Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A

V. A. Acciari; E. Aliu; T. Arlen; M. Beilicke; W. Benbow; M. Böttcher; S. M. Bradbury; J. H. Buckley; V. Bugaev; Y. Butt; K. Byrum; A. Cannon; O. Celik; A. Cesarini; Y. C. Chow; L. Ciupik; P. Cogan; W. Cui; M. K. Daniel; R. Dickherber; T. Ergin; A. Falcone; S. J. Fegan; J. P. Finley; P. Fortin; L. Fortson; A. Furniss; D. Gall; K. Gibbs; G. H. Gillanders; S. Godambe; J. Grube; R. Guenette; G. Gyuk; D. Hanna; E. Hays; J. Holder; D. Horan; C. M. Hui; T. B. Humensky; A. Imran; P. Kaaret; N. Karlsson; M. Kertzman; D. Kieda; J. Kildea; A. Konopelko; H. Krawczynski; F. Krennrich; M. J. Lang; S. Lebohec; G. Maier; A. McCann; M. McCutcheon; J. Millis; P. Moriarty; R. Mukherjee; T. Nagai; R. A. Ong; A. N. Otte; D. Pandel; J. S. Perkins; D. Petry; F. Pizlo; M. Pohl; J. Quinn; K. Ragan; L. C. Reyes; P. T. Reynolds; E. Roache; H. J. Rose; M. Schroedter; G. H. Sembroski; A. W. Smith; D. Steele; S. P. Swordy; M. Theiling; J. A. Toner; A. Varlotta; V. V. Vassiliev; R. G. Wagner; S. P. Wakely; J. E. Ward; T. C. Weekes; A. Weinstein; D. A. Williams; S. Wissel; M. Wood; B. Zitzer

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A

V. A. Acciari, E. Aliu, T. Arlen, M. Beilicke, W. Benbow, M. Böttcher, S. M. Bradbury, J. H. Buckley, V. Bugaev, Y. Butt, K. Byrum, A. Cannon, O. Celik, A. Cesarini, Y. C. Chow, L. Ciupik, P. Cogan, W. Cui, M. K. Daniel, R. DickherberT. Ergin, A. Falcone, S. J. Fegan, J. P. Finley, P. Fortin, L. Fortson, A. Furniss, D. Gall, K. Gibbs, G. H. Gillanders, S. Godambe, J. Grube, R. Guenette, G. Gyuk, D. Hanna, E. Hays, J. Holder, D. Horan, C. M. Hui, T. B. Humensky, A. Imran, P. Kaaret, N. Karlsson, M. Kertzman, D. Kieda, J. Kildea, A. Konopelko, H. Krawczynski, F. Krennrich, M. J. Lang, S. Lebohec, G. Maier, A. McCann, M. McCutcheon, J. Millis, P. Moriarty, R. Mukherjee, T. Nagai, R. A. Ong, A. N. Otte, D. Pandel, J. S. Perkins, D. Petry, F. Pizlo, M. Pohl, J. Quinn, K. Ragan, L. C. Reyes, P. T. Reynolds, E. Roache, H. J. Rose, M. Schroedter, G. H. Sembroski, A. W. Smith, D. Steele, S. P. Swordy, M. Theiling, J. A. Toner, A. Varlotta, V. V. Vassiliev, R. G. Wagner, S. P. Wakely, J. E. Ward, T. C. Weekes, A. Weinstein, D. A. Williams, S. Wissel, M. Wood, B. Zitzer

Physics and Astronomy (Twin Cities)

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90 Scopus citations

Abstract

The intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacertae (IBL) object 3C66A is detected during 2007-2008 in VHE (very high energy; E > 100 GeV) γ rays with the VERITAS stereoscopic array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. An excess of 1791 events is detected, corresponding to a significance of 21.2 standard deviations (σ), in these observations (32.8 hr live time). The observed integral flux above 200 GeV is 6% of the Crab Nebula's flux and shows evidence for variability on the timescale of days. The measured energy spectrum is characterized by a soft power law with photon index Γ = 4.1 0.4_stat 0.6_sys. The radio galaxy 3C66B is excluded as a possible source of the VHE emission.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L104-L108
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	693
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104
State	Published - 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, by NSERC in Canada, by Science Foundation Ireland, and by STFC in the UK.

