Discovery of extended VHE gamma-ray emission from the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1

11 pages, 6 figuresResults obtained in very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) \gamma-ray observations performed with the H.E.S.S. telescope array are used to investigate particle acceleration processes in the vicinity of the young massive stellar cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd 1). Imaging of Cherenkov light from \gamma-ray induced particle cascades in the Earth's atmosphere is used to search for VHE \gamma\ rays from the region around Wd 1. Possible catalogued counterparts are searched for and discussed in terms of morphology and energetics of the H.E.S.S. source. The detection of the degree-scale extended VHE \gamma-ray source HESS J1646-458 is reported based on 45 hours of H.E.S.S. observations performed between 2004 and 2008. The VHE \gamma-ray source is centred on the nominal position of Wd 1 and detected with a total statistical significance of ~20\sigma. The emission region clearly extends beyond the H.E.S.S. point-spread function (PSF). The differential energy spectrum follows a power law in energy with an index of \Gamma=2.19 \pm 0.08_{stat} \pm 0.20_{sys} and a flux normalisation at 1 TeV of \Phi_0 = (9.0 \pm 1.4_{stat} \pm 1.8_{sys}) x 10^{-12} TeV^{-1} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. The integral flux above 0.2 TeV amounts to (5.2 \pm 0.9) x 10^{-11} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. Four objects coincident with HESS J1646-458 are discussed in the search of a counterpart, namely the magnetar CXOU J164710.2-455216, the X-ray binary 4U 1642-45, the pulsar PSR J1648-4611 and the massive stellar cluster Wd 1. In a single-source scenario, Wd 1 is favoured as site of VHE particle acceleration. Here, a hadronic parent population would be accelerated within the stellar cluster. Beside this, there is evidence for a multi-source origin, where a scenario involving PSR J1648-4611 could be viable to explain parts of the VHE \gamma-ray emission of HESS J1646-458

Discovery of VHE gamma-rays from the BL Lacertae object PKS 0548-322

Aims. PKS 0548–322 (z = 0.069) is a “high-frequency-peaked” BL Lac object and a candidate very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) γ-ray emitter, due to its high X-ray and radio flux. Observations at the VHE band provide insights into the origin of very energetic particles present in this source and the radiation processes at work. Methods. We report observations made between October 2004 and January 2008 with the HESS array, a four imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous UV and X-ray observations with the Swift satellite in November 2006 are also reported. Results. PKS 0548-322 is detected for the first time in the VHE band with HESS We measure an excess of 216 γ-rays corresponding to a significance of 5.6 standard deviations. The photon spectrum of the source is described by a power-law, with a photon index of Γ = 2.86 ± 0.34stat ± 0.10sys. The integral flux above 200 GeV is ~1.3% of the flux of the Crab Nebula, and is consistent with being constant in time. Contemporaneous Swift/XRT observations reveal an X-ray flux between 2 and 10 keV of F2-10 keV = (2.3±0.2)×10-11 erg cm-2 s-1, an intermediate intensity state with respect to previous observations. The spectral energy distribution can be reproduced using a simple one-zone synchrotron self Compton model, with parameters similar those observed for other sources of this type

Multi-wavelength observations of H 2356-309

Aims. The properties of the broad-band emission from the high-frequency peaked BL Lac H 2356–309 (z = 0.165) are investigated. Methods. Very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) observations of H 2356–309 were performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from 2004 through 2007. Simultaneous optical/UV and X-ray observations were made with the XMM-Newton satellite on June 12/13 and June 14/15, 2005. NRT radio observations were also contemporaneously performed in 2005. ATOM optical monitoring observations were also made in 2007. Results. A strong VHE signal, ~13σ total, was detected by HESS after the four years HESS observations (116.8 h live time). The integral flux above 240 GeV is I(>240 GeV) = (3.06 ± 0.26stat ± 0.61syst) × 10-12 cm-2 s-1, corresponding to ~1.6% of the flux observed from the Crab Nebula. A time-averaged energy spectrum is measured from 200 GeV to 2 TeV and is characterized by a power law (photon index of Γ = 3.06 ± 0.15stat ± 0.10syst). Significant small-amplitude variations in the VHE flux from H 2356–309 are seen on time scales of months and years, but not on shorter time scales. No evidence for any variations in the VHE spectral slope are found within these data. The XMM-Newton X-ray measurements show a historically low X-ray state, characterized by a hard, broken-power-law spectrum on both nights. Conclusions. The broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) of the blazar can be adequately fit using a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model. In the SSC scenario, higher VHE fluxes could be expected in the future since the observed X-ray flux is at a historically low level

PKS2005-489 at VHE: four years of monitoring with HESS and simultaneous multi-wavelength observations

Aims. Our aim is to study the very high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) γ-ray emission from BL Lac objects and the evolution in time of their broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED). Methods. VHE observations of the high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PKS 2005-489 were made with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from 2004 through 2007. Three simultaneous multi-wavelength campaigns at lower energies were performed during the HESS data taking, consisting of several individual pointings with the XMM-Newton and RXTE satellites. Results. A strong VHE signal, ~17σ total, from PKS 2005-489 was detected during the four years of HESS observations (90.3 h live time). The integral flux above the average analysis threshold of 400 GeV is ~3% of the flux observed from the Crab Nebula and varies weakly on time scales from days to years. The average VHE spectrum measured from ~300 GeV to ~5 TeV is characterized by a power law with a photon index, . At X-ray energies the flux is observed to vary by more than an order of magnitude between 2004 and 2005. Strong changes in the X-ray spectrum () are also observed, which appear to be mirrored in the VHE band. Conclusions. The SED of PKS 2005-489, constructed for the first time with contemporaneous data on both humps, shows significant evolution. The large flux variations in the X-ray band, coupled with weak or no variations in the VHE band and a similar spectral behavior, suggest the emergence of a new, separate, harder emission component in September 2005

PKS2005-489 at VHE: four years of monitoring with HESS and simultaneous multi-wavelength observations

13 pages, 11 figures. Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press. Minor typographical/text changesVHE observations of PKS 2005-489 were made with HESS from 2004 through 2007, together with three simultaneous multi-wavelength campaigns performed with XMM-Newton and RXTE in 2004 and 2005. A strong VHE signal, ~17sigma total, is detected during the four years of HESS observations (90.3 hrs live time). The integral flux above the average analysis threshold of 400 GeV is ~3% of the Crab and varies weakly on time-scales from days to years. At X-ray energies the flux is observed to vary by more than an order of magnitude between 2004 and 2005. Strong changes in the X-ray spectrum (DeltaGamma~0.7) are also observed, which appear to be mirrored in the VHE band. The SED of PKS 2005-489, constructed for the first time with contemporaneous data on both humps, shows significant evolution. The large flux variations in the X-ray band, coupled with weak or no variations in the VHE band and a similar spectral behavior, suggest the emergence of a new, separate, harder emission component in September 2005

Simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign on PKS 2005-489 in a high state

The high-frequency peaked BL Lac object PKS 2005-489 was the target of a multi-wavelength campaign with simultaneous observations in the TeV γ-ray (H.E.S.S.), GeV γ-ray (Fermi/LAT), X-ray (RXTE, Swift), UV (Swift) and optical (ATOM, Swift) bands. This campaign was carried out during a high flux state in the synchrotron regime. The flux in the optical and X-ray bands reached the level of the historical maxima. The hard GeV spectrum observed with Fermi/LAT connects well to the very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) spectrum measured with H.E.S.S