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TeV and optical observations of the Be/pulsar binary 1A 0535+262 during the 2020 giant outburst

  • the VERITAS Collaboration
  • McGill University
  • Columbia University
  • DePauw University
  • Harvard & Smithsonian
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Barnard College
  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • Iowa State University
  • Methodology Center at Penn State
  • University College Dublin
  • The Bartol Research Institute
  • University of Minnesota
  • California State University, East Bay
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • University of Galway
  • DESY
  • Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics
  • University of Utah
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Iowa
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of Potsdam
  • South Campus
  • Purdue University

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Conference articlepeer-review

Abstract

1A 0535+262 is a Be X-ray binary pulsar and one of the only galactic pulsar systems to show radio jet emission. Characterizing the very high energy emission (VHE, >100 GeV) in these extreme microquasars is critical to understanding their contribution to the origin of galactic cosmic rays. The 2020 giant outburst of this system, where X-ray fluxes exceeded 12 Crab, marked a rare opportunity to investigate the gamma-ray and rapid optical variability of these transient systems while in such an extreme state. This month of activity marked the brightest flare measured in this system. VERITAS’s developing optical capabilities in tandem with the ability to measure TeV gamma rays allowed for a unique campaign to be undertaken. VERITAS’s observations of this system during the outburst will be presented in the context of observations at lower energies and previous observations of this system by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number856
JournalProceedings of Science
Volume395
Publication statusPublished - 18 Mar 2022
Event37th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2021 - Virtual, Berlin, Germany
Duration: 12 Jul 202123 Jul 2021

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