Keywords

BL Lacertae objects: individual (3C 66A)
Galaxies: active
Gamma rays: observations

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10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

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Acciari, V. A., Aliu, E., Arlen, T., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Böttcher, M., Bradbury, S. M., Buckley, J. H., Bugaev, V., Butt, Y., Byrum, K., Cannon, A., Celik, O., Cesarini, A., Chow, Y. C., Ciupik, L., Cogan, P., Cui, W., Daniel, M. K., ... Zitzer, B. (2009). Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A. Astrophysical Journal, 693(2), L104-L108. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

Acciari, VA, Aliu, E, Arlen, T, Beilicke, M, Benbow, W, Böttcher, M, Bradbury, SM, Buckley, JH, Bugaev, V, Butt, Y, Byrum, K, Cannon, A, Celik, O, Cesarini, A, Chow, YC, Ciupik, L, Cogan, P, Cui, W, Daniel, MK, Dickherber, R, Ergin, T, Falcone, A, Fegan, SJ, Finley, JP, Fortin, P, Fortson, L, Furniss, A, Gall, D, Gibbs, K, Gillanders, GH, Godambe, S, Grube, J, Guenette, R, Gyuk, G, Hanna, D, Hays, E, Holder, J, Horan, D, Hui, CM, Humensky, TB, Imran, A, Kaaret, P, Karlsson, N, Kertzman, M, Kieda, D, Kildea, J, Konopelko, A, Krawczynski, H, Krennrich, F, Lang, MJ, Lebohec, S, Maier, G, McCann, A, McCutcheon, M, Millis, J, Moriarty, P, Mukherjee, R, Nagai, T, Ong, RA, Otte, AN, Pandel, D, Perkins, JS, Petry, D, Pizlo, F, Pohl, M, Quinn, J, Ragan, K, Reyes, LC, Reynolds, PT, Roache, E, Rose, HJ, Schroedter, M, Sembroski, GH, Smith, AW, Steele, D, Swordy, SP, Theiling, M, Toner, JA, Varlotta, A, Vassiliev, VV, Wagner, RG, Wakely, SP, Ward, JE, Weekes, TC, Weinstein, A, Williams, DA, Wissel, S, Wood, M & Zitzer, B 2009, 'Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 693, no. 2, pp. L104-L108. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

@article{ffc4dcc7b3264c9487a984273a3770b4,

title = "Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A",

abstract = "The intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacertae (IBL) object 3C66A is detected during 2007-2008 in VHE (very high energy; E > 100 GeV) γ rays with the VERITAS stereoscopic array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. An excess of 1791 events is detected, corresponding to a significance of 21.2 standard deviations (σ), in these observations (32.8 hr live time). The observed integral flux above 200 GeV is 6% of the Crab Nebula's flux and shows evidence for variability on the timescale of days. The measured energy spectrum is characterized by a soft power law with photon index Γ = 4.1 0.4stat 0.6sys. The radio galaxy 3C66B is excluded as a possible source of the VHE emission.",

keywords = "BL Lacertae objects: individual (3C 66A), Galaxies: active, Gamma rays: observations",

author = "Acciari, {V. A.} and E. Aliu and T. Arlen and M. Beilicke and W. Benbow and M. B{\"o}ttcher and Bradbury, {S. M.} and Buckley, {J. H.} and V. Bugaev and Y. Butt and K. Byrum and A. Cannon and O. Celik and A. Cesarini and Chow, {Y. C.} and L. Ciupik and P. Cogan and W. Cui and Daniel, {M. K.} and R. Dickherber and T. Ergin and A. Falcone and Fegan, {S. J.} and Finley, {J. P.} and P. Fortin and L. Fortson and A. Furniss and D. Gall and K. Gibbs and Gillanders, {G. H.} and S. Godambe and J. Grube and R. Guenette and G. Gyuk and D. Hanna and E. Hays and J. Holder and D. Horan and Hui, {C. M.} and Humensky, {T. B.} and A. Imran and P. Kaaret and N. Karlsson and M. Kertzman and D. Kieda and J. Kildea and A. Konopelko and H. Krawczynski and F. Krennrich and Lang, {M. J.} and S. Lebohec and G. Maier and A. McCann and M. McCutcheon and J. Millis and P. Moriarty and R. Mukherjee and T. Nagai and Ong, {R. A.} and Otte, {A. N.} and D. Pandel and Perkins, {J. S.} and D. Petry and F. Pizlo and M. Pohl and J. Quinn and K. Ragan and Reyes, {L. C.} and Reynolds, {P. T.} and E. Roache and Rose, {H. J.} and M. Schroedter and Sembroski, {G. H.} and Smith, {A. W.} and D. Steele and Swordy, {S. P.} and M. Theiling and Toner, {J. A.} and A. Varlotta and Vassiliev, {V. V.} and Wagner, {R. G.} and Wakely, {S. P.} and Ward, {J. E.} and Weekes, {T. C.} and A. Weinstein and Williams, {D. A.} and S. Wissel and M. Wood and B. Zitzer",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, by NSERC in Canada, by Science Foundation Ireland, and by STFC in the UK.",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "693",

pages = "L104--L108",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A

AU - Acciari, V. A.

