Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.

A. Abramowski; F. Acero; F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; G. Anton; S. Balenderan; A. Balzer; A. Barnacka; Y. Becherini; J. Becker Tjus; K. Bernlöhr; E. Birsin; J. Biteau; A. Bochow; C. Boisson; J. Bolmont; P. Bordas; J. Brucker; F. Brun; P. Brun; T. Bulik; S. Carrigan; S. Casanova; M. Cerruti; P. M. Chadwick; A. Charbonnier; R. C G Chaves; A. Cheesebrough; G. Cologna; J. Conrad; C. Couturier; M. Dalton; M. K. Daniel; I. D. Davids; B. Degrange; C. Deil; P. Dewilt; H. J. Dickinson; A. Djannati-Ataï; W. Domainko; L. O. Drury; G. Dubus; K. Dutson; J. Dyks; M. Dyrda; K. Egberts; P. Eger; P. Espigat; L. Fallon; C. Farnier; S. Fegan; F. Feinstein; M. V. Fernandes; D. Fernandez; A. Fiasson; G. Fontaine; A. Förster; M. Füßling; M. Gajdus; Y. A. Gallant; T. Garrigoux; H. Gast; B. Giebels; J. F. Glicenstein; B. Glück; D. Göring; M. H. Grondin; S. Häffner; J. D. Hague; J. Hahn; D. Hampf; J. Harris; S. Heinz; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; A. Hillert; J. A. Hinton; W. Hofmann; P. Hofverberg; M. Holler; D. Horns; A. Jacholkowska; C. Jahn; M. Jamrozy; I. Jung; M. A. Kastendieck; K. Katarzyński; U. Katz; S. Kaufmann; B. Khélifi; D. Klochkov; W. Kluåniak; T. Kneiske; Nu Komin; K. Kosack; R. Kossakowski; F. Krayzel; H. Laffon; G. Lamanna; J. P. Lenain; D. Lennarz; T. Lohse; A. Lopatin; C. C. Lu; V. Marandon; A. Marcowith; J. Masbou; G. Maurin; N. Maxted; M. Mayer; T. J L McComb; M. C. Medina; J. Méhault; U. Menzler; R. Moderski; M. Mohamed; E. Moulin; C. L. Naumann; M. Naumann-Godo; M. De Naurois; D. Nedbal; N. Nguyen; J. Niemiec; S. J. Nolan; S. Ohm; E. De Oña Wilhelmi; B. Opitz; M. Ostrowski; I. Oya; M. Panter; D. Parsons; M. Paz Arribas; N. W. Pekeur; G. Pelletier; J. Perez; P. O. Petrucci; B. Peyaud; S. Pita; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; A. Quirrenbach; M. Raue; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; M. Renaud; R. De Los Reyes; F. Rieger; J. Ripken; L. Rob; S. Rosier-Lees; G. Rowell; B. Rudak; C. B. Rulten; V. Sahakian; D. A. Sanchez; A. Santangelo; R. Schlickeiser; A. Schulz; U. Schwanke; S. Schwarzburg; S. Schwemmer; F. Sheidaei; J. L. Skilton; H. Sol; G. Spengler; Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; F. Stinzing; K. Stycz; I. Sushch; A. Szostek; J. P. Tavernet; R. Terrier; M. Tluczykont; K. Valerius; C. Van Eldik; G. Vasileiadis; C. Venter; A. Viana; P. Vincent; H. J. Völk; F. Volpe; S. Vorobiov; M. Vorster; S. J. Wagner; M. Ward; R. White; A. Wierzcholska; D. Wouters; M. Zacharias; A. Zajczyk; A. A. Zdziarski; A. Zech; H. S. Zechlin

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.

