Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3

H.E.S.S. Collaboration

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201732426

Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3

H.E.S.S. Collaboration

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

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic γ-ray binary. Aim. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) γ-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Results. VHE γ-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 σ. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the 1-10 TeV energy range is (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1035 erg s^-1. A luminosity of (5 ± 1) × 1035 erg s^-1 is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE γ-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous γ-ray binary known so far.

Original language	English
Article number	L17
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	610
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732426
State	Published - 1 Feb 2018
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Binaries: general
Gamma rays: stars
Stars: massive

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1051/0004-6361/201732426

Cite this

@article{571739c4ed00422c969063ae7063cce1,

title = "Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3",

abstract = "Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic γ-ray binary. Aim. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) γ-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Results. VHE γ-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 σ. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the 1-10 TeV energy range is (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1035 erg s-1. A luminosity of (5 ± 1) × 1035 erg s-1 is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE γ-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous γ-ray binary known so far.",

keywords = "Binaries: general, Gamma rays: stars, Stars: massive",

author = "{H.E.S.S. Collaboration} and H. Abdalla and A. Abramowski and F. Aharonian and Benkhali, {F. Ait} and Ang{\"u}ner, {E. O.} and M. Arakawa and C. Armand and M. Arrieta and M. Backes and A. Balzer and M. Barnard and Y. Becherini and Tjus, {J. Becker} and D. Berge and S. Bernhard and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and R. Blackwell and M. B{\"o}ttcher and C. Boisson and J. Bolmont and S. Bonnefoy and P. Bordas and J. Bregeon and F. Brun and P. Brun and M. Bryan and M. B{\"u}chele and T. Bulik and M. Capasso and S. Caroff and A. Carosi and S. Casanova and M. Cerruti and N. Chakraborty and Chaves, {R. C.G.} and A. Chen and J. Chevalier and S. Colafrancesco and B. Condon and J. Conrad and Davids, {I. D.} and J. Decock and C. Deil and J. Devin and P. DeWilt and L. Dirson and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and A. Donath and Drury, {L. O.C.} and I. Shilon",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} ESO 2018.",

year = "2018",

month = feb,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201732426",

language = "English",

volume = "610",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3

AU - H.E.S.S. Collaboration

AU - Abdalla, H.

AU - Abramowski, A.

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Benkhali, F. Ait

AU - Angüner, E. O.

AU - Arakawa, M.

AU - Armand, C.

AU - Arrieta, M.

AU - Backes, M.

AU - Balzer, A.

AU - Barnard, M.

AU - Becherini, Y.

AU - Tjus, J. Becker

AU - Berge, D.

AU - Bernhard, S.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Blackwell, R.

AU - Böttcher, M.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolmont, J.

AU - Bonnefoy, S.

AU - Bordas, P.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Brun, F.

AU - Brun, P.

AU - Bryan, M.

AU - Büchele, M.

AU - Bulik, T.

AU - Capasso, M.

AU - Caroff, S.

AU - Carosi, A.

AU - Casanova, S.

AU - Cerruti, M.

AU - Chakraborty, N.

AU - Chaves, R. C.G.

AU - Chen, A.

AU - Chevalier, J.

AU - Colafrancesco, S.

AU - Condon, B.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Davids, I. D.

AU - Decock, J.

AU - Deil, C.

AU - Devin, J.

AU - DeWilt, P.

AU - Dirson, L.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Donath, A.

AU - Drury, L. O.C.

AU - Shilon, I.

PY - 2018/2/1

Y1 - 2018/2/1

N2 - Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic γ-ray binary. Aim. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) γ-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Results. VHE γ-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 σ. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the 1-10 TeV energy range is (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1035 erg s-1. A luminosity of (5 ± 1) × 1035 erg s-1 is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE γ-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous γ-ray binary known so far.

AB - Context. Recently, the high-energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) γ-ray emission from the object LMC P3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been discovered to be modulated with a 10.3-day period, making it the first extra-galactic γ-ray binary. Aim. This work aims at the detection of very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) γ-ray emission and the search for modulation of the VHE signal with the orbital period of the binary system. Methods. LMC P3 has been observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.); the acceptance-corrected exposure time is 100 h. The data set has been folded with the known orbital period of the system in order to test for variability of the emission. Results. VHE γ-ray emission is detected with a statistical significance of 6.4 σ. The data clearly show variability which is phase-locked to the orbital period of the system. Periodicity cannot be deduced from the H.E.S.S. data set alone. The orbit-averaged luminosity in the 1-10 TeV energy range is (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1035 erg s-1. A luminosity of (5 ± 1) × 1035 erg s-1 is reached during 20% of the orbit. HE and VHE γ-ray emissions are anti-correlated. LMC P3 is the most luminous γ-ray binary known so far.

KW - Binaries: general

KW - Gamma rays: stars

KW - Stars: massive

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042931510&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201732426

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201732426

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85042931510

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 610

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - L17

ER -

Detection of variable VHE γ-ray emission from the extra-galactic γ-ray binary LMC P3

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this