Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS

V. A. Acciar; M. Beilicke; G. Blaylock; S. M. Bradbury; J. H. Buckley; V. Bugaev; Y. Butt; O. Celik; A. Cesarini; L. Ciupik; P. Cogan; P. Colin; W. Cui; M. K. Daniel; C. Duke; T. Ergin; A. D. Falcone; S. J. Fegan; J. P. Finley; G. Finnegan; P. Fortin; L. F. Fortson; K. Gibbs; G. H. Gillanders; J. Grube; R. Guenette; G. Gyuk; D. Hanna; E. Hays; J. Holder; D. Horan; S. B. Hughes; M. C. Hui; T. B. Humensky; A. Imran; P. Kaaret; M. Kertzman; D. B. Kieda; J. Kildea; A. Konopelko; H. Krawczynski; F. Krennrich; M. J. Lang; S. LeBohec; K. Lee; G. Maier; A. McCann; M. McCutcheon; J. Millis; P. Moriarty; R. Mukherjee; T. Nagai; R. A. Ong; D. Pandel; J. S. Perkins; M. Pohl; J. Quinn; K. Ragan; P. T. Reynolds; H. J. Rose; M. Schroedter; G. H. Sembroski; A. W. Smith; D. Steele; S. P. Swordy; A. Syson; J. A. Toner; L. Valcarcel; V. V. Vassiliev; S. P. Wakely; J. E. Ward; T. C. Weekes; A. Weinstein; R. J. White; D. A. Williams; S. A. Wissel; M. D. Wood; B. Zitzer

doi:10.1086/587458

Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS

V. A. Acciar, M. Beilicke, G. Blaylock, S. M. Bradbury, J. H. Buckley, V. Bugaev, Y. Butt, O. Celik, A. Cesarini, L. Ciupik, P. Cogan, P. Colin, W. Cui, M. K. Daniel, C. Duke, T. Ergin, A. D. Falcone, S. J. Fegan, J. P. Finley, G. FinneganP. Fortin, L. F. Fortson, K. Gibbs, G. H. Gillanders, J. Grube, R. Guenette, G. Gyuk, D. Hanna, E. Hays, J. Holder, D. Horan, S. B. Hughes, M. C. Hui, T. B. Humensky, A. Imran, P. Kaaret, M. Kertzman, D. B. Kieda, J. Kildea, A. Konopelko, H. Krawczynski, F. Krennrich, M. J. Lang, S. LeBohec, K. Lee, G. Maier, A. McCann, M. McCutcheon, J. Millis, P. Moriarty, R. Mukherjee, T. Nagai, R. A. Ong, D. Pandel, J. S. Perkins, M. Pohl, J. Quinn, K. Ragan, P. T. Reynolds, H. J. Rose, M. Schroedter, G. H. Sembroski, A. W. Smith, D. Steele, S. P. Swordy, A. Syson, J. A. Toner, L. Valcarcel, V. V. Vassiliev, S. P. Wakely, J. E. Ward, T. C. Weekes, A. Weinstein, R. J. White, D. A. Williams, S. A. Wissel, M. D. Wood, B. Zitzer

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Abstract

The multiwavelength observation of the nearby radio galaxy M87 provides a unique opportunity to study in detail processes occurring in active galactic nuclei from radio waves to TeV γ-rays. Here we report the detection of γ-ray emission above 250 GeV from M87 in spring 2007 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array and discuss its correlation with the X-ray emission. The γ-ray emission is measured to be pointlike with an intrinsic source radius less than 4.5′. The differential energy spectrum is fitted well by a power-law function: dΦ/dE = (7.4 ± 1.3_stat ± 1.5_sys)(£/TeV) _{(-2.31±0.17stat±0.2sys)}10^-9 m^-2 s^-1 TeV^-1. We show strong evidence for a year-scale correlation between the γ-ray flux reported by TeV experiments and the X-ray emission measured by the ASM RXTE observatory, and discuss the possible short-timescale variability. These results imply that the γ-ray emission from M87 is more likely associated with the core of the galaxy than with other bright X-ray features in the jet.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	397-403
Number of pages	7
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	679
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/587458
State	Published - May 20 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/587458

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Acciar, V. A., Beilicke, M., Blaylock, G., Bradbury, S. M., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Butt, Y., Celik, O., Cesarini, A., Ciupik, L., Cogan, P., Colin, P., Cui, W., Daniel, M. K., Duke, C., Ergin, T., Falcone, A. D., Fegan, S. J., Finley, J. P., ... Zitzer, B. (2008). Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS. Astrophysical Journal, 679(1), 397-403. https://doi.org/10.1086/587458