A. Abramowski, F. Acero, F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, G. Anton, S. Balenderan, A. Balzer, A. Barnacka, Y. Becherini, J. Becker Tjus, K. Bernlöhr, E. Birsin, J. Biteau, A. Bochow, C. Boisson, J. Bolmont, P. Bordas, J. Brucker, F. Brun, P. BrunT. Bulik, S. Carrigan, S. Casanova, M. Cerruti, P. M. Chadwick, A. Charbonnier, R. C G Chaves, A. Cheesebrough, G. Cologna, J. Conrad, C. Couturier, M. Dalton, M. K. Daniel, I. D. Davids, B. Degrange, C. Deil, P. Dewilt, H. J. Dickinson, A. Djannati-Ataï, W. Domainko, L. O. Drury, G. Dubus, K. Dutson, J. Dyks, M. Dyrda, K. Egberts, P. Eger, P. Espigat, L. Fallon, C. Farnier, S. Fegan, F. Feinstein, M. V. Fernandes, D. Fernandez, A. Fiasson, G. Fontaine, A. Förster, M. Füßling, M. Gajdus, Y. A. Gallant, T. Garrigoux, H. Gast, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, B. Glück, D. Göring, M. H. Grondin, S. Häffner, J. D. Hague, J. Hahn, D. Hampf, J. Harris, S. Heinz, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, A. Hillert, J. A. Hinton, W. Hofmann, P. Hofverberg, M. Holler, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, C. Jahn, M. Jamrozy, I. Jung, M. A. Kastendieck, K. Katarzyński, U. Katz, S. Kaufmann, B. Khélifi, D. Klochkov, W. Kluåniak, T. Kneiske, Nu Komin, K. Kosack, R. Kossakowski, F. Krayzel, H. Laffon, G. Lamanna, J. P. Lenain, D. Lennarz, T. Lohse, A. Lopatin, C. C. Lu, V. Marandon, A. Marcowith, J. Masbou, G. Maurin, N. Maxted, M. Mayer, T. J L McComb, M. C. Medina, J. Méhault, U. Menzler, R. Moderski, M. Mohamed, E. Moulin, C. L. Naumann, M. Naumann-Godo, M. De Naurois, D. Nedbal, N. Nguyen, J. Niemiec, S. J. Nolan, S. Ohm, E. De Oña Wilhelmi, B. Opitz, M. Ostrowski, I. Oya, M. Panter, D. Parsons, M. Paz Arribas, N. W. Pekeur, G. Pelletier, J. Perez, P. O. Petrucci, B. Peyaud, S. Pita, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, A. Quirrenbach, M. Raue, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, M. Renaud, R. De Los Reyes, F. Rieger, J. Ripken, L. Rob, S. Rosier-Lees, G. Rowell, B. Rudak, C. B. Rulten, V. Sahakian, D. A. Sanchez, A. Santangelo, R. Schlickeiser, A. Schulz, U. Schwanke, S. Schwarzburg, S. Schwemmer, F. Sheidaei, J. L. Skilton, H. Sol, G. Spengler, Stawarz, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, F. Stinzing, K. Stycz, I. Sushch, A. Szostek, J. P. Tavernet, R. Terrier, M. Tluczykont, K. Valerius, C. Van Eldik, G. Vasileiadis, C. Venter, A. Viana, P. Vincent, H. J. Völk, F. Volpe, S. Vorobiov, M. Vorster, S. J. Wagner, M. Ward, R. White, A. Wierzcholska, D. Wouters, M. Zacharias, A. Zajczyk, A. A. Zdziarski, A. Zech, H. S. Zechlin

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

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

150 Scopus citations

Abstract

The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the diffuse radiation with the second highest energy density in the Universe after the cosmic microwave background. The aim of this study is the measurement of the imprint of the EBL opacity to γ-rays on the spectra of the brightest extragalactic sources detected with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The originality of the method lies in the joint fit of the EBL optical depth and of the intrinsic spectra of the sources, assuming intrinsic smoothness. Analysis of a total of ∼10⁵γ-ray events enables the detection of an EBL signature at the 8.8σ level and constitutes the first measurement of the EBL optical depth using very-high energy (E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. The EBL flux density is constrained over almost two decades of wavelengths [0.30 μm, 17 μm] and the peak value at 1.4 μm is derived as λF _λ = 15 ± 2_stat ± 3_sys nW m^-2 sr^-1.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	A4
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	550
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220355
State	Published - 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The support of the Namibian authorities and of the University of Namibia in facilitating the construction and operation of H.E.S.S. is gratefully acknowledged, as is the support by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the Max Planck Society, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the French Ministry for Research, the CNRS-IN2P3 and the Astroparticle Interdisciplinary Programme of the CNRS, the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the IPNP of the Charles University, the Czech Science Foundation, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the South African Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation, and by the University of Namibia. We appreciate the excellent work of the technical support staff in Berlin, Durham, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Palaiseau, Paris, Saclay, and in Namibia in the construction and operation of the equipment.

