAR readout chips; the new camera front- and back-end control subsystems are based on an FPGA and an embedded ARM computer; the communication between subsystems is based on standard Ethernet technologies. These hardware solutions offer good performance, robustness and flexibility. The design of the new cameras is reported here.

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arXiv2015

Prospects for Indirect Dark Matter Searches with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will have a unique chance of discovery for a large range of masses in Weakly Interacting Massive Particles models of dark matter. The principal target for dark matter searches with CTA is the centre of the Galactic Halo. The best strategy is to perform CTA observations within a few degrees of the Galactic Centre, with the Galactic Centre itself and the most intense diffuse emission regions removed from the analysis. Assuming a cuspy dark matter density profile for the Milky Way, 500 hours of observations in this region provide sensitivities to and below the thermal cross-section of dark matter annihilations, for masses between a few hundred GeV and a few tens of TeV; therefore CTA will have a significant chance of discovery in some models. Since the dark matter density in the Milky Way is far from certain in the inner kpc region, other targets are also proposed for observation, like ultra-faint dwarf galaxies such as Segue 1 with 100 hours per year proposed. Beyond these two observational targets, further alternatives, such as Galactic dark clumps, will be considered closer to the actual date of CTA operations. Sensitivity predictions for dark matter searches are given on the various targets taking into account the latest instrument response functions expected for CTA together with a discussion on the systematic uncertainties from the backgrounds.

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