Abstract
We report the detection of very high energy gamma- ray emission from the intermediate- frequency- peaked BL Lacertae object W Comae (z = 0.102) by VERITAS. The source was observed between 2008 January and April. A strong outburst of gamma-ray emission was measured in the middle of March, lasting for only 4 days. The energy spectrum measured during the two highest flare nights is fit by a power law and is found to be very steep, with a differential photon spectral index of Gamma = 3.81 + - 0.35(stat) + - 0.34(syst). The integral photon flux above 200 GeV during those two nights corresponds to roughly 9% of the flux from the Crab Nebula. Quasi-simultaneous Swift observations at X-ray energies were triggered by the VERITAS observations. The spectral energy distribution of the flare data can be described by synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) or external Compton (EC) leptonic jet models.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS |
| Volume | 684 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2008 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'VERITAS discovery of 200 GeV gamma-ray emission from the intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object W Comae'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Cite this
- APA
- Author
- BIBTEX
- Harvard
- Standard
- RIS
- Vancouver