Keywords

BL Lacertae objects: general
Cosmic background radiation
Gamma rays: galaxies

Publisher link

10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

Abramowski, A., Acero, F., Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Anton, G., Balenderan, S., Balzer, A., Barnacka, A., Becherini, Y., Becker Tjus, J., Bernlöhr, K., Birsin, E., Biteau, J., Bochow, A., Boisson, C., Bolmont, J., Bordas, P., Brucker, J., Brun, F., ... Zechlin, H. S. (2013). Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 550, Article A4. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

Abramowski, A, Acero, F, Aharonian, F, Akhperjanian, AG, Anton, G, Balenderan, S, Balzer, A, Barnacka, A, Becherini, Y, Becker Tjus, J, Bernlöhr, K, Birsin, E, Biteau, J, Bochow, A, Boisson, C, Bolmont, J, Bordas, P, Brucker, J, Brun, F, Brun, P, Bulik, T, Carrigan, S, Casanova, S, Cerruti, M, Chadwick, PM, Charbonnier, A, Chaves, RCG, Cheesebrough, A, Cologna, G, Conrad, J, Couturier, C, Dalton, M, Daniel, MK, Davids, ID, Degrange, B, Deil, C, Dewilt, P, Dickinson, HJ, Djannati-Ataï, A, Domainko, W, Drury, LO, Dubus, G, Dutson, K, Dyks, J, Dyrda, M, Egberts, K, Eger, P, Espigat, P, Fallon, L, Farnier, C, Fegan, S, Feinstein, F, Fernandes, MV, Fernandez, D, Fiasson, A, Fontaine, G, Förster, A, Füßling, M, Gajdus, M, Gallant, YA, Garrigoux, T, Gast, H, Giebels, B, Glicenstein, JF, Glück, B, Göring, D, Grondin, MH, Häffner, S, Hague, JD, Hahn, J, Hampf, D, Harris, J, Heinz, S, Heinzelmann, G, Henri, G, Hermann, G, Hillert, A, Hinton, JA, Hofmann, W, Hofverberg, P, Holler, M, Horns, D, Jacholkowska, A, Jahn, C, Jamrozy, M, Jung, I, Kastendieck, MA, Katarzyński, K, Katz, U, Kaufmann, S, Khélifi, B, Klochkov, D, Kluåniak, W, Kneiske, T, Komin, N, Kosack, K, Kossakowski, R, Krayzel, F, Laffon, H, Lamanna, G, Lenain, JP, Lennarz, D, Lohse, T, Lopatin, A, Lu, CC, Marandon, V, Marcowith, A, Masbou, J, Maurin, G, Maxted, N, Mayer, M, McComb, TJL, Medina, MC, Méhault, J, Menzler, U, Moderski, R, Mohamed, M, Moulin, E, Naumann, CL, Naumann-Godo, M, De Naurois, M, Nedbal, D, Nguyen, N, Niemiec, J, Nolan, SJ, Ohm, S, De Oña Wilhelmi, E, Opitz, B, Ostrowski, M, Oya, I, Panter, M, Parsons, D, Paz Arribas, M, Pekeur, NW, Pelletier, G, Perez, J, Petrucci, PO, Peyaud, B, Pita, S, Pühlhofer, G, Punch, M, Quirrenbach, A, Raue, M, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Renaud, M, De Los Reyes, R, Rieger, F, Ripken, J, Rob, L, Rosier-Lees, S, Rowell, G, Rudak, B, Rulten, CB, Sahakian, V, Sanchez, DA, Santangelo, A, Schlickeiser, R, Schulz, A, Schwanke, U, Schwarzburg, S, Schwemmer, S, Sheidaei, F, Skilton, JL, Sol, H, Spengler, G, Stawarz, Steenkamp, R, Stegmann, C, Stinzing, F, Stycz, K, Sushch, I, Szostek, A, Tavernet, JP, Terrier, R, Tluczykont, M, Valerius, K, Van Eldik, C, Vasileiadis, G, Venter, C, Viana, A, Vincent, P, Völk, HJ, Volpe, F, Vorobiov, S, Vorster, M, Wagner, SJ, Ward, M, White, R, Wierzcholska, A, Wouters, D, Zacharias, M, Zajczyk, A, Zdziarski, AA, Zech, A & Zechlin, HS 2013, 'Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 550, A4. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

