Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105

F. Acero; F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; G. Anton; U. Barres De Almeida; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; Y. Becherini; B. Behera; K. Bernlöhr; A. Bochow; C. Boisson; J. Bolmont; V. Borrel; J. Brucker; F. Brun; P. Brun; T. Bulik; I. Büsching; T. Boutelier; P. M. Chadwick; A. Charbonnier; R. C G Chaves; A. Cheesebrough; J. Conrad; L. M. Chounet; A. C. Clapson; G. Coignet; M. Dalton; M. K. Daniel; I. D. Davids; B. Degrange; C. Deil; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; W. Domainko; L. O C Drury; F. Dubois; G. Dubus; J. Dyks; M. Dyrda; K. Egberts; P. Eger; P. Espigat; L. Fallon; C. Farnier; S. Fegan; F. Feinstein; A. Fiasson; A. Förster; G. Fontaine; M. Füßling; S. Gabici; Y. A. Gallant; L. Gérard; D. Gerbig; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; P. Goret; D. Göring; M. Hauser; S. Heinz; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J. A. Hinton; A. Hoffmann; W. Hofmann; P. Hofverberg; M. Holleran; S. Hoppe; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; O. C. De Jager; C. Jahn; I. Jung; K. Katarzýnski; U. Katz; S. Kaufmann; M. Kerschhaggl; D. Khangulyan; B. Khélifi; D. Keogh; D. Klochkov; W. Klúzniak; T. Kneiske; Nu Komin; K. Kosack; R. Kossakowski; G. Lamanna; J. P. Lenain; T. Lohse; V. Marandon; A. Marcowith; J. Masbou; D. Maurin; T. J L McComb; M. C. Medina; J. Méhault; R. Moderski; E. Moulin; M. Naumann-Godo; M. De Naurois; D. Nedbal; D. Nekrassov; B. Nicholas; J. Niemiec; S. J. Nolan; S. Ohm; J. F. Olive; E. De OñaWilhelmi; K. J. Orford; M. Ostrowski; M. Panter; M. Paz Arribas; G. Pedaletti; G. Pelletier; P. O. Petrucci; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; A. Quirrenbach; B. C. Raubenheimer; M. Raue; S. M. Rayner; O. Reimer; M. Renaud; R. De Los Reyes; F. Rieger; J. Ripken; L. Rob; S. Rosier-Lees; G. Rowell; B. Rudak; C. B. Rulten; J. Ruppel; F. Ryde; V. Sahakian; A. Santangelo; R. Schlickeiser; F. M. Schöck; A. Schönwald; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; A. Shalchi; I. Sushch; M. Sikora; J. L. Skilton; H. Sol; L. Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; F. Stinzing; G. Superina; A. Szostek; P. H. Tam; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; O. Tibolla; M. Tluczykont; C. Van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; L. Venter; J. P. Vialle; P. Vincent; M. Vivier; H. J. Völk; F. Volpe; S. Vorobiov; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward; A. A. Zdziarski; A. Zech

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105

F. Acero, F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, G. Anton, U. Barres De Almeida, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, Y. Becherini, B. Behera, K. Bernlöhr, A. Bochow, C. Boisson, J. Bolmont, V. Borrel, J. Brucker, F. Brun, P. Brun, T. Bulik, I. Büsching, T. Boutelier, P. M. ChadwickA. Charbonnier, R. C G Chaves, A. Cheesebrough, J. Conrad, L. M. Chounet, A. C. Clapson, G. Coignet, M. Dalton, M. K. Daniel, I. D. Davids, B. Degrange, C. Deil, H. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï, W. Domainko, L. O C Drury, F. Dubois, G. Dubus, J. Dyks, M. Dyrda, K. Egberts, P. Eger, P. Espigat, L. Fallon, C. Farnier, S. Fegan, F. Feinstein, A. Fiasson, A. Förster, G. Fontaine, M. Füßling, S. Gabici, Y. A. Gallant, L. Gérard, D. Gerbig, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, B. Glück, P. Goret, D. Göring, M. Hauser, S. Heinz, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, A. Hoffmann, W. Hofmann, P. Hofverberg, M. Holleran, S. Hoppe, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, O. C. De Jager, C. Jahn, I. Jung, K. Katarzýnski, U. Katz, S. Kaufmann, M. Kerschhaggl, D. Khangulyan, B. Khélifi, D. Keogh, D. Klochkov, W. Klúzniak, T. Kneiske, Nu Komin, K. Kosack, R. Kossakowski, G. Lamanna, J. P. Lenain, T. Lohse, V. Marandon, A. Marcowith, J. Masbou, D. Maurin, T. J L McComb, M. C. Medina, J. Méhault, R. Moderski, E. Moulin, M. Naumann-Godo, M. De Naurois, D. Nedbal, D. Nekrassov, B. Nicholas, J. Niemiec, S. J. Nolan, S. Ohm, J. F. Olive, E. De OñaWilhelmi, K. J. Orford, M. Ostrowski, M. Panter, M. Paz Arribas, G. Pedaletti, G. Pelletier, P. O. Petrucci, S. Pita, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, A. Quirrenbach, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, S. M. Rayner, O. Reimer, M. Renaud, R. De Los Reyes, F. Rieger, J. Ripken, L. Rob, S. Rosier-Lees, G. Rowell, B. Rudak, C. B. Rulten, J. Ruppel, F. Ryde, V. Sahakian, A. Santangelo, R. Schlickeiser, F. M. Schöck, A. Schönwald, U. Schwanke, S. Schwarzburg, S. Schwemmer, A. Shalchi, I. Sushch, M. Sikora, J. L. Skilton, H. Sol, L. Stawarz, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, F. Stinzing, G. Superina, A. Szostek, P. H. Tam, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, O. Tibolla, M. Tluczykont, C. Van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, L. Venter, J. P. Vialle, P. Vincent, M. Vivier, H. J. Völk, F. Volpe, S. Vorobiov, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward, A. A. Zdziarski, A. Zech