@article{cf5a076b137a44e99f337db60a6800fe,

title = "Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS",

abstract = "The multiwavelength observation of the nearby radio galaxy M87 provides a unique opportunity to study in detail processes occurring in active galactic nuclei from radio waves to TeV γ-rays. Here we report the detection of γ-ray emission above 250 GeV from M87 in spring 2007 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array and discuss its correlation with the X-ray emission. The γ-ray emission is measured to be pointlike with an intrinsic source radius less than 4.5′. The differential energy spectrum is fitted well by a power-law function: dΦ/dE = (7.4 ± 1.3stat ± 1.5sys)(£/TeV) (-2.31±0.17stat±0.2sys)10-9 m-2 s-1 TeV-1. We show strong evidence for a year-scale correlation between the γ-ray flux reported by TeV experiments and the X-ray emission measured by the ASM RXTE observatory, and discuss the possible short-timescale variability. These results imply that the γ-ray emission from M87 is more likely associated with the core of the galaxy than with other bright X-ray features in the jet.",

author = "Acciar, {V. A.} and M. Beilicke and G. Blaylock and Bradbury, {S. M.} and Buckley, {J. H.} and V. Bugaev and Y. Butt and O. Celik and A. Cesarini and L. Ciupik and P. Cogan and P. Colin and W. Cui and Daniel, {M. K.} and C. Duke and T. Ergin and Falcone, {A. D.} and Fegan, {S. J.} and Finley, {J. P.} and G. Finnegan and P. Fortin and Fortson, {L. F.} and K. Gibbs and Gillanders, {G. H.} and J. Grube and R. Guenette and G. Gyuk and D. Hanna and E. Hays and J. Holder and D. Horan and Hughes, {S. B.} and Hui, {M. C.} and Humensky, {T. B.} and A. Imran and P. Kaaret and M. Kertzman and Kieda, {D. B.} and J. Kildea and A. Konopelko and H. Krawczynski and F. Krennrich and Lang, {M. J.} and S. LeBohec and K. Lee and G. Maier and A. McCann and M. McCutcheon and J. Millis and P. Moriarty and R. Mukherjee and T. Nagai and Ong, {R. A.} and D. Pandel and Perkins, {J. S.} and M. Pohl and J. Quinn and K. Ragan and Reynolds, {P. T.} and Rose, {H. J.} and M. Schroedter and Sembroski, {G. H.} and Smith, {A. W.} and D. Steele and Swordy, {S. P.} and A. Syson and Toner, {J. A.} and L. Valcarcel and Vassiliev, {V. V.} and Wakely, {S. P.} and Ward, {J. E.} and Weekes, {T. C.} and A. Weinstein and White, {R. J.} and Williams, {D. A.} and Wissel, {S. A.} and Wood, {M. D.} and B. Zitzer",

year = "2008",

month = may,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/587458",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "679",

pages = "397--403",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "1",

}

Acciar, VA, Beilicke, M, Blaylock, G, Bradbury, SM, Buckley, JH, Bugaev, V, Butt, Y, Celik, O, Cesarini, A, Ciupik, L, Cogan, P, Colin, P, Cui, W, Daniel, MK, Duke, C, Ergin, T, Falcone, AD, Fegan, SJ, Finley, JP, Finnegan, G, Fortin, P, Fortson, LF, Gibbs, K, Gillanders, GH, Grube, J, Guenette, R, Gyuk, G, Hanna, D, Hays, E, Holder, J, Horan, D, Hughes, SB, Hui, MC, Humensky, TB, Imran, A, Kaaret, P, Kertzman, M, Kieda, DB, Kildea, J, Konopelko, A, Krawczynski, H, Krennrich, F, Lang, MJ, LeBohec, S, Lee, K, Maier, G, McCann, A, McCutcheon, M, Millis, J, Moriarty, P, Mukherjee, R, Nagai, T, Ong, RA, Pandel, D, Perkins, JS, Pohl, M, Quinn, J, Ragan, K, Reynolds, PT, Rose, HJ, Schroedter, M, Sembroski, GH, Smith, AW, Steele, D, Swordy, SP, Syson, A, Toner, JA, Valcarcel, L, Vassiliev, VV, Wakely, SP, Ward, JE, Weekes, TC, Weinstein, A, White, RJ, Williams, DA, Wissel, SA, Wood, MD & Zitzer, B 2008, 'Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 679, no. 1, pp. 397-403. https://doi.org/10.1086/587458

TY - JOUR

T1 - Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS

AU - Acciar, V. A.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Blaylock, G.

