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Title: A joint H.E.S.S./MAGIC/VERITAS observation campaign on the radio galaxy M 87 to probe the origin of VHE {gamma}-raye mission

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3076732· OSTI ID:21255170
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Washington University in St. Louis, Physics Department and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, St. Louis, MO 63130 (United States)
  2. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (United States)
  3. IFAE, Edifici Cn. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona) (Spain)
  4. MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
  5. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik, Foehringer Ring 6, D-80805 Munich (Germany)
  6. Landessternwarte Heidelberg, Heidelberg (Germany)

The giant elliptical radio galaxy M 87 is the closest known extragalactic object emitting very-high-energy (VHE){gamma}-rays. The prominent jet of M 87 was extensively studied throughout the electromagnetic spectrum in the past revealing a complex structure resolved at radio, optical and X-ray energies. Knots in the jet indicate active regions, possibly associated with particle acceleration to ultra-relativistic energies. However, the origin of the measured VHE {gamma}-rays is still unknown. No clear correlation of the VHE {gamma}-rays with other wavelengths was found so far, whereas the size of the VHE emitting region is strongly constrained by the detection of variability on time-scales of days in 2005 and 2008. In a joint effort, H.E.S.S., MAGIC and VERITAS performed an intensive, coordinated monitoring campaign on M 87 in 2008 with a total coverage of >120 h of observation time. The motivation, coordination, results and implications for future campaigns are discussed.

OSTI ID:
21255170
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1085, Issue 1; Conference: 4. international meeting on high energy gamma-ray astronomy, Heidelberg (Germany), 7-11 Jul 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3076732; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English