Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies

G. Vacanti; M. F. Cawley; E. Colombo; D. J. Fegan; A. M. Hillas; P. W. Kwok; M. J. Lang; R. C. Lamb; D. A. Lewis; D. J. Macomb; K. S. O'Klaherty; P. T. Reynolds; T. C. Weekes

doi:10.1086/170376

Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies

G. Vacanti
, M. F. Cawley
, E. Colombo
, D. J. Fegan
, A. M. Hillas
, P. W. Kwok
, M. J. Lang
, R. C. Lamb
, D. A. Lewis
, D. J. Macomb
, K. S. O'Klaherty
, P. T. Reynolds
, T. C. Weekes

Physics Department

Iowa State University
Météo France
St. Patrick's College
Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
Inst. Astronomia y Fis. del Espacio
University College Dublin
University of Leeds
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

149 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Crab Nebula was observed in TeV gamma rays with the Whipple Observatory high-resolution atmospheric Cherenkov camera and a signal was detected at the 20 σ level. The energy spectrum derived has the form N(E) × dE = 2.5 × 10^-10 (E/0.4 TeV)^-2.4±0.3 photons cm^-2 s^-1 TeV^-1 between 0.4 and 4 TeV. There is no evidence for the pulsar periodicity, and the flux is steady on a monthly time scale. If this signal is used to optimize the technique for gamma-ray detection, then a flux one-tenth that of the Crab can be detected at the 3 σ level in 60 hr of integration time. For an on-axis source the angular resolution is shown to be ±0°1.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	467-479
Number of pages	13
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	377
Issue number	2 PART 1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/170376
State	Published - 20 Aug 1991

Keywords

Gamma rays: general
Nebulae: Crab Nebula
Pulsars
Radiation mechanisms

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10.1086/170376

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@article{820d42bc0c4746369a280915aa80df73,

title = "Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies",

abstract = "The Crab Nebula was observed in TeV gamma rays with the Whipple Observatory high-resolution atmospheric Cherenkov camera and a signal was detected at the 20 σ level. The energy spectrum derived has the form N(E) × dE = 2.5 × 10-10 (E/0.4 TeV)-2.4±0.3 photons cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 between 0.4 and 4 TeV. There is no evidence for the pulsar periodicity, and the flux is steady on a monthly time scale. If this signal is used to optimize the technique for gamma-ray detection, then a flux one-tenth that of the Crab can be detected at the 3 σ level in 60 hr of integration time. For an on-axis source the angular resolution is shown to be ±0°1.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: general, Nebulae: Crab Nebula, Pulsars, Radiation mechanisms",

author = "G. Vacanti and Cawley, \{M. F.\} and E. Colombo and Fegan, \{D. J.\} and Hillas, \{A. M.\} and Kwok, \{P. W.\} and Lang, \{M. J.\} and Lamb, \{R. C.\} and Lewis, \{D. A.\} and Macomb, \{D. J.\} and O'Klaherty, \{K. S.\} and Reynolds, \{P. T.\} and Weekes, \{T. C.\}",

year = "1991",

month = aug,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/170376",

language = "English",

volume = "377",

pages = "467--479",

number = "2 PART 1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies

AU - Vacanti, G.

AU - Cawley, M. F.

AU - Colombo, E.

AU - Fegan, D. J.

AU - Hillas, A. M.

AU - Kwok, P. W.

AU - Lang, M. J.

AU - Lamb, R. C.

AU - Lewis, D. A.

AU - Macomb, D. J.

AU - O'Klaherty, K. S.

AU - Reynolds, P. T.

AU - Weekes, T. C.

PY - 1991/8/20

Y1 - 1991/8/20

N2 - The Crab Nebula was observed in TeV gamma rays with the Whipple Observatory high-resolution atmospheric Cherenkov camera and a signal was detected at the 20 σ level. The energy spectrum derived has the form N(E) × dE = 2.5 × 10-10 (E/0.4 TeV)-2.4±0.3 photons cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 between 0.4 and 4 TeV. There is no evidence for the pulsar periodicity, and the flux is steady on a monthly time scale. If this signal is used to optimize the technique for gamma-ray detection, then a flux one-tenth that of the Crab can be detected at the 3 σ level in 60 hr of integration time. For an on-axis source the angular resolution is shown to be ±0°1.

AB - The Crab Nebula was observed in TeV gamma rays with the Whipple Observatory high-resolution atmospheric Cherenkov camera and a signal was detected at the 20 σ level. The energy spectrum derived has the form N(E) × dE = 2.5 × 10-10 (E/0.4 TeV)-2.4±0.3 photons cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 between 0.4 and 4 TeV. There is no evidence for the pulsar periodicity, and the flux is steady on a monthly time scale. If this signal is used to optimize the technique for gamma-ray detection, then a flux one-tenth that of the Crab can be detected at the 3 σ level in 60 hr of integration time. For an on-axis source the angular resolution is shown to be ±0°1.

KW - Gamma rays: general

KW - Nebulae: Crab Nebula

KW - Pulsars

KW - Radiation mechanisms

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0345023191

U2 - 10.1086/170376

DO - 10.1086/170376

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0345023191

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 377

SP - 467

EP - 479

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART 1

ER -

Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies

Abstract

Keywords

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