H.E.S.S. reveals a lack of TeV emission from the supernova remnant Puppis A

Collaboration, H.E.S.S.; Abramowski, A.; Aharonian, F.; Ait Benkhali, F.; Akhperjanian, A.G.; Angüner, E.; Backes, M.; Balenderan, S.; Balzer, A.; Barnacka, A.; Becherini, Y.; Becker Tjus, J.; Berge, D.; Bernhard, S.; Bernlöhr, K.; Birsin, E.; Biteau, J.; Böttcher, M.; Boisson, C.; Bolmont, J.; Bordas, P.; Bregeon, J.; Brun, F.; Brun, P.; Bulik, T.; Carrigan, S.; Casanova, S.; Chadwick, P.M.; Chakraborty, M.; Chalme-Calvet, R.; Chaves, R.C.G.; Chrétien, M.; Colafrancesco, S.; Cologna, G.; Conrad, J.; Couturier, C.; Cui, Y.; Davids, I.D.; Degrange, B.; Deil, C.; deWilt, P.; Djannati-Ataï, A.; Domainko, W.; Donath, A.; Drury, L.O'C.; Dubus, G.; Dutson, K.; Dyks, J.; Dyrda, M.; Edwards, T.; Egberts, K.; Eger, P.; Espigat, P.; Farnier, C.; Fegan, S.; Feinstein, F.; Fernandes, M.V.; Fernandez, D.; Fiasson, A.; Fontaine, G.; Förster, A.; Füßling, M.; Gabici, S.; Gajdus, M.; Gallant, Y.A.; Garrigoux, T.; Giavitto, G.; Giebels, B.; Glicenstein, J.F.; Gottschall, D.; Grondin, M.-H.; Grudzińska, M.; Hadasch, D.; Häffner, S.; Hahn, J.; Harris, J.; Heinzelmann, G.; Henri, G.; Hermann, G.; Hervet, O.; Hillert, A.; Hinton, J.A.; Hofmann, W.; Hofverberg, P.; Holler, M.; Horns, D.; Ivascenko, A.; Jacholkowska, A.; Jahn, C.; Jamrozy, M.; Janiak, M.; Jankowsky, F.; Jung-Richardt, I.; Kastendieck, M.A.; Katarzyński, K.; Katz, U.; Kaufmann, S.; Khélifi, B.; Kieffer, M.; Klepser, S.; Klochkov, D.; Kluźniak, W.; Kneiske, T.; Kolitzus, D.; Komin, Nu; Kosack, K.; Krakau, S.; Krayzel, F.; Krüger, P.P.; Laffon, H.; Lamanna, G.; Lefaucheur, J.; Lefranc, V.; Lemière, A.; Lemoine-Goumard, M.; Lenain, J.-P.; Lohse, T.; Lopatin, A.; Lu, C.-C.; Marandon, V.; Marcowith, A.; Marx, R.; Maurin, G.; Maxted, N.; Mayer, M.; McComb, T.J.L.; Méhault, J.; Meintjes, P.J.; Menzler, U.; Meyer, M.; Mitchell, A.M.W.; Moderski, R.; Mohamed, M.; Morå, K.; Moulin, E.; Murach, T.; Naumann, C.L.; Naurois, M. de; Niemiec, J.; Nolan, S.J.; Oakes, L.; Odaka, H.; Ohm, S.; Opitz, B.; Ostrowski, M.; Oya, I.; Panter, M.; Parsons, R.D.; Paz Arribas, M.; Pekeur, N.W.; Pelletier, G.; Petrucci, P.-O.; Peyaud, B.; Pita, S.; Poon, H.; Pühlhofer, G.; Punch, M.; Quirrenbach, A.; Raab, S.; Reichardt, I.; Reimer, A.; Reimer, O.; Renaud, M.; Reyes, R. de los; Rieger, F.; Romoli, C.; Rosier-Lees, S.; Rowell, G.; Rudak, B.; Rulten, C.B.; Sahakian, V.; Salek, D.; Sanchez, D.A.; Santangelo, A.; Schlickeiser, R.; Schüssler, F.; Schulz, A.; Schwanke, U.; Schwarzburg, S.; Schwemmer, S.; Sol, H.; Spanier, F.; Spengler, G.; Spies, F.; Stawarz, Ł; Steenkamp, R.; Stegmann, C.; Stinzing, F.; Stycz, K.; Sushch, I.; Tavernet, J.-P.; Tavernier, T.; Taylor, A.M.; Terrier, R.; Tluczykont, M.; Trichard, C.; Valerius, K.; van Eldik, C.; van Soelen, B.; Vasileiadis, G.; Veh, J.; Venter, C.; Viana, A.; Vincent, P.; Völk, H.J.; Volpe, F.; Vorster, M.; Vuillaume, T.; Wagner, S.J.; Wagner, P.; Wagner, R.M.; Ward, M.; Weidinger, M.; Weitzel, Q.; White, R.; Wierzcholska, A.; Willmann, P.; Wörnlein, A.; Wouters, D.; Yang, R.; Zabalza, V.; Zaborov, D.; Zacharias, M.; Zajczyk, A.; Zdziarski, A.A.; Zech, A.; Zechlin, H.-S.

