Observation of TeV gamma-rays from the Crab nebula with MILAGRO using a new background rejection technique
May, 200322 pages
Published in:
- Astrophys.J. 595 (2003) 803-811
e-Print:
- astro-ph/0305308 [astro-ph]
DOI:
Report number:
- LA-UR-033188
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Abstract: (arXiv)
The recent advances in TeV gamma-ray astronomy are largely the result of the ability to differentiate between extensive air showers generated by gamma rays and hadronic cosmic rays. Air Cherenkov telescopes have developed and perfected the "imaging" technique over the past several decades. However until now no background rejection method has been successfully used in an air shower array to detect a source of TeV gamma rays. We report on a method to differentiate hadronic air showers from electromagnetic air showers in the Milagro gamma ray observatory, based on the ability to detect the energetic particles in an extensive air shower. The technique is used to detect TeV emission from the Crab nebula. The flux from the Crab is estimated to be 2.68(+-0.42stat +- 1.4sys) x10^{-7} (E/1TeV)^{-2.59} m^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1}, where the spectral index is assumed to be as given by the HEGRA collaboration.Note:
- 22 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Astrophysical Journal
- photon: cosmic radiation
- cosmic radiation: particle source
- cosmic radiation: energy
- cosmic radiation: flux
- showers: air
- background: hadronic
- Cherenkov counter: water
- calorimeter: imaging
- experimental results
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