AU - Aliu, E.

AU - Arlen, T.

AU - Beilicke, M.

AU - Benbow, W.

AU - Böttcher, M.

AU - Bradbury, S. M.

AU - Buckley, J. H.

AU - Bugaev, V.

AU - Butt, Y.

AU - Byrum, K.

AU - Cannon, A.

AU - Celik, O.

AU - Cesarini, A.

AU - Chow, Y. C.

AU - Ciupik, L.

AU - Cogan, P.

AU - Cui, W.

AU - Daniel, M. K.

AU - Dickherber, R.

AU - Ergin, T.

AU - Falcone, A.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Finley, J. P.

AU - Fortin, P.

AU - Fortson, L.

AU - Furniss, A.

AU - Gall, D.

AU - Gibbs, K.

AU - Gillanders, G. H.

AU - Godambe, S.

AU - Grube, J.

AU - Guenette, R.

AU - Gyuk, G.

AU - Hanna, D.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Holder, J.

AU - Horan, D.

AU - Hui, C. M.

AU - Humensky, T. B.

AU - Imran, A.

AU - Kaaret, P.

AU - Karlsson, N.

AU - Kertzman, M.

AU - Kieda, D.

AU - Kildea, J.

AU - Konopelko, A.

AU - Krawczynski, H.

AU - Krennrich, F.

AU - Lang, M. J.

AU - Lebohec, S.

AU - Maier, G.

AU - McCann, A.

AU - McCutcheon, M.

AU - Millis, J.

AU - Moriarty, P.

AU - Mukherjee, R.

AU - Nagai, T.

AU - Ong, R. A.

AU - Otte, A. N.

AU - Pandel, D.

AU - Perkins, J. S.

AU - Petry, D.

AU - Pizlo, F.

AU - Pohl, M.

AU - Quinn, J.

AU - Ragan, K.

AU - Reyes, L. C.

AU - Reynolds, P. T.

AU - Roache, E.

AU - Rose, H. J.

AU - Schroedter, M.

AU - Sembroski, G. H.

AU - Smith, A. W.

AU - Steele, D.

AU - Swordy, S. P.

AU - Theiling, M.

AU - Toner, J. A.

AU - Varlotta, A.

AU - Vassiliev, V. V.

AU - Wagner, R. G.

AU - Wakely, S. P.

AU - Ward, J. E.

AU - Weekes, T. C.

AU - Weinstein, A.

AU - Williams, D. A.

AU - Wissel, S.

AU - Wood, M.

AU - Zitzer, B.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, by NSERC in Canada, by Science Foundation Ireland, and by STFC in the UK.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacertae (IBL) object 3C66A is detected during 2007-2008 in VHE (very high energy; E > 100 GeV) γ rays with the VERITAS stereoscopic array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. An excess of 1791 events is detected, corresponding to a significance of 21.2 standard deviations (σ), in these observations (32.8 hr live time). The observed integral flux above 200 GeV is 6% of the Crab Nebula's flux and shows evidence for variability on the timescale of days. The measured energy spectrum is characterized by a soft power law with photon index Γ = 4.1 0.4stat 0.6sys. The radio galaxy 3C66B is excluded as a possible source of the VHE emission.

AB - The intermediate-frequency peaked BL Lacertae (IBL) object 3C66A is detected during 2007-2008 in VHE (very high energy; E > 100 GeV) γ rays with the VERITAS stereoscopic array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. An excess of 1791 events is detected, corresponding to a significance of 21.2 standard deviations (σ), in these observations (32.8 hr live time). The observed integral flux above 200 GeV is 6% of the Crab Nebula's flux and shows evidence for variability on the timescale of days. The measured energy spectrum is characterized by a soft power law with photon index Γ = 4.1 0.4stat 0.6sys. The radio galaxy 3C66B is excluded as a possible source of the VHE emission.

KW - BL Lacertae objects: individual (3C 66A)

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Gamma rays: observations

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=64849092339&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=64849092339&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:64849092339

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 693

SP - L104-L108

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Publisher link

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