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424805

H.E.S.S. reveals a lack of TeV emission from the supernova remnant Puppis A

Collaboration, H.E.S.S.; Abramowski, A.; Aharonian, F.; Ait Benkhali, F.; Akhperjanian, A.G.; Angüner, E.; Backes, M.; Balenderan, S.; Balzer, A.; Barnacka, A.; Becherini, Y.; Becker Tjus, J.; Berge, D.; Bernhard, S.; Bernlöhr, K.; Birsin, E.; Biteau, J.; Böttcher, M.; Boisson, C.; Bolmont, J.; Bordas, P.; Bregeon, J.; Brun, F.; Brun, P.; Bulik, T.; Carrigan, S.; Casanova, S.; Chadwick, P.M.; Chakraborty, M.; Chalme-Calvet, R.; Chaves, R.C.G.; Chrétien, M.; Colafrancesco, S.; Cologna, G.; Conrad, J.; Couturier, C.; Cui, Y.; Davids, I.D.; Degrange, B.; Deil, C.; deWilt, P.; Djannati-Ataï, A.; Domainko, W.; Donath, A.; Drury, L.O'C.; Dubus, G.; Dutson, K.; Dyks, J.; Dyrda, M.; Edwards, T.; Egberts, K.; Eger, P.; Espigat, P.; Farnier, C.; Fegan, S.; Feinstein, F.; Fernandes, M.V.; Fernandez, D.; Fiasson, A.; Fontaine, G.; Förster, A.; Füßling, M.; Gabici, S.; Gajdus, M.; Gallant, Y.A.; Garrigoux, T.; Giavitto, G.; Giebels, B.; Glicenstein, J.F.; Gottschall, D.; Grondin, M.-H.; Grudzińska,...

