911 research outputs found
Lepidoptera Recorded From the Islands of Western Lake Erie, With a Brief Account of Geology and Flora
A list of Lepidoptera from the islands of western Lake Erie is presented along with a brief account of the geology, flora, and human activities in the area. The checklist contains 169 species representing 27 families. Suggestions are made for the improvement of this preliminary checklist as well as for future research
Chandra observations of the HII complex G5.89-0.39 and TeV gamma-ray source HESSJ1800-240B
We present the results of our investigation, using a Chandra X-ray
observation, into the stellar population of the massive star formation region
G5.89-0.39, and its potential connection to the coincident TeV gamma-ray source
HESSJ1800-240B. G5.89-0.39 comprises two separate HII regions G5.89-0.39A and
G5.89-0.39B (an ultra-compact HII region). We identified 159 individual X-ray
point sources in our observation using the source detection algorithm
\texttt{wavdetect}. 35 X-ray sources are associated with the HII complex
G5.89-0.39. The 35 X-ray sources represent an average unabsorbed luminosity
(0.3-10\,keV) of \,erg/s, typical of B7-B5 type stars. The
potential ionising source of G5.89-0.39B known as Feldt's star is possibly
identified in our observation with an unabsorbed X-ray luminosity suggestive of
a B7-B5 star. The stacked energy spectra of these sources is well-fitted with a
single thermal plasma APEC model with kT5\,keV, and column density
N\,cm (A). The residual
(source-subtracted) X-ray emission towards G5.89-0.39A and B is about 30\% and
25\% larger than their respective stacked source luminosities. Assuming this
residual emission is from unresolved stellar sources, the total
B-type-equivalent stellar content in G5.89-0.39A and B would be 75 stars,
consistent with an earlier estimate of the total stellar mass of hot stars in
G5.89-0.39. We have also looked at the variability of the 35 X-ray sources in
G5.89-0.39. Ten of these sources are flagged as being variable. Further studies
are needed to determine the exact causes of the variability, however the
variability could point towards pre-main sequence stars. Such a stellar
population could provide sufficient kinetic energy to account for a part of the
GeV to TeV gamma-ray emission in the source HESSJ1800-240B.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figure
INTEGRAL observations of TeV plerions
Amongst the sources seen in very high gamma-rays several are associated with
Pulsar Wind Nebulae (``TeV plerions''). The study of hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray
emission is providing an important insight into the energetic particle
population present in these objects. The unpulsed emission from pulsar/pulsar
wind nebula systems in the energy range accessible to the INTEGRAL satellite is
mainly synchrotron emission from energetic and fast cooling electrons close to
their acceleration site. Our analyses of public INTEGRAL data of known TeV
plerions detected by ground based Cherenkov telescopes indicate a deeper link
between these TeV plerions and INTEGRAL detected pulsar wind nebulae. The newly
discovered TeV plerion in the northern wing of the Kookaburra region
(G313.3+0.6 powered by the middle aged PSR J1420-6048) is found to have a
previously unknown INTEGRAL counterpart which is besides the Vela pulsar the
only middle aged pulsar detected with INTEGRAL. We do not find an INTEGRAL
counterpart of the TeV plerion associated with the X-ray PWN ``Rabbit''
G313.3+0.1 which is possibly powered by a young pulsar.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, proceedings of conference "The Multi-Messenger
Approach to High-Energy Gamma-ray Sources" Barcelona/Spain (2006
Spectral evolution of non-thermal electron distributions in intense radiation fields
(abridged) Models of many astrophysical gamma-ray sources assume they contain
a homogeneous distribution of electrons that are injected as a power-law in
energy and evolve by interacting with radiation fields, magnetic fields and
particles in the source and by escaping. This problem is particularly
complicated if the radiation fields have higher energy density than the
magnetic field and are sufficiently energetic that inverse Compton scattering
is not limited to the Thomson regime. We present a simple, time-dependent,
semi-analytical solution of the electron kinetic equation that treats both
continuous and impulsive injection, cooling via synchrotron and inverse Compton
radiation, (taking into account Klein-Nishina effects) and energy dependent
particle escape. The kinetic equation for an arbitrary, time-dependent source
function is solved by the method of Laplace transformations. Using an
approximate expression for the energy loss rate that takes into account
synchrotron and inverse Compton losses including Klein-Nishina effects for
scattering off an isotropic photon field with either a power-law or black-body
distribution, we find explicit expressions for the cooling time and escape
probability of individual electrons. This enables the full, time-dependent
solution to be reduced to a single quadrature. From the electron distribution,
we then construct the time-dependent, multi-wavelength emission spectrum. We
compare our solutions with several limiting cases and discuss the general
appearance and temporal behaviour of spectral features (i.e., cooling breaks,
bumps etc.). As a specific example, we model the broad-band energy spectrum of
the open stellar association Westerlund-2 at different times of its evolution,
and compare it with observations.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, acccepted for publication in A&
XMM-Newton observations of HESS J1813-178 reveal a composite Supernova remnant
We present X-ray and 12CO(J=1-0) observations of the very-high-energy (VHE)
gamma-ray source HESS J1813-178 with the aim of understanding the origin of the
gamma-ray emission. Using this dataset we are able to undertake spectral and
morphological studies of the X-ray emission from this object with greater
precision than previous studies. NANTEN 12CO(J=1-0) data are used to search for
