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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

73 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L104-L108
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume693
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2009

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flares
rays
BL Lacertae objects
Crab nebula
intermediate frequencies
radio galaxies
energy
crab
standard deviation
power law
energy spectra
telescopes
radio
timescale
photons
index

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Cite this

Acciari, V. A., Aliu, E., Arlen, T., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Böttcher, M., ... 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, 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. ; Dickherber, R. ; Ergin, T. ; Falcone, A. ; Fegan, S. J. ; Finley, J. P. ; Fortin, P. ; Fortson, L. ; Furniss, A. ; Gall, D. ; Gibbs, K. ; Gillanders, G. H. ; Godambe, S. ; Grube, J. ; Guenette, R. ; Gyuk, G. ; Hanna, D. ; Hays, E. ; Holder, J. ; Horan, D. ; Hui, C. M. ; Humensky, T. B. ; Imran, A. ; Kaaret, P. ; Karlsson, N. ; Kertzman, M. ; Kieda, D. ; Kildea, J. ; Konopelko, A. ; Krawczynski, H. ; Krennrich, F. ; Lang, M. J. ; Lebohec, S. ; Maier, G. ; McCann, A. ; McCutcheon, M. ; Millis, J. ; Moriarty, P. ; Mukherjee, R. ; Nagai, T. ; Ong, R. A. ; Otte, A. N. ; Pandel, D. ; Perkins, J. S. ; Petry, D. ; Pizlo, F. ; Pohl, M. ; Quinn, J. ; Ragan, K. ; Reyes, L. C. ; Reynolds, P. T. ; Roache, E. ; Rose, H. J. ; Schroedter, M. ; Sembroski, G. H. ; Smith, A. W. ; Steele, D. ; Swordy, S. P. ; Theiling, M. ; Toner, J. A. ; Varlotta, A. ; Vassiliev, V. V. ; Wagner, R. G. ; Wakely, S. P. ; Ward, J. E. ; Weekes, T. C. ; Weinstein, A. ; Williams, D. A. ; Wissel, S. ; Wood, M. ; Zitzer, B. / Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A. In: Astrophysical Journal. 2009 ; Vol. 693, No. 2. pp. L104-L108.
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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.",
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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

Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A. / 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.; Dickherber, R.; Ergin, T.; Falcone, A.; Fegan, S. J.; Finley, J. P.; Fortin, P.; Fortson, L.; Furniss, A.; Gall, D.; Gibbs, K.; Gillanders, G. H.; Godambe, S.; Grube, J.; Guenette, R.; Gyuk, G.; Hanna, D.; Hays, E.; Holder, J.; Horan, D.; Hui, C. M.; Humensky, T. B.; Imran, A.; Kaaret, P.; Karlsson, N.; Kertzman, M.; Kieda, D.; Kildea, J.; Konopelko, A.; Krawczynski, H.; Krennrich, F.; Lang, M. J.; Lebohec, S.; Maier, G.; McCann, A.; McCutcheon, M.; Millis, J.; Moriarty, P.; Mukherjee, R.; Nagai, T.; Ong, R. A.; Otte, A. N.; Pandel, D.; Perkins, J. S.; Petry, D.; Pizlo, F.; Pohl, M.; Quinn, J.; Ragan, K.; Reyes, L. C.; Reynolds, P. T.; Roache, E.; Rose, H. J.; Schroedter, M.; Sembroski, G. H.; Smith, A. W.; Steele, D.; Swordy, S. P.; Theiling, M.; Toner, J. A.; Varlotta, A.; Vassiliev, V. V.; Wagner, R. G.; Wakely, S. P.; Ward, J. E.; Weekes, T. C.; Weinstein, A.; Williams, D. A.; Wissel, S.; Wood, M.; Zitzer, B.

In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 693, No. 2, 01.01.2009, p. L104-L108.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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.

PY - 2009/1/1

Y1 - 2009/1/1

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.

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

VL - 693

SP - L104-L108

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

SN - 0004-637X

IS - 2

ER -

Acciari VA, Aliu E, Arlen T, Beilicke M, Benbow W, Böttcher M et al. Veritas observations of a very high energy γ-ray flare from the blazar 3C66A. Astrophysical Journal. 2009 Jan 1;693(2):L104-L108. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/L104

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