Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Veritas Observations Of The Tev Binary Ls I+61 Degrees 303 During 2008-2010, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present the results of observations of the TeV binary LS I +61° 303 with the VERITAS telescope array between 2008 and 2010, at energies above 300 GeV. In the past, both ground-based gamma-ray telescopes VERITAS and MAGIC have reported detections of TeV emission near the apastron phases of the binary orbit. The observations presented here show no strong evidence for TeV emission during these orbital phases; however, during observations taken in late 2010, significant emission was detected from the source close to the phase of superior conjunction (much closer to periastron passage) at a 5.6 standard deviation (5.6σ) post-trials …

Spectral Energy Distribution Of Markarian 501: Quiescent State Versus Extreme Outburst, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas, Magic

Physical Sciences Publications

The very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) blazar Markarian 501 (Mrk 501) has a well-studied history of extreme spectral variability and is an excellent laboratory for studying the physical processes within the jets of active galactic nuclei. However, there are few detailed multiwavelength studies of Mrk 501 during its quiescent state, due to its low luminosity. A short-term multiwavelength study of Mrk 501 was coordinated in 2009 March, focusing around a multi-day observation with the Suzaku X-ray satellite and including γ-ray data from VERITAS, MAGIC, and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope with the goal of providing a well-sampled multiwavelength …

Insights Into The High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Of Markarian 501 From Extensive Multifrequency Observations In The Fermi Era, P. T. Reynolds, Fermi-Lat, Magic, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on the γ-ray activity of the blazar Mrk 501 during the first 480 days of Fermi operation. We find that the average Large Area Telescope (LAT) γ-ray spectrum of Mrk 501 can be well described by a single power-law function with a photon index of 1.78 ± 0.03. While we observe relatively mild flux variations with the Fermi-LAT (within less than a factor of two), we detect remarkable spectral variability where the hardest observed spectral index within the LAT energy range is 1.52 ± 0.14, and the softest one is 2.51 ± 0.20. These unexpected spectral changes do …

Multi-Wavelength Observations Of The Flaring Gamma-Ray Blazar 3c 66a In 2008 October, P. T. Reynolds, Fermi-Lat, Veritas, Gasp-Webt

Physical Sciences Publications

The BL Lacertae object 3C 66A was detected in a flaring state by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and VERITAS in 2008 October. In addition to these gamma-ray observations, F-GAMMA, GASP-WEBT, PAIRITEL, MDM, ATOM, Swift, and Chandra provided radio to X-ray coverage. The available light curves show variability and, in particular, correlated flares are observed in the optical and Fermi-LAT gamma-ray band. The resulting spectral energy distribution can be well fitted using standard leptonic models with and without an external radiation field for inverse Compton scattering. It is found, however, that only the model with an external …

Design, Manufacturing, And Commissioning Of Bircam (Bootes Infrared Camera), Alberto Riva, Paolo Conconi, Alberto Javier Castro-Tirado, Filippo Zerbi, Ronan Cunniffe, Martin Jelinek, Stanislav Vitek

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

This paper covers the various aspect of design, manufacturing and commissioning of the infrared camera BIRCAM, installed at BOOTES-IR, the 60 cm robotic infrared telescope at Sierra Nevada Observatory (OSN, Granada, Spain). We describe how we achieved a quality astronomical image, moving from the scientific requirements.

Veritas 2008-2009 Monitoring Of The Variable Gamma-Ray Source M 87, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

M 87 is a nearby radio galaxy that is detected at energies ranging from radio to very high energy (VHE) gamma rays. Its proximity and its jet, misaligned from our line of sight, enable detailed morphological studies and extensive modeling at radio, optical, and X-ray energies. Flaring activity was observed at all energies, and multi-wavelength correlations would help clarify the origin of the VHE emission. In this paper, we describe a detailed temporal and spectral analysis of the VERITAS VHE gamma-ray observations of M 87 in 2008 and 2009. In the 2008 observing season, VERITAS detected an excess with a …

Simultaneous Multiwavelength Observations Of Markarian 421 During Outburst, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas, Magic

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on the results of two coordinated multiwavelength campaigns that focused on the blazar Markarian 421 during its 2006 and 2008 outbursts. These campaigns obtained UV and X-ray data using the XMM-Newton satellite, while the gamma-ray data were obtained utilizing three imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes, the Whipple 10 m telescope and VERITAS, both based in Arizona, as well as the MAGIC telescope, based on La Palma in the Canary Islands. The coordinated effort between the gamma-ray groups allowed for truly simultaneous data in UV/X-ray/gamma-ray wavelengths during a significant portion of the XMM-Newton observations. This simultaneous coverage allowed for a …

