Fermi Discovery of Gamma-Ray Emission from NGC 1275

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/699/1/31· OSTI ID:1046400

Abdo, Aous A; Ackermann, M; Ajello, M; Asano, K; Baldini, L; Ballet, J; Barbiellini, Guido; Bastieri, Denis; Baughman, B M; Bechtol, K; Bellazzini, R; Blandford, R D; Bloom, Elliott D; Bonamente, E; Borgland, A W; Bregeon, J; Brez, A; Brigida, M; Bruel, P; Burnett, Thompson H ; Caliandro, G A

We report the discovery of high-energy (E > 100 MeV) {gamma}-ray emission from NGC 1275, a giant elliptical galaxy lying at the center of the Perseus cluster of galaxies, based on observations made with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The positional center of the {gamma}-ray source is only {approx}3{prime} away from the NGC 1275 nucleus, well within the 95% LAT error circle of {approx}5{prime}. The spatial distribution of {gamma}-ray photons is consistent with a point source. The average flux and power-law photon index measured with the LAT from 2008 August 4 to 2008 December 5 are F{sub {gamma}} = (2.10 {+-} 0.23) x 10{sup -7} ph (>100 MeV) cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} and {Gamma} = 2.17 {+-} 0.05, respectively. The measurements are statistically consistent with constant flux during the four-month LAT observing period. Previous EGRET observations gave an upper limit of F{sub {gamma}} < 3.72 x 10{sup -8} ph (>100 MeV) cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} to the {gamma}-ray flux from NGC 1275. This indicates that the source is variable on timescales of years to decades, and therefore restricts the fraction of emission that can be produced in extended regions of the galaxy cluster. Contemporaneous and historical radio observations are also reported. The broadband spectrum of NGC 1275 is modeled with a simple one-zone synchrotron/synchrotron self-Compton model and a model with a decelerating jet flow.

• Research Organization: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
• Sponsoring Organization: US DOE Office of Science (DOE SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1046400
• Report Number(s): SLAC-PUB-13618; arXiv:0904.1904
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 699; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
Astrophysics
ASTRO
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GAMMA RADIATION
PHOTONS
POINT SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TELESCOPES