Discovery of extended VHE gamma-ray emission from the asymmetric pulsar wind nebula in MSH 15-52 with H.E.S.S
Apr, 20055 pages
Published in:
- Astron.Astrophys. 435 (2005) L17
e-Print:
- astro-ph/0504120 [astro-ph]
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Abstract: (arXiv)
The Supernova Remnant MSH 15-52 has been observed in very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays using the H.E.S.S. 4-telescope array located in Namibia. A gamma-ray signal is detected at the 25 sigma level during an exposure of 22.1 hours live time. The image reveals an elliptically shaped emission region around the pulsar PSR B1509-58, with semi-major axis 6' in the NW-SE direction and semi-minor axis 2' approximately. This morphology coincides with the diffuse pulsar wind nebula as observed at X-ray energies by ROSAT. The overall energy spectrum from 280 GeV up to 40 TeV can be fitted by a power law with photon index Gamma = 2.27 +/- 0.03(stat.) +/- 0.20(syst.). The detected emission can be plausibly explained by inverse Compton scattering of accelerated relativistic electrons with soft photons.Note:
- 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted by A&A letters
- GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATIONS
- SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
- PSR B1509-58
- G320.4-1.2
- photon: cosmic radiation
- cosmic radiation: energy spectrum
- cosmic radiation: particle source
- supernova
- pulsar
- photon electron: Compton scattering
References(19)
Figures(3)