Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS
Funk S, van Eldik C (2006)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2006
Journal
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Book Volume: 456
Pages Range: 245-251
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20065511
Abstract
Aims. Search for Very High Energy γ-ray emission in the Kookaburra complex through observations with the HESS array. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of the γ-ray showers in the atmosphere is used for the reconstruction and selection of the events to search for γ-ray signals. Their spectrum is derived by a forward-folding maximum likelihood fit. Results. Two extended γ-ray sources with an angular (68%) radius of 3.3-3.4′ are discovered at high (>13σ) statistical significance: HESS J1420-607 and HESS J1418-609. They exhibit a flux above 1 TeV of (2.97 ±0.188 ±0.60) × 10 and (2.17 ±0.17 ±0.43) × 10 cm s, respectively, and similar hard photon indices ∼2.2. Multi-wavelength comparisons show spatial coincidence with the wings of the Kookaburra. Two pulsar wind nebulae candidates, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit, lie on the edge of the HESS sources. Conclusions. The two new sources confirm the non-thermal nature of at least parts of the two radio wings which overlap with the γ-ray emission and establish their connection with the two X-ray pulsar wind nebulae candidates. Given the large point spread function of EGRET, the unidentified source(s) 3EG J1420-6038/GeV J1417-6100 could possibly be related to either or both HESS sources. The most likely explanation for the Very High Energy γ-rays discovered by HESS is inverse Compton emission of accelerated electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background near the two candidate pulsar wind nebulæ, K3/PSR J1420-6048 and the Rabbit. Two scenarios which could lead to the observed large (∼10 pc) offset-nebula type morphologies are briefly discussed. © ESO 2006.
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APA:
Funk, S., & van Eldik, C. (2006). Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 456(1), 245-251. https://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065511
MLA:
Funk, Stefan, and Christopher van Eldik. "Discovery of the two "wings" of the Kookaburra complex in VHE γ-rays with HESS." Astronomy & Astrophysics 456.1 (2006): 245-251.
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