@article{1f36eff758b848b1867ef1da26a7f2f0,

title = "Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.",

abstract = "The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the diffuse radiation with the second highest energy density in the Universe after the cosmic microwave background. The aim of this study is the measurement of the imprint of the EBL opacity to γ-rays on the spectra of the brightest extragalactic sources detected with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The originality of the method lies in the joint fit of the EBL optical depth and of the intrinsic spectra of the sources, assuming intrinsic smoothness. Analysis of a total of ∼105γ-ray events enables the detection of an EBL signature at the 8.8σ level and constitutes the first measurement of the EBL optical depth using very-high energy (E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. The EBL flux density is constrained over almost two decades of wavelengths [0.30 μm, 17 μm] and the peak value at 1.4 μm is derived as λF λ = 15 ± 2stat ± 3sys nW m-2 sr-1.",

keywords = "BL Lacertae objects: general, Cosmic background radiation, Gamma rays: galaxies",

author = "A. Abramowski and F. Acero and F. Aharonian and Akhperjanian, {A. G.} and G. Anton and S. Balenderan and A. Balzer and A. Barnacka and Y. Becherini and {Becker Tjus}, J. and K. Bernl{\"o}hr and E. Birsin and J. Biteau and A. Bochow and C. Boisson and J. Bolmont and P. Bordas and J. Brucker and F. Brun and P. Brun and T. Bulik and S. Carrigan and S. Casanova and M. Cerruti and Chadwick, {P. M.} and A. Charbonnier and Chaves, {R. C G} and A. Cheesebrough and G. Cologna and J. Conrad and C. Couturier and M. Dalton and Daniel, {M. K.} and Davids, {I. D.} and B. Degrange and C. Deil and P. Dewilt and Dickinson, {H. J.} and A. Djannati-Ata{\"i} and W. Domainko and Drury, {L. O.} and G. Dubus and K. Dutson 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 Fernandes, {M. V.} and D. Fernandez and A. Fiasson and G. Fontaine and A. F{\"o}rster and M. F{\"u}{\ss}ling and M. Gajdus and Gallant, {Y. A.} and T. Garrigoux and H. Gast and B. Giebels and Glicenstein, {J. F.} and B. Gl{\"u}ck and D. G{\"o}ring and Grondin, {M. H.} and S. H{\"a}ffner and Hague, {J. D.} and J. Hahn and D. Hampf and J. Harris and S. Heinz and G. Heinzelmann and G. Henri and G. Hermann and A. Hillert and Hinton, {J. A.} and W. Hofmann and P. Hofverberg and M. Holler and D. Horns and A. Jacholkowska and C. Jahn and M. Jamrozy and I. Jung and Kastendieck, {M. A.} and K. Katarzy{\'n}ski and U. Katz and S. Kaufmann and B. Kh{\'e}lifi and D. Klochkov and W. Klu{\aa}niak and T. Kneiske and Nu Komin and K. Kosack and R. Kossakowski and F. Krayzel and H. Laffon and G. Lamanna and Lenain, {J. P.} and D. Lennarz and T. Lohse and A. Lopatin and Lu, {C. C.} and V. Marandon and A. Marcowith and J. Masbou and G. Maurin and N. Maxted and M. Mayer and McComb, {T. J L} and Medina, {M. C.} and J. M{\'e}hault and U. Menzler and R. Moderski and M. Mohamed and E. Moulin and Naumann, {C. L.} and M. Naumann-Godo and {De Naurois}, M. and D. Nedbal and N. Nguyen and J. Niemiec and Nolan, {S. J.} and S. Ohm and {De O{\~n}a Wilhelmi}, E. and B. Opitz and M. Ostrowski and I. Oya and M. Panter and D. Parsons and {Paz Arribas}, M. and Pekeur, {N. W.} and G. Pelletier and J. Perez and Petrucci, {P. O.} and B. Peyaud and S. Pita and G. P{\"u}hlhofer and M. Punch and A. Quirrenbach and M. Raue and A. Reimer 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 V. Sahakian and Sanchez, {D. A.} and A. Santangelo and R. Schlickeiser and A. Schulz and U. Schwanke and S. Schwarzburg and S. Schwemmer and F. Sheidaei and Skilton, {J. L.} and H. Sol and G. Spengler and Stawarz and R. Steenkamp and C. Stegmann and F. Stinzing and K. Stycz and I. Sushch and A. Szostek and Tavernet, {J. P.} and R. Terrier and M. Tluczykont and K. Valerius and {Van Eldik}, C. and G. Vasileiadis and C. Venter and A. Viana and P. Vincent and V{\"o}lk, {H. J.} and F. Volpe and S. Vorobiov and M. Vorster and Wagner, {S. J.} and M. Ward and R. White and A. Wierzcholska and D. Wouters and M. Zacharias and A. Zajczyk and Zdziarski, {A. A.} and A. Zech and Zechlin, {H. S.}",