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context: High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, < 100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims: Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods: Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results: There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of 6.1 × 10^-13ph cm^-2s^-1 (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of ̃ 10³⁴erg s^-1 at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 10 ³⁸ erg s^-1. Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1135-1140
Number of pages	6
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	508
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200913389
State	Published - Dec 4 2009

Keywords

Gamma rays: observations
X-rays: binaries

Publisher link

10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

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Acero, F., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., De Almeida, U. B., Bazer-Bachi, A. R., Becherini, Y., Behera, B., Bernlöhr, K., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Borrel, V., Brucker, J., Brun, F., Brun, P., Bulik, T., Büsching, I., Boutelier, T., ... Zech, A. (2009). Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 508(3), 1135-1140. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

Acero, F, Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Anton, G, De Almeida, UB, Bazer-Bachi, AR, Becherini, Y, Behera, B, Bernlöhr, K, Bochow, A, Boisson, C, Bolmont, J, Borrel, V, Brucker, J, Brun, F, Brun, P, Bulik, T, Büsching, I, Boutelier, T, Chadwick, PM, Charbonnier, A, Chaves, RCG, Cheesebrough, A, Conrad, J, Chounet, LM, Clapson, AC, Coignet, G, Dalton, M, Daniel, MK, Davids, ID, Degrange, B, Deil, C, Dickinson, HJ, Djannati-Ataï, A, Domainko, W, Drury, LOC, Dubois, F, Dubus, G, Dyks, J, Dyrda, M, Egberts, K, Eger, P, Espigat, P, Fallon, L, Farnier, C, Fegan, S, Feinstein, F, Fiasson, A, Förster, A, Fontaine, G, Füßling, M, Gabici, S, Gallant, YA, Gérard, L, Gerbig, D, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Glück, B, Goret, P, Göring, D, Hauser, M, Heinz, S, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hinton, JA, Hoffmann, A, Hofmann, W, Hofverberg, P, Holleran, M, Hoppe, S, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, De Jager, OC, Jahn, C, Jung, I, Katarzýnski, K, Katz, U, Kaufmann, S, Kerschhaggl, M, Khangulyan, D, Khélifi, B, Keogh, D, Klochkov, D, Klúzniak, W, Kneiske, T, Komin, N, Kosack, K, Kossakowski, R, Lamanna, G, Lenain, JP, Lohse, T, Marandon, V, Marcowith, A, Masbou, J, Maurin, D, McComb, TJL, Medina, MC, Méhault, J, Moderski, R, Moulin, E, Naumann-Godo, M, De Naurois, M, Nedbal, D, Nekrassov, D, Nicholas, B, Niemiec, J, Nolan, SJ, Ohm, S, Olive, JF, De OñaWilhelmi, E, Orford, KJ, Ostrowski, M, Panter, M, Paz Arribas, M, Pedaletti, G, Pelletier, G, Petrucci, PO, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Quirrenbach, A, Raubenheimer, BC, Raue, M, Rayner, SM, Reimer, O, Renaud, M, De Los Reyes, R, Rieger, F, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rosier-Lees, S, Rowell, G, Rudak, B, Rulten, CB, Ruppel, J, Ryde, F, Sahakian, V, Santangelo, A, Schlickeiser, R, Schöck, FM, Schönwald, A, Schwanke, U, Schwarzburg, S, Schwemmer, S, Shalchi, A, Sushch, I, Sikora, M, Skilton, JL, Sol, H, Stawarz, L, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Stinzing, F, Superina, G, Szostek, A, Tam, PH, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Tibolla, O, Tluczykont, M, Van Eldik, C, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Venter, L, Vialle, JP, Vincent, P, Vivier, M, Völk, HJ, Volpe, F, Vorobiov, S, Wagner, SJ, Ward, M, Zdziarski, AA & Zech, A 2009, 'Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 508, no. 3, pp. 1135-1140. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

