Detection of TeV Gamma-Ray Emission from the Cygnus Region of the Galaxy with Milagro Using a New Background Rejection Technique
- Michigan State University, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, East Lansing, MI, 48824 (United States)
Milagro is a TeV gamma-ray observatory that utilizes a large water Cherenkov detector to observe extensive air showers (EAS) produced by high energy particles impacting the Earth's atmosphere. Milagro's distinct advantage compared to other TeV gamma-ray detectors is that it views a wide field (2 steradian overhead sky) and it continuously operates (> 90% live time ). These factors give Milagro the potential for discovery of new sources with unknown positions and times, such as gamma-ray bursts, flaring AGNs, and observation of diffuse and extended sources like the Galactic plane or large supernova remnants. Here we present a new technique for improving background rejection in Milagro as well as a gamma-ray image of the Cygnus region at energies near 12.5 TeV. We report the detection of both an extended source and a large area of diffuse gamma-ray emission from this region of the galaxy. This new extended source has an extent of 0.32 {+-} 0.12 degrees and an integral flux above 12.5 TeV of (1.71 {+-} 0.24stat {+-} 0.34sys) x 10-13cm-2s-1 assuming a differential source spectrum of E-2.6. The best-fit location for the source is RA = 304.66 {+-} 0.13stat {+-} 0.25sys degrees and declination 36.96 {+-} 0.08stat {+-} 0.2sys degrees.
- OSTI ID:
- 20891865
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 867, Issue 1; Conference: 12. international conference on calorimetry in high energy physics, Chicago, IL (United States), 5-9 Jun 2006; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2396955; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Discovery of TeV Gamma-Rays From The Cygnus Region With Milagro Using A New Background Rejection Technique
Contributions from the CYGNUS/Milagro Collaboration