AU - Bradbury, S. M.

AU - Buckley, J. H.

AU - Bugaev, V.

AU - Butt, Y.

AU - Celik, O.

AU - Cesarini, A.

AU - Ciupik, L.

AU - Cogan, P.

AU - Colin, P.

AU - Cui, W.

AU - Daniel, M. K.

AU - Duke, C.

AU - Ergin, T.

AU - Falcone, A. D.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Finley, J. P.

AU - Finnegan, G.

AU - Fortin, P.

AU - Fortson, L. F.

AU - Gibbs, K.

AU - Gillanders, G. H.

AU - Grube, J.

AU - Guenette, R.

AU - Gyuk, G.

AU - Hanna, D.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Holder, J.

AU - Horan, D.

AU - Hughes, S. B.

AU - Hui, M. C.

AU - Humensky, T. B.

AU - Imran, A.

AU - Kaaret, P.

AU - Kertzman, M.

AU - Kieda, D. B.

AU - Kildea, J.

AU - Konopelko, A.

AU - Krawczynski, H.

AU - Krennrich, F.

AU - Lang, M. J.

AU - LeBohec, S.

AU - Lee, K.

AU - Maier, G.

AU - McCann, A.

AU - McCutcheon, M.

AU - Millis, J.

AU - Moriarty, P.

AU - Mukherjee, R.

AU - Nagai, T.

AU - Ong, R. A.

AU - Pandel, D.

AU - Perkins, J. S.

AU - Pohl, M.

AU - Quinn, J.

AU - Ragan, K.

AU - Reynolds, P. T.

AU - Rose, H. J.

AU - Schroedter, M.

AU - Sembroski, G. H.

AU - Smith, A. W.

AU - Steele, D.

AU - Swordy, S. P.

AU - Syson, A.

AU - Toner, J. A.

AU - Valcarcel, L.

AU - Vassiliev, V. V.

AU - Wakely, S. P.

AU - Ward, J. E.

AU - Weekes, T. C.

AU - Weinstein, A.

AU - White, R. J.

AU - Williams, D. A.

AU - Wissel, S. A.

AU - Wood, M. D.

AU - Zitzer, B.

PY - 2008/5/20

Y1 - 2008/5/20

N2 - The multiwavelength observation of the nearby radio galaxy M87 provides a unique opportunity to study in detail processes occurring in active galactic nuclei from radio waves to TeV γ-rays. Here we report the detection of γ-ray emission above 250 GeV from M87 in spring 2007 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array and discuss its correlation with the X-ray emission. The γ-ray emission is measured to be pointlike with an intrinsic source radius less than 4.5′. The differential energy spectrum is fitted well by a power-law function: dΦ/dE = (7.4 ± 1.3stat ± 1.5sys)(£/TeV) (-2.31±0.17stat±0.2sys)10-9 m-2 s-1 TeV-1. We show strong evidence for a year-scale correlation between the γ-ray flux reported by TeV experiments and the X-ray emission measured by the ASM RXTE observatory, and discuss the possible short-timescale variability. These results imply that the γ-ray emission from M87 is more likely associated with the core of the galaxy than with other bright X-ray features in the jet.

AB - The multiwavelength observation of the nearby radio galaxy M87 provides a unique opportunity to study in detail processes occurring in active galactic nuclei from radio waves to TeV γ-rays. Here we report the detection of γ-ray emission above 250 GeV from M87 in spring 2007 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array and discuss its correlation with the X-ray emission. The γ-ray emission is measured to be pointlike with an intrinsic source radius less than 4.5′. The differential energy spectrum is fitted well by a power-law function: dΦ/dE = (7.4 ± 1.3stat ± 1.5sys)(£/TeV) (-2.31±0.17stat±0.2sys)10-9 m-2 s-1 TeV-1. We show strong evidence for a year-scale correlation between the γ-ray flux reported by TeV experiments and the X-ray emission measured by the ASM RXTE observatory, and discuss the possible short-timescale variability. These results imply that the γ-ray emission from M87 is more likely associated with the core of the galaxy than with other bright X-ray features in the jet.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=43949102695&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=43949102695&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/587458

DO - 10.1086/587458

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:43949102695

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 679

SP - 397

EP - 403

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -

Observation of gamma-ray emission from the galaxy M87 above 250 GeV with VERITAS

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