@article{2933e5673dc348e68ece95b8666ec14d,

title = "Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105",

abstract = "Context: High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, < 100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims: Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods: Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results: There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of 6.1 × 10-13ph cm-2s-1 (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of{\~ } 1034erg s-1 at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 10 38 erg s-1. Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: observations, X-rays: binaries",

author = "F. Acero and F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, {A. G.} and G. Anton and {De Almeida}, {U. Barres} and Bazer-Bachi, {A. R.} and Y. Becherini and B. Behera and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and A. Bochow and C. Boisson and J. Bolmont and V. Borrel and J. Brucker and F. Brun and P. Brun and T. Bulik and I. B{\"u}sching and T. Boutelier and Chadwick, {P. M.} and A. Charbonnier and Chaves, {R. C G} and A. Cheesebrough and J. Conrad and Chounet, {L. M.} and Clapson, {A. C.} and G. Coignet and M. Dalton and Daniel, {M. K.} and Davids, {I. D.} and B. Degrange and C. Deil and Dickinson, {H. J.} and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and W. Domainko and Drury, {L. O C} and F. Dubois and G. Dubus and J. Dyks and M. Dyrda and K. Egberts and P. Eger and P. Espigat and L. Fallon and C. Farnier and S. Fegan and F. Feinstein and A. Fiasson and A. F{\"o}rster and G. Fontaine and M. F{\"u}{\ss}ling and S. Gabici and Gallant, {Y. A.} and L. G{\'e}rard and D. Gerbig and B. Giebels and Glicenstein, {J. F.} and B. Gl{\"u}ck and P. Goret and D. G{\"o}ring and M. Hauser and S. Heinz and G. Heinzelmann and G. Henri and G. Hermann and Hinton, {J. A.} and A. Hoffmann and W. Hofmann and P. Hofverberg and M. Holleran and S. Hoppe and D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and {De Jager}, {O. C.} and C. Jahn and I. Jung and K. Katarz{\'y}nski and U. Katz and S. Kaufmann and M. Kerschhaggl and D. Khangulyan and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and D. Keogh and D. Klochkov and W. Kl{\'u}zniak and T. Kneiske and Nu Komin and K. Kosack and R. Kossakowski and G. Lamanna and Lenain, {J. P.} and T. Lohse and V. Marandon and A. Marcowith and J. Masbou and D. Maurin and McComb, {T. J L} and Medina, {M. C.} and J. M{\'e}hault and R. Moderski and E. Moulin and M. Naumann-Godo and {De Naurois}, M. and D. Nedbal and D. Nekrassov and B. Nicholas and J. Niemiec and Nolan, {S. J.} and S. Ohm and Olive, {J. F.} and {De O{\~n}aWilhelmi}, E. and Orford, {K. J.} and M. Ostrowski and M. Panter and {Paz Arribas}, M. and G. Pedaletti and G. Pelletier and Petrucci, {P. O.} and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and A. Quirrenbach and Raubenheimer, {B. C.} and M. Raue and Rayner, {S. M.} and O. Reimer and M. Renaud and {De Los Reyes}, R. and F. Rieger and J. Ripken and L. Rob and S. Rosier-Lees and G. Rowell and B. Rudak and Rulten, {C. B.} and J. Ruppel and F. Ryde and V. Sahakian and A. Santangelo and R. Schlickeiser and Sch{\"o}ck, {F. M.} and A. Sch{\"o}nwald and U. Schwanke and S. Schwarzburg and S. Schwemmer and A. Shalchi and I. Sushch and M. Sikora and Skilton, {J. L.} and H. Sol and L. Stawarz and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and F. Stinzing and G. Superina and A. Szostek and Tam, {P. H.} and Tavernet, {J. P.} and R. Terrier and O. Tibolla and M. Tluczykont and {Van Eldik}, C. and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and L. Venter and Vialle, {J. P.} and P. Vincent and M. Vivier and V{\"o}lk, {H. J.} and F. Volpe and S. Vorobiov and Wagner, {S. J.} and M. Ward and Zdziarski, {A. A.} and A. Zech",

year = "2009",

month = dec,

day = "4",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/200913389",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "508",

pages = "1135--1140",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105

AU - Acero, F.