Multiwavelength Observations Of Ls I+61 Degrees 303 With Veritas, Swift, And Rxte, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present results from a long-term monitoring campaign on the TeV binary LSI +61° 303 with VERITAS at energies above 500 GeV, and in the 2-10 keV hard X-ray bands with RXTE and Swift, sampling nine 26.5 day orbital cycles between 2006 September and 2008 February. The binary was observed by VERITAS to be variable, with all integrated observations resulting in a detection at the 8.8σ (2006/2007) and 7.3σ (2007/2008) significance level for emission above 500 GeV. The source was detected during active periods with flux values ranging from 5% to 20% of the Crab Nebula, varying over the course …

Detection Of The Bl Lacertae Object H1426+428 At Tev Gamma-Ray Energies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

A very high energy γ-ray signal has been detected at the 5.5 σ level from H1426+428, an X-ray-selected BL Lacertae object at a redshift of 0.129. The object was monitored from 1995 to 1998 with the Whipple 10 m imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope as part of a general blazar survey; the results of these observations, although not statistically significant, were consistently positive. X-ray observations of H1426+428 during 1999 with the BeppoSAX instrument revealed that the peak of its synchrotron spectrum occurs at greater than 100 keV, leading to the prediction of observable TeV emission from this object. H1426+428 was monitored …

Veritas Observations Of The Bl Lac Object 1es 1218+304, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The VERITAS collaboration reports the detection of very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1218+304 located at a redshift of z = 0.182. A gamma-ray signal was detected with a statistical significance of 10.4 standard deviations (10.4σ) for the observations taken during the first three months of 2007, confirming the discovery of this object made by the MAGIC collaboration. The photon spectrum between ~160 GeV and ~1.8 TeV is well described by a power law with an index of Γ = 3.08 ± 0.34stat ± 0.2sys. The integral flux is Φ(E>200GeV) = (12.2 ± 2.6) × …

Investigating The Tev Morphology Of Mgro J1908+06 With Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on deep observations of the extended TeV gamma-ray source MGRO J1908+06 made with the VERITAS very high energy gamma-ray observatory. Previously, the TeV emission has been attributed to the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) of the Fermi-LAT pulsar PSR J1907+0602. We detect MGRO J1908+06 at a significance level of 14 standard deviations (14σ) and measure a photon index of 2.20 ± 0.10stat ± 0.20sys. The TeV emission is extended, covering the region near PSR J1907+0602 and also extending toward SNR G40.5-0.5. When fitted with a two-dimensional Gaussian, the intrinsic extension has a standard deviation of σsrc = 0fdg44 ± …

A New Activity Phase Of The Blazar 3c 454.3 Multifrequency Observations By The Webt And Xmm-Newton In 2007-2008, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

Aims: The Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium has been monitoring the blazar 3C 454.3 from the radio to the optical bands since 2004 to study its emission variability properties.

Methods: We present and analyse the multifrequency results of the 2007-2008 observing season, including XMM-Newton observations and near-IR spectroscopic monitoring, and compare the recent emission behaviour with the past one. The historical mm light curve is presented here for the first time.

Results: In the optical band we observed a multi-peak outburst in July-August 2007, and other faster events in November 2007-February 2008. During these outburst phases, several episodes of …

Very High Energy Observations Of Gamma-Ray Burst Locations With The Whipple Telescope, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations at very high energies (VHE; E > 100 GeV) can impose tight constraints on some GRB emission models. Many GRB afterglow models predict a VHE component similar to that seen in blazars and plerions, in which the GRB spectral energy distribution has a double-peaked shape extending into the VHE regime. VHE emission coincident with delayed X-ray flare emission has also been predicted. GRB follow-up observations have had high priority in the observing program at the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope, and GRBs will continue to be high-priority targets as the next-generation observatory, VERITAS, comes online. Upper limits …

Multiwavelength Observations Of The Blazar Markarian 421 In 2002 December And 2003 January, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We report on a multiwavelength campaign on the TeV γ-ray blazar Mrk 421 performed during 2002 December and 2003 January. These target of opportunity observations were initiated by the detection of X-ray and TeV γ-ray flares with the All Sky Monitor (ASM) on board the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and the 10 m Whipple γ-ray telescope. The campaign included observational coverage in the radio (University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory), optical (Boltwood, La Palma KVA 0.6 m; WIYN 0.9 m), X-ray (RXTE pointed telescopes), and TeV γ-ray (Whipple and HEGRA) bands. At TeV energies, the observations revealed several flares …