note = "Funding Information: The support of the Namibian authorities and of the University of Namibia in facilitating the construction and operation of H.E.S.S. is gratefully acknowledged, as is the support by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the Max Planck Society, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the French Ministry for Research, the CNRS-IN2P3 and the Astroparticle Interdisciplinary Programme of the CNRS, the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the IPNP of the Charles University, the Czech Science Foundation, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the South African Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation, and by the University of Namibia. We appreciate the excellent work of the technical support staff in Berlin, Durham, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Palaiseau, Paris, Saclay, and in Namibia in the construction and operation of the equipment.",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201220355",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "550",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.

AU - Abramowski, A.

AU - Acero, F.

AU - Aharonian, F.

AU - Akhperjanian, A. G.

AU - Anton, G.

AU - Balenderan, S.

AU - Balzer, A.

AU - Barnacka, A.

AU - Becherini, Y.

AU - Becker Tjus, J.

AU - Bernlöhr, K.

AU - Birsin, E.

AU - Biteau, J.

AU - Bochow, A.

AU - Boisson, C.

AU - Bolmont, J.

AU - Bordas, P.

AU - Brucker, J.

AU - Brun, F.

AU - Brun, P.

AU - Bulik, T.

AU - Carrigan, S.

AU - Casanova, S.

AU - Cerruti, M.

AU - Chadwick, P. M.

AU - Charbonnier, A.

AU - Chaves, R. C G

AU - Cheesebrough, A.

AU - Cologna, G.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Couturier, C.

AU - Dalton, M.

AU - Daniel, M. K.

AU - Davids, I. D.

AU - Degrange, B.

AU - Deil, C.

AU - Dewilt, P.

AU - Dickinson, H. J.

AU - Djannati-Ataï, A.

AU - Domainko, W.

AU - Drury, L. O.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Dutson, K.

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 - Fernandes, M. V.

AU - Fernandez, D.

AU - Fiasson, A.

AU - Fontaine, G.

AU - Förster, A.

AU - Füßling, M.

AU - Gajdus, M.

AU - Gallant, Y. A.

AU - Garrigoux, T.

AU - Gast, H.

AU - Giebels, B.

AU - Glicenstein, J. F.

AU - Glück, B.

AU - Göring, D.

AU - Grondin, M. H.

AU - Häffner, S.

AU - Hague, J. D.

AU - Hahn, J.

AU - Hampf, D.

AU - Harris, J.

AU - Heinz, S.

AU - Heinzelmann, G.

AU - Henri, G.

AU - Hermann, G.

AU - Hillert, A.

AU - Hinton, J. A.

AU - Hofmann, W.

AU - Hofverberg, P.

AU - Holler, M.

AU - Horns, D.

AU - Jacholkowska, A.

AU - Jahn, C.

AU - Jamrozy, M.

AU - Jung, I.

AU - Kastendieck, M. A.

AU - Katarzyński, K.

AU - Katz, U.

AU - Kaufmann, S.

AU - Khélifi, B.

AU - Klochkov, D.

AU - Kluåniak, W.

AU - Kneiske, T.

AU - Komin, Nu

AU - Kosack, K.

AU - Kossakowski, R.

AU - Krayzel, F.

AU - Laffon, H.

AU - Lamanna, G.

AU - Lenain, J. P.

AU - Lennarz, D.

AU - Lohse, T.

AU - Lopatin, A.

AU - Lu, C. C.

AU - Marandon, V.

AU - Marcowith, A.

AU - Masbou, J.

AU - Maurin, G.

AU - Maxted, N.

AU - Mayer, M.

AU - McComb, T. J L

AU - Medina, M. C.

AU - Méhault, J.

AU - Menzler, U.

AU - Moderski, R.