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - Anton, G.

AU - De Almeida, U. Barres

AU - Bazer-Bachi, A. R.

AU - Becherini, Y.

AU - Behera, B.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Bochow, A.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolmont, J.

AU - Borrel, V.

AU - Brucker, J.

AU - Brun, F.

AU - Brun, P.

AU - Bulik, T.

AU - Büsching, I.

AU - Boutelier, T.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Charbonnier, A.

AU - Chaves, R. C G

AU - Cheesebrough, A.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Chounet, L. M.

AU - Clapson, A. C.

AU - Coignet, G.

AU - Dalton, M.

AU - Daniel, M. K.

AU - Davids, I. D.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Deil, C.

AU - Dickinson, H. J.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Domainko, W.

AU - Drury, L. O C

AU - Dubois, F.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Dyks, J.

AU - Dyrda, M.

AU - Egberts, K.

AU - Eger, P.

AU - Espigat, P.

AU - Fallon, L.

AU - Farnier, C.

AU - Fegan, S.

AU - Feinstein, F.

AU - Fiasson, A.

AU - Förster, A.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Füßling, M.

AU - Gabici, S.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Gérard, L.

AU - Gerbig, D.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

AU - Glück, B.

AU - Goret, P.

AU - Göring, D.

AU - Hauser, M.

AU - Heinz, S.

AU - Heinzelmann, G.

AU - Henri, G.

AU - Hermann, G.

AU - Hinton, J. A.

AU - Hoffmann, A.

AU - Hofmann, W.

AU - Hofverberg, P.

AU - Holleran, M.

AU - Hoppe, S.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - De Jager, O. C.

AU - Jahn, C.

AU - Jung, I.

AU - Katarzýnski, K.

AU - Katz, U.

AU - Kaufmann, S.

AU - Kerschhaggl, M.

AU - Khangulyan, D.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Keogh, D.

AU - Klochkov, D.

AU - Klúzniak, W.

AU - Kneiske, T.

AU - Komin, Nu

AU - Kosack, K.

AU - Kossakowski, R.

AU - Lamanna, G.

AU - Lenain, J. P.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Marandon, V.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masbou, J.

AU - Maurin, D.

AU - McComb, T. J L

AU - Medina, M. C.

AU - Méhault, J.

AU - Moderski, R.

AU - Moulin, E.

AU - Naumann-Godo, M.

AU - De Naurois, M.

AU - Nedbal, D.

AU - Nekrassov, D.

AU - Nicholas, B.

AU - Niemiec, J.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Ohm, S.

AU - Olive, J. F.

AU - De OñaWilhelmi, E.

AU - Orford, K. J.

AU - Ostrowski, M.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Paz Arribas, M.

AU - Pedaletti, G.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Quirrenbach, A.

AU - Raubenheimer, B. C.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Rayner, S. M.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Renaud, M.

AU - De Los Reyes, R.

AU - Rieger, F.

AU - Ripken, J.

AU - Rob, L.

AU - Rosier-Lees, S.

AU - Rowell, G.

AU - Rudak, B.

AU - Rulten, C. B.

AU - Ruppel, J.

AU - Ryde, F.

AU - Sahakian, V.

AU - Santangelo, A.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schöck, F. M.

AU - Schönwald, A.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Schwarzburg, S.

AU - Schwemmer, S.

AU - Shalchi, A.

AU - Sushch, I.

AU - Sikora, M.

AU - Skilton, J. L.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Stawarz, L.

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Stinzing, F.

AU - Superina, G.

AU - Szostek, A.

AU - Tam, P. H.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Tibolla, O.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - Van Eldik, C.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Venter, L.

AU - Vialle, J. P.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Vivier, M.

AU - Völk, H. J.

AU - Volpe, F.

AU - Vorobiov, S.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

AU - Ward, M.

AU - Zdziarski, A. A.

AU - Zech, A.

PY - 2009/12/4

Y1 - 2009/12/4

N2 - Context: High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, < 100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims: Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods: Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results: There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of 6.1 × 10-13ph cm-2s-1 (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of ̃ 1034erg s-1 at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 10 38 erg s-1. Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.

AB - Context: High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, < 100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims: Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods: Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results: There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of 6.1 × 10-13ph cm-2s-1 (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of ̃ 1034erg s-1 at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 10 38 erg s-1. Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - X-rays: binaries

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72849106292&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=72849106292&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/200913389

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:72849106292

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 508

SP - 1135

EP - 1140

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - 3

ER -

Hess upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar grs 1915+105

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