Skip to main content
Log in

HESS observations of extragalactic objects

Results from HESS observations 2003–2005

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The HESS experiment (High Energy Stereoscopic System), consisting of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) in Namibia, has observed many extragalactic objects in the search for very high energy (VHE) γ-ray emission. These objects include active galactic nuclei (AGN), notably Blazars, Seyferts, radio galaxies, starburst galaxies and others. Beyond the established sources, γ-ray emission has been detected for the first time from several of these objects by HESS, and their energy spectra and variability characteristics have been measured. Multi-wavelength campaigns, including X-ray satellites, radio telescopes, and optical observations, have been carried out for AGNs, in particular for PKS 2155-304, H 2356-309 and 1ES 1101-232, for which the implications concerning emission models are presented. Also results from the investigations of VHE flux variability from the giant radio galaxy M 87 are shown.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: TeV gamma rays from the blazar H1426+428 and the diffuse extragalactic background radiation. Astron. Astrophys. 384, L23–L26 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: Is the giant radio galaxy M 87 a TeV gamma-ray emitter?. Astron. Astrophys. 403, L1–L5 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al. (HESS Collaboration): HESS observations of PKS2155-304. Astron. Astrophys. 430, 865–875 (2005a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al. (HESS Collaboration): Discovery of VHE gamma-rays from PKS2005-489. Astron. Astrophys. 436, L17–L20 (2005b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al. (HESS Collaboration): Observations of selected AGN with HESS. Astron. Astrophys. 441, 465–472 (2005c)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al. (HESS Collaboration): A search for very high energy gamma-ray emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253 with HESS. Astron. Astrophys. 442, 177–183 (2005d)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al. (HESS Collaboration): Multi-wavelength observations of PKS  2155-304 with HESS. Astron. Astrophys. 442, 895–907 (2005e)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: Evidence for VHE gamma-ray emission from the distant BL Lac PG 1553+113. Astron. Astrophys. 448, L19–L23 (2006a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: A low level of extragalactic background light as revealed by gamma-rays from blazars. Nature 440, 1018–1021 (2006b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: Stepping up in redshift: detection of VHE gamma-ray emission from 1ES 1101-232 with HESS and broadband characterisation (2006c, in preparation)

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: Discovery of fast variability of TeV γ-ray emission from the giant radio galaxy M 87. Science 314, 1424–1427 (2006d)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F.A., et al.: Discovery of very high energy γ-ray emission from the BL Lac object H2356-309 with the HESS Cherenkov telescopes. Astron. Astrophys. 455, 461–466 (2006e)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai, J.M., Lee, M.G.: Are Centaurus A and M 87 TeV gamma-ray sources?. Astrophys. J. 549, L173–L177 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Cornils, R., et al.: Observation of the giant radio galaxy M 87 at TeV energies with the HESS Cherenkov telescopes. In: Proc. of the 29th ICRC, Pune, vol. 4, pp. 299–302 (2005)

  • Benbow, W.: Cosmic ray backgr. reject. & spectral analysis techniques. In: Proc. Towards a Network of Atmospheric Cherenkov Detectors VII Palaiseau, p. 163 (2005)

  • Biermann, P.L., et al.: Origin of the highest energy cosmic rays. Nucl. Phys. Suppl. 87, 417–419 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costamante, L. doi:10.1007/s10509-007-9418-7 (2007)

  • Domingo-Santamaria, E., Torres, D.F.: High energy γ-ray emission from the starburst nucleus of NGC 253. Astron. Astrophys. 444, 403–415 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Götting, N., et al.: Recent results from HEGRA. Eur. Phys. J. C 33, 932–934 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grindlay, J.E., et al.: Evidence for the detection of gamma rays from Centaurus A at gamma-ray energies above 300 GeV. Astrophys. J. 197, L9–L12 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D.E., et al.: The outburst of HST-1 in the M 87 jet. Astrophys. J. 640, 211–218 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, W.: HESS highlights. In: Proc. of the 29th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Pune vol. 10, pp. 97–114 (2005)

  • Le Bohec, S., et al.: Observation of M 87 at 400 GeV with the whipple 10 meter telescope. Astrophys. J. 610, 156–160 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macchetto, F., et al.: The supermassive black hole of M87 an the kinematics of its associated gaseous disk. Astrophys. J. 489, 579–600 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, F.N., Eilek, J.A., Kassim, J.A.: M 87 at 90 centimeters: a different picture. Astrophys. J. 543, 611–619 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Punch, M., et al.: Detection of TeV photons from the active galaxy Markarian 421. Nature 358, 477–478 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sreekumar, P., et al.: GeV emission from the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A. Astropart. Phys. 11, 221–223 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Völk, H.J., Aharonian, F.A., Breitschwerdt, D.: The nonthermal energy content and gamma-ray emission of starburst galaxies and clusters of galaxies. Space Sci. Rev. 75, 279–297 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Beilicke.

Additional information

For the HESS Collaboration.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beilicke, M. HESS observations of extragalactic objects. Astrophys Space Sci 309, 139–145 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9400-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9400-4

Keywords

PACS

Navigation