AU - Mohamed, M.

AU - Moulin, E.

AU - Naumann, C. L.

AU - Naumann-Godo, M.

AU - De Naurois, M.

AU - Nedbal, D.

AU - Nguyen, N.

AU - Niemiec, J.

AU - Nolan, S. J.

AU - Ohm, S.

AU - De Oña Wilhelmi, E.

AU - Opitz, B.

AU - Ostrowski, M.

AU - Oya, I.

AU - Panter, M.

AU - Parsons, D.

AU - Paz Arribas, M.

AU - Pekeur, N. W.

AU - Pelletier, G.

AU - Perez, J.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Peyaud, B.

AU - Pita, S.

AU - Pühlhofer, G.

AU - Punch, M.

AU - Quirrenbach, A.

AU - Raue, M.

AU - Reimer, A.

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 - Sahakian, V.

AU - Sanchez, D. A.

AU - Santangelo, A.

AU - Schlickeiser, R.

AU - Schulz, A.

AU - Schwanke, U.

AU - Schwarzburg, S.

AU - Schwemmer, S.

AU - Sheidaei, F.

AU - Skilton, J. L.

AU - Sol, H.

AU - Spengler, G.

AU - Stawarz,

AU - Steenkamp, R.

AU - Stegmann, C.

AU - Stinzing, F.

AU - Stycz, K.

AU - Sushch, I.

AU - Szostek, A.

AU - Tavernet, J. P.

AU - Terrier, R.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - Valerius, K.

AU - Van Eldik, C.

AU - Vasileiadis, G.

AU - Venter, C.

AU - Viana, A.

AU - Vincent, P.

AU - Völk, H. J.

AU - Volpe, F.

AU - Vorobiov, S.

AU - Vorster, M.

AU - Wagner, S. J.

AU - Ward, M.

AU - White, R.

AU - Wierzcholska, A.

AU - Wouters, D.

AU - Zacharias, M.

AU - Zajczyk, A.

AU - Zdziarski, A. A.

AU - Zech, A.

AU - Zechlin, H. S.

N1 - Funding Information: The support of the Namibian authorities and of the University of Namibia in facilitating the construction and operation of H.E.S.S. is gratefully acknowledged, as is the support by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the Max Planck Society, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the French Ministry for Research, the CNRS-IN2P3 and the Astroparticle Interdisciplinary Programme of the CNRS, the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the IPNP of the Charles University, the Czech Science Foundation, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the South African Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation, and by the University of Namibia. We appreciate the excellent work of the technical support staff in Berlin, Durham, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Palaiseau, Paris, Saclay, and in Namibia in the construction and operation of the equipment.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the diffuse radiation with the second highest energy density in the Universe after the cosmic microwave background. The aim of this study is the measurement of the imprint of the EBL opacity to γ-rays on the spectra of the brightest extragalactic sources detected with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The originality of the method lies in the joint fit of the EBL optical depth and of the intrinsic spectra of the sources, assuming intrinsic smoothness. Analysis of a total of ∼105γ-ray events enables the detection of an EBL signature at the 8.8σ level and constitutes the first measurement of the EBL optical depth using very-high energy (E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. The EBL flux density is constrained over almost two decades of wavelengths [0.30 μm, 17 μm] and the peak value at 1.4 μm is derived as λF λ = 15 ± 2stat ± 3sys nW m-2 sr-1.

AB - The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the diffuse radiation with the second highest energy density in the Universe after the cosmic microwave background. The aim of this study is the measurement of the imprint of the EBL opacity to γ-rays on the spectra of the brightest extragalactic sources detected with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The originality of the method lies in the joint fit of the EBL optical depth and of the intrinsic spectra of the sources, assuming intrinsic smoothness. Analysis of a total of ∼105γ-ray events enables the detection of an EBL signature at the 8.8σ level and constitutes the first measurement of the EBL optical depth using very-high energy (E > 100 GeV) γ-rays. The EBL flux density is constrained over almost two decades of wavelengths [0.30 μm, 17 μm] and the peak value at 1.4 μm is derived as λF λ = 15 ± 2stat ± 3sys nW m-2 sr-1.

KW - BL Lacertae objects: general

KW - Cosmic background radiation

KW - Gamma rays: galaxies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872536362&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84872536362&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201220355

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84872536362

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 550

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A4

ER -

Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S.

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this