Search for Lorentz Invariance breaking with a likelihood fit of the PKS 2155-304 flare data taken on MJD 53944

A. Abramowski, F. Acero, F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, G. Anton, A. Barnacka, U. Barres De Almeida, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, Y. Becherini, J. Becker, B. Behera, K. Bernlöhr, A. Bochow, C. Boisson, J. Bolmont, P. Bordas, V. Borrel, J. Brucker, F. Brun, P. BrunR. Bühler, T. Bulik, I. Büsching, S. Carrigan, S. Casanova, M. Cerruti, P. M. Chadwick, A. Charbonnier, R. C G Chaves, A. Cheesebrough, L. M. Chounet, A. C. Clapson, G. Coignet, J. Conrad, 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, M. V. Fernandes, A. Fiasson, G. Fontaine, A. Förster, M. Füßling, S. Gabici, Y. A. Gallant, H. Gast, L. Gérard, D. Gerbig, B. Giebels, J. F. Glicenstein, B. Glück, P. Goret, D. Göring, J. D. Hague, D. Hampf, M. Hauser, S. Heinz, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, A. Hoffmann, W. Hofmann, P. Hofverberg, D. Horns, A. Jacholkowska, O. C. De Jager, C. Jahn, M. Jamrozy, I. Jung, M. A. Kastendieck, K. Katarzyński, U. Katz, S. Kaufmann, D. Keogh, M. Kerschhaggl, D. Khangulyan, B. Khélifi, D. Klochkov, W. Kluźniak, T. Kneiske, Nu Komin, K. Kosack

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several models of Quantum Gravity predict Lorentz Symmetry breaking at energy scales approaching the Planck scale (∼1019 GeV). With present photon data from the observations of distant astrophysical sources, it is possible to constrain the Lorentz Symmetry breaking linear term in the standard photon dispersion relations. Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) and flaring Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are complementary to each other for this purpose, since they are observed at different distances in different energy ranges and with different levels of variability. Following a previous publication of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) collaboration [1], a more sensitive event-by-event method consisting of a likelihood fit is applied to PKS 2155-304 flare data of MJD 53944 (July 28, 2006) as used in the previous publication. The previous limit on the linear term is improved by a factor of ∼3 up to MQG l>2.1×1018 GeV and is currently the best result obtained with blazars. The sensitivity to the quadratic term is lower and provides a limit of MQG q> 6.4 × 10 10 GeV, which is the best value obtained so far with an AGN and similar to the best limits obtained with GRB.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)738-747
Number of pages10
JournalAstroparticle Physics
Volume34
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

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 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 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

  • Active galaxies
  • H.E.S.S.
  • Lorentz Invariance breaking
  • PKS 2155-304
  • Quantum Gravity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Search for Lorentz Invariance breaking with a likelihood fit of the PKS 2155-304 flare data taken on MJD 53944'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this