Authors

H.E.S.S. Collaboration

A. Abramowski

F. Aharonian

F. Ait Benkhali

A.G. Akhperjanian

E. Angüner

M. Backes

S. Balenderan

A. Balzer

A. Barnacka

Y. Becherini

J. Becker Tjus

D. Berge

S. Bernhard

K. Bernlöhr

E. Birsin

J. Biteau

M. Böttcher

C. Boisson

J. Bolmont

P. Bordas

J. Bregeon

F. Brun

P. Brun

T. Bulik

S. Carrigan

S. Casanova

Professor Paula Chadwick p.m.chadwick@durham.ac.uk
Head Of Department

M. Chakraborty

R. Chalme-Calvet

R.C.G. Chaves

M. Chrétien

S. Colafrancesco

G. Cologna

J. Conrad

C. Couturier

Y. Cui

I.D. Davids

B. Degrange

C. Deil

P. deWilt

A. Djannati-Ataï

W. Domainko

A. Donath

L.O'C. Drury

G. Dubus

K. Dutson

J. Dyks

M. Dyrda

T. Edwards

K. Egberts

P. Eger

P. Espigat

C. Farnier

S. Fegan

F. Feinstein

M.V. Fernandes

D. Fernandez

A. Fiasson

G. Fontaine

A. Förster

M. Füßling

S. Gabici

M. Gajdus

Y.A. Gallant

T. Garrigoux

G. Giavitto

B. Giebels

J.F. Glicenstein

D. Gottschall

M.-H. Grondin

M. Grudzińska

D. Hadasch

S. Häffner

J. Hahn

J. Harris

G. Heinzelmann

G. Henri

G. Hermann

O. Hervet

A. Hillert

J.A. Hinton

W. Hofmann

P. Hofverberg

M. Holler

D. Horns

A. Ivascenko

A. Jacholkowska

C. Jahn

M. Jamrozy

M. Janiak

F. Jankowsky

I. Jung-Richardt

M.A. Kastendieck

K. Katarzyński

U. Katz

S. Kaufmann

B. Khélifi

M. Kieffer

S. Klepser

D. Klochkov

W. Kluźniak

T. Kneiske

D. Kolitzus

Nu Komin

K. Kosack

S. Krakau

F. Krayzel

P.P. Krüger

H. Laffon

G. Lamanna

J. Lefaucheur

V. Lefranc

A. Lemière

M. Lemoine-Goumard

J.-P. Lenain

T. Lohse

A. Lopatin

C.-C. Lu

V. Marandon

A. Marcowith

R. Marx

G. Maurin

N. Maxted

M. Mayer

T.J.L. McComb

J. Méhault

P.J. Meintjes

U. Menzler

M. Meyer

A.M.W. Mitchell

R. Moderski

M. Mohamed

K. Morå

E. Moulin

T. Murach

C.L. Naumann

M. de Naurois

J. Niemiec

S.J. Nolan

L. Oakes

H. Odaka

S. Ohm

B. Opitz

M. Ostrowski

I. Oya

M. Panter

R.D. Parsons

M. Paz Arribas

N.W. Pekeur

G. Pelletier

P.-O. Petrucci

B. Peyaud

S. Pita

H. Poon

G. Pühlhofer

M. Punch

A. Quirrenbach

S. Raab

I. Reichardt

A. Reimer

O. Reimer

M. Renaud

R. de los Reyes

F. Rieger

C. Romoli

S. Rosier-Lees

G. Rowell

B. Rudak

C.B. Rulten

V. Sahakian

D. Salek

D.A. Sanchez

A. Santangelo

R. Schlickeiser

F. Schüssler

A. Schulz

U. Schwanke

S. Schwarzburg

S. Schwemmer

H. Sol

F. Spanier

G. Spengler

F. Spies

Ł Stawarz

R. Steenkamp

C. Stegmann

F. Stinzing

K. Stycz

I. Sushch

J.-P. Tavernet

T. Tavernier

A.M. Taylor

R. Terrier

M. Tluczykont

C. Trichard

K. Valerius

C. van Eldik

B. van Soelen

G. Vasileiadis

J. Veh

C. Venter

A. Viana

P. Vincent

H.J. Völk

F. Volpe

M. Vorster

T. Vuillaume

S.J. Wagner

P. Wagner

R.M. Wagner

M. Ward

M. Weidinger

Q. Weitzel

R. White

A. Wierzcholska

P. Willmann

A. Wörnlein

D. Wouters

R. Yang

V. Zabalza

D. Zaborov

M. Zacharias

A. Zajczyk

A.A. Zdziarski

A. Zech

H.-S. Zechlin

Abstract

Context. Puppis A is an interesting ~4 kyr-old supernova remnant (SNR) that shows strong evidence of interaction between the forward shock and a molecular cloud. It has been studied in detail from radio frequencies to high-energy (HE, 0.1−100 GeV) γ-rays. An analysis of the Fermi-LAT data has shown extended HE γ-ray emission with a 0.2−100 GeV spectrum exhibiting no significant deviation from a power law, unlike most of the GeV-emitting SNRs known to be interacting with molecular clouds. This makes it a promising target for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) to probe the γ-ray emission above 100 GeV. Aims. Very-high-energy (VHE, E ≥ 0.1 TeV) γ-ray emission from Puppis A has been, for the first time, searched for with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the direction and energy of the incident γ-rays in order to produce sky images and source spectra. The profile likelihood method is applied to find constraints on the existence of a potential break or cutoff in the photon spectrum. Results. The analysis of the H.E.S.S. data does not reveal any significant emission towards Puppis A. The derived upper limits on the differential photon flux imply that its broadband γ-ray spectrum must exhibit a spectral break or cutoff. By combining Fermi-LAT and H.E.S.S. measurements, the 99% confidence-level upper limits on such a cutoff are found to be 450 and 280 GeV, assuming a power law with a simple exponential and a sub-exponential cutoff, respectively. It is concluded that none of the standard limitations (age, size, radiative losses) on the particle acceleration mechanism, assumed to be continuing at present, can explain the lack of VHE signal. The scenario in which particle acceleration has ceased some time ago is considered as an alternative explanation. The HE/VHE spectrum of Puppis A could then exhibit a break of non-radiative origin (as observed in several other interacting SNRs, albeit at somewhat higher energies), owing to the interaction with dense and neutral material, in particular towards the NE region.

Citation

Collaboration, H., Abramowski, A., Aharonian, F., Ait Benkhali, F., Akhperjanian, A., Angüner, E., …Zechlin, H. (2015). H.E.S.S. reveals a lack of TeV emission from the supernova remnant Puppis A. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 575, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424805

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 20, 2014
Publication Date	Mar 1, 2015
Deposit Date	Apr 15, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Apr 22, 2015
Journal	Astronomy and astrophysics.
Print ISSN	0004-6361
Electronic ISSN	1432-0746
Publisher	EDP Sciences
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	575
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424805
Keywords	Gamma rays: ISM, ISM: individual objects: Puppis A, Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal, Cosmic rays, Acceleration of particles.
Related Public URLs	http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...575A..81H