B And I-Band Optical Micro-Variability Observations Of The Bl Lac Objects S5 2007+777 And 3c 371, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

We have observed S5 2007+777 and 3C 371 in the B and I bands for 13 and 8 nights, respectively, during various observing runs in 2001, 2002 and 2004. The observations resulted in almost evenly sampled light curves, h long. We do not detect any flares within the observed light curves, but we do observe small amplitude, significant variations, in both bands, on time scales of hours and days. The average variability amplitude on time scales of minutes/hours is ~2.5% and ~% in the case of S5 2007+777 and 3C 371, respectively. The average amplitudes increase to % and %, …

Iso Observations Of The Interacting Galaxy Markarian 297 - With The Powerful Supernova Remnant 1982aa, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

Markarian (Mkn) 297 is a complex system comprised of two interacting galaxies that has been modelled with a variety of scenarios. Observations of this system were made with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) using the ISOCAM, ISOPHOT and LWS instruments. ISOCAM maps at 6.7 µm, 7.7 µm, 12 µm and 14.3 µm are presented which, together with PHT-S spectrometry of the central interacting region, probe the dust obscured star formation and the properties of the organic dust. The ISOCAM observations reveal that the strongest emission in the four bands is at a location completely unremarkable at visible and near-IR (e.g. …

The Webt Campaign To Observe Ao 0235+16 In The 2003-2004 Observing Season - Results From Radio-To-Optical Monitoring And Xmm-Newton Observations, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

A multiwavelength campaign to observe the BL Lac object AO 0235+16 () was set up by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) collaboration during the observing seasons 2003–2004 and 2004–2005, involving radio, near-IR and optical photometric monitoring, VLBA monitoring, optical spectral monitoring, and three pointings by the XMM-Newton satellite. Here we report on the results of the first season, which involved the participation of 24 optical and near-IR telescopes and 4 radio telescopes, as well as the first XMM-Newton pointing, which occurred on January 18–19, 2004. Unpublished data from previous epochs were also collected (from 5 optical-NIR and 3 radio …

A Multiwavelength View Of The Tev Blazar Markarian 421: Correlated Variability, Flaring, And Spectral Evolution, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas

Physical Sciences Publications

We report results from an intensive multiwavelength monitoring campaign on the TeV blazar Mrk 421 over the period of 2003-2004. The source was observed simultaneously at TeV energies with the Whipple 10 m telescope and at X-ray energies with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) during each clear night within the Whipple observing windows. Supporting observations were also frequently carried out at optical and radio wavelengths to provide simultaneous or contemporaneous coverages. The large amount of simultaneous data has allowed us to examine the variability of Mrk 421 in detail, including cross-band correlation and broadband spectral variability, over a wide …

A Survey Of Unidentified Egret Sources At Very High Energies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The Whipple Observatory 10 m γ-ray telescope has been used to survey the error boxes of EGRET unidentified sources in an attempt to find counterparts at energies of 350 GeV and above. Twenty-one unidentified sources detected by EGRET (more than 10% of the total number) have been included in this survey. In no case is a statistically significant signal found in the EGRET error box, which implies that, at least for this sample, the γ-ray spectra of these sources steepen between 100 MeV and 350 GeV. For each EGRET source location, we list candidate associations and derive upper limits on …

A Search For Tev Gamma-Ray Emission From High-Peaked Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasars Using The Whipple Air Cerenkov Telescope, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Blazars have traditionally been separated into two broad categories based on their optical emission characteristics. Blazars with faint or no emission lines are referred to as BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), and blazars with prominent, broad emission lines are commonly referred to as flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). The spectral energy distribution of FSRQs has generally been thought of as being more akin to the low-peaked BL Lacs, which exhibit a peak in the infrared region of the spectrum, as opposed to high-peaked BL Lacs (HBLs), which exhibit a peak in UV/X-ray region of the spectrum. All blazars that are currently …

Xmm-Newton Observations Of The Bl Lac Ms 0205.7+3509: A Dense, Low-Metallicity Absorber, Niall Smith, Et. Al.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Publications

