HESS observations of RX J1713.7-3946 with improved angular and spectral resolution: Evidence for gamma-ray emission extending beyond the X-ray emitting shell

Abdalla H, Abramowski A, Aharonian F, Benkhali FA, Akhperjanian AG, Andersson T, Anguener EO, Arrieta M, Aubert P, Backes M, Balzer A, Barnard M, Becherini Y, Tjus JB, Berge D, Bernhard S, Bernloehr K, Blackwell R, Boettcher M, Boisson C, Bolmont J, Bordas P, Bregeon J, Brun F, Brun P, Bryan M, Bulik T, Capasso M, Carr J, Casanova S, Cerruti M, Chakraborty N, Chalme-Calvet R, Chaves RCG, Chen A, Chevalier J, Chretien M, Colafrancesco S, Cologna G, Condon B, Conrad J, Cui Y, Davids ID, Decock J, Degrange B, Dei C, Devin J, Dewilt P, Dirson L, Djannati-Atai A, Domainko W, Donath A, Drury LO, Dubus G, Dutson K, Dyks J, Edwards T, Egberts K, Eger P, Ernenwein JP, Eschbach S, Farnier C, Fegan S, Fernandes MV, Fiasson A, Fontaine G, Foerster A, Fukuyama T, Funk S, Fuessling M, Gabici S, Gajdus M, Gallant YA, Garrigoux T, Giavitto G, Giebels B, Glicenstein JF, Gottschall D, Goyal A, Grondin MH, Hadasch D, Hahn J, Haupt M, Hawkes J, Heinzelmann G, Henri G, Hermann G, Hervet O, Hinton JA, Hofmann W, Hoischen C, Holler M, Horns D, Ivascenko A, Jacholkowska A, Jamrozy M, Janiak M, Jankowsky D, Jankowsky F, Jingo M, Jogler T, Jouvin L, Jung-Richardt I, Kastendieck MA, Katarzynski K, Katz U, Kerszberg D, Khelifi B, Kieffer M, King J, Klepser S, Klochkov D, Kluzniak W, Kolitzus D, Komin N, Kosack K, Krakau S, Kraus M, Krayzel F, Krueger PP, Laffon H, Lamanna G, Lau J, Lees JP, Lefaucheur J, Lefranc V, Lemiere A, Lemoine-Goumard M, Lenain JP, Leser E, Lohse T, Lorentz M, Liu R, Lopez-Coto R, Lypova I, Marandon V, Marcowith A, Mariaud C, Marx R, Maurin G, Maxted N, Mayer M, Meintjes PJ, Meyer M, Mitchell AMW, Moderski R, Mohamed M, Mohrmann L, Mora K, Moulin E, Murach T, De Naurois M, Niederwanger F, Niemiec J, Oakes L, O'Brien P, Odaka H, Oettl S, Ohm S, Ostrowski M, Oya I, Padovani M, Panter M, Parsons RD, Pekeur NW, Pelletier G, Perennes C, Petrucci PO, Peyaud B, Piel Q, Pita S, Poon H, Prokhorov D, Prokoph H, Pühlhofer G, Punch M, Quirrenbach A, Raab S, Reimer A, Reimer O, Renaud M, De Los Reyes R, Rieger F, Romoli C, Rosier-Lees S, Rowell G, Rudak B, Rulten CB, Sahakian V, Salek D, Sanchez DA, Santangelo A, Sasaki M, Schlickeiser R, Schuessler F, Schulz A, Schwanke U, Schwemmer S, Settimo M, Seyffert AS, Shafi N, Shilon I, Simoni R, Sol H, Spanie F, Spengler G, Spies F, Stawarz L, Steenkamp R, Stegmann C, Stinzing F, Stycz K, Sushch I, Takahashi T, Tavernet JP, Tavernier T, Taylor AM, Terrier R, Tibaldo L, Tiziani D, Tluczykont M, Trichard C, Tuffs R, Uchiyama Y, Van Der Walt DJ, Van Edik C, Van Rensburg C, Van Soelen B, Vasileiadis G, Veh J, Venter C, Viana A, Vincent P, Vink J, Voisin F, Voelk HJ, Volpe F, Vuillaume T, Wadiasingh Z, Wagner SJ, Wagner P, Wagner RM, White R, Wierzcholska A, Willmann P, Wörnlein A, Wouters D, Yang R, Zabalza V, Zaborov D, Zacharias M, Zdziarski AA, Zech A, Zefi F, Ziegler A, Zywucka N (2018)


Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Book Volume: 612

Article Number: A6

DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201629790

Abstract

Supernova remnants exhibit shock fronts (shells) that can accelerate charged particles up to very high energies. In the past decade, measurements of a handful of shell-type supernova remnants in very high-energy gamma rays have provided unique insights into the acceleration process. Among those objects, RX J1713.7-3946 (also known as G347.3-0.5) has the largest surface brightness, allowing us in the past to perform the most comprehensive study of morphology and spatially resolved spectra of any such very high-energy gamma-ray source. Here we present extensive new H.E.S.S. measurements of RX J1713.7-3946, almost doubling the observation time compared to our previous publication. Combined with new improved analysis tools, the previous sensitivity is more than doubled. The H.E.S.S. angular resolution of 0.048 degrees (0.036 degrees above 2 TeV) is unprecedented in gamma-ray astronomy and probes physical scales of 0.8 (0.6) parsec at the remnant's location. The new H. E. S. S. image of RX J1713.7-3946 allows us to reveal clear morphological di ff erences between X-rays and gamma rays. In particular, for the outer edge of the brightest shell region, we find the first ever indication for particles in the process of leaving the acceleration shock region. By studying the broadband energy spectrum, we furthermore extract properties of the parent particle populations, providing new input to the discussion of the leptonic or hadronic nature of the gamma-ray emission mechanism.

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How to cite

APA:

Abdalla, H., Abramowski, A., Aharonian, F., Benkhali, F.A., Akhperjanian, A.G., Andersson, T.,... Zywucka, N. (2018). HESS observations of RX J1713.7-3946 with improved angular and spectral resolution: Evidence for gamma-ray emission extending beyond the X-ray emitting shell. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 612. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629790

MLA:

Abdalla, H., et al. "HESS observations of RX J1713.7-3946 with improved angular and spectral resolution: Evidence for gamma-ray emission extending beyond the X-ray emitting shell." Astronomy & Astrophysics 612 (2018).

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