The high-frequency-peaked BL Lac, MS 0205.7+3509 was observed twice with XMM-Newton. Both X-ray spectra are synchrotron-dominated, with mean 0.2–10 keV fluxes of and  erg cm^-2 s^-1. The X-ray spectra are well fit by a power-law with absorption above the Galactic value, however no absorption edges are detected, implying a low metallicity absorber () or an absorber with redshift above one (best-fit for an absorber with solar abundances). In either case the absorbing column density must be  cm^-2. A new optical spectrum is presented, with a absorption doublet detected at , but no other significant …

Constraints On The Very High Energy Emission From Bl Lacertae Objects, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present results from observations of 29 BL Lacertae objects, taken with the Whipple Observatory 10 m gamma-ray telescope between 1995 and 2000. The observed objects are mostly at low redshift (z < 0.2), but observations of objects of up to z = 0.444 are also reported. Five of the objects are EGRET sources and two are unconfirmed TeV sources. Three of the confirmed sources of extragalactic TeV gamma rays were originally observed as part of this survey and have been reported elsewhere. No significant excesses are detected from any of the other objects observed, on timescales of days, months, or years. We report 99.9% confidence level flux upper limits for the objects for each observing season. The flux upper limits are typically 20% of the Crab flux, although for some sources, limits as sensitive as 6% of the Crab flux were derived. The results are consistent with the synchrotron self-Compton model predictions considered in this work.

Observation Of M87 At 400 Gev With The Whipple 10 Meter Telescope, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

We present results from observations taken with the Whipple 10 m very high energy γ-ray telescope with maximal sensitivity at 400 GeV during 39 hr between 2000 and 2003 in the direction of the giant radio galaxy M87. Using the entire data set, we derive a 99% confidence level upper limit on the flux of γ-ray emission above 400 GeV from M87 to be ≤6.9 × 10-12 cm-2 s-1. This suggests variability at the 90% confidence level when compared to the flux measured by the HEGRA collaboration in 1999 if the differential spectrum is steeper than a power law of …

Search For High-Energy Gamma Rays From An X-Ray-Selected Blazar Sample, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

Our understanding of blazars has been greatly increased in recent years by extensive multiwavelength observations, particularly in the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray regions. Over the past decade the Whipple 10 m telescope has contributed to this with the detection of five BL Lacertae objects at very high gamma-ray energies. The combination of multiwavelength data has shown that blazars follow a well-defined sequence in terms of their broadband spectral properties. Together with providing constraints on emission models, this information has yielded a means by which potential sources of TeV emission may be identified and predictions made as to their possible gamma-ray …

Search For Tev Emissions From Pulsars In Binary Systems, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

A survey of binary systems containing pulsars was conducted, with the intention of detecting Galactic sources of very high energy γ-ray emission. Observations were carried out with the Whipple 10 m imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. Standard analysis techniques were applied to these sources to search for steady, unpulsed emission. Periodic tests were also performed to search for emission correlated with both the orbital and spin phases, where appropriate. Analyses indicate that the binaries in this study do not emit detectable levels of very high energy photons within the sensitivity of our instrument. The flux upper limits presented here fail to …

The Tev Spectrum Of H1426+428, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The BL Lac object H1426+428 was recently detected as a high-energy γ-ray source by the VERITAS collaboration (Horan et al.). We have reanalyzed the 2001 portion of the data used in the detection in order to examine the spectrum of H1426+428 above 250 GeV. We find that the time-averaged spectrum agrees with a power law of the shape

The statistical evidence from our data for emission above 2.5 TeV is 2.6 σ. At the 95% confidence level, the integral flux of H1426+428 above 2.5 TeV is larger than 3% of the corresponding flux from the Crab Nebula. The spectrum is …

Discovery Of Spectral Variability Of Markarian 421 At Tev Energies, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The detection of spectral variability of the γ-ray blazar Mrk 421 at TeV energies is reported. Observations with the Whipple Observatory 10 m γ-ray telescope taken in 2000/2001 revealed exceptionally strong and long-lasting flaring activity. Flaring levels of 0.4-13 times that of the Crab Nebula flux provided sufficient statistics for a detailed study of the energy spectrum between 380 GeV and 8.2 TeV as a function of the flux level. These spectra are well described by a power law with an exponential cutoff: dN/dE ∝ E-αeimg1.gif m-2 s-1 TeV-1. There is no evidence for variation in the cutoff energy with …

Multiwavelength Observations Of A Tev-Flare From W Comae, P. T. Reynolds, Veritas, Agile

Physical Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.