correlations of the gamma-ray emission with molecular clouds which could act as
target material for gamma-ray production in a hadronic scenario. The NANTEN
12CO(J=1-0) observations show a giant molecular cloud of mass 2.5 10^5
M_{\sun} at a distance of 4 kpc in the vicinity of HESS J1813-178. Even
though there is no direct positional coincidence, this giant cloud might have
influenced the evolution of the gamma-ray source and its surroundings. The
X-ray data show a highly absorbed non-thermal X-ray emitting object coincident
with the previously known ASCA source AX J1813-178 showing a compact core and
an extended tail towards the north-east, located in the centre of the radio
shell-type Supernova remnant (SNR) G12.82-0.2. This central object shows
morphological and spectral resemblance to a Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN) and we
therefore consider that the object is very likely to be a composite SNR. We
discuss the scenario in which the gamma-rays originate in the shell of the SNR
and the one in which they originate in the central object. We demonstrate, that
in order to connect the core X-ray emission to the VHE gamma-ray emission
electrons have to be accelerated to energies of at least 1 PeV.Comment: Submitted to A&
Radio continuum and near-infrared study of the MGRO J2019+37 region
(abridged) MGRO J2019+37 is an unidentified extended source of VHE gamma-rays
originally reported by the Milagro Collaboration as the brightest TeV source in
the Cygnus region. Its extended emission could be powered by either a single or
several sources. The GeV pulsar AGL J2020.5+3653, discovered by AGILE and
associated with PSR J2021+3651, could contribute to the emission from MGRO
J2019+37, although extrapolation of the GeV spectrum does not explain the
detected multi-TeV flux. Our aim is to identify radio and NIR sources in the
field of the extended TeV source MGRO J2019+37, and study potential
counterparts that could contribute to its emission. We surveyed a region of
about 6 square degrees with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at the
frequency 610 MHz. We also observed the central square degree of this survey in
the NIR Ks-band using the 3.5 m telescope in Calar Alto. Archival X-ray
observations of some specific fields are included. VLBI observations of an
interesting radio source were performed. We explored possible scenarios to
produce the multi-TeV emission from MGRO J2019+37 and studied which of the
sources could be the main particle accelerator. We present a catalogue of 362
radio sources detected with the GMRT in the field of MGRO J2019+37, and the
results of a cross-correlation of this catalog with one obtained at NIR
wavelengths, as well as with available X-ray observations of the region. Some
peculiar sources inside the ~1 degree uncertainty region of the TeV emission
from MGRO J2019+37 are discussed in detail, including the pulsar PSR J2021+3651
and its pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1, two new radio-jet sources, the HII
region Sh 2-104 containing two star clusters, and the radio source NVSS
J202032+363158.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
Radio continuum and near-infrared study of the MGRO J2019+37 region
(abridged) MGRO J2019+37 is an unidentified extended source of VHE gamma-rays
originally reported by the Milagro Collaboration as the brightest TeV source in
the Cygnus region. Its extended emission could be powered by either a single or
several sources. The GeV pulsar AGL J2020.5+3653, discovered by AGILE and
associated with PSR J2021+3651, could contribute to the emission from MGRO
J2019+37, although extrapolation of the GeV spectrum does not explain the
detected multi-TeV flux. Our aim is to identify radio and NIR sources in the
field of the extended TeV source MGRO J2019+37, and study potential
counterparts that could contribute to its emission. We surveyed a region of
about 6 square degrees with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at the
frequency 610 MHz. We also observed the central square degree of this survey in
the NIR Ks-band using the 3.5 m telescope in Calar Alto. Archival X-ray
observations of some specific fields are included. VLBI observations of an
interesting radio source were performed. We explored possible scenarios to
produce the multi-TeV emission from MGRO J2019+37 and studied which of the
sources could be the main particle accelerator. We present a catalogue of 362
radio sources detected with the GMRT in the field of MGRO J2019+37, and the
results of a cross-correlation of this catalog with one obtained at NIR
wavelengths, as well as with available X-ray observations of the region. Some
peculiar sources inside the ~1 degree uncertainty region of the TeV emission
from MGRO J2019+37 are discussed in detail, including the pulsar PSR J2021+3651
and its pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1, two new radio-jet sources, the HII
region Sh 2-104 containing two star clusters, and the radio source NVSS
J202032+363158.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
An unidentified TeV source in the vicinity of Cygnus OB2
Deep observation (∼113 hrs) of the Cygnus region at TeV energies using the HEGRA stereoscopic system of air Čerenkov telescopes has serendipitously revealed a signal positionally inside the core of the OB association Cygnus OB2, at the edge of the 95% error circle of the EGRET source 3EG J2033+4118, and ∼0.5° north of Cyg X-3. The source centre of gravity is RA αJ2000: 20hr32m07s± 9.2stats±2.2syss, Dec δJ2000: +41°30′30″2.0stat±0.4′sys. The source is steady, has a post-trial significance of +4.6σ, indication for extension with radius 5.6′ at the ∼3σ level, and has a differential power-law flux with hard photon index of - 1.9 ± 0.3stat ± 0.3sys. The integral flux above 1 TeV amounts ∼3% that of the Crab. No counterpart for the TeV source at other wavelengths is presently identified, and its extension would disfavour an exclusive pulsar or AGN origin. If associated with Cygnus OB2, this dense concentration of young, massive stars provides an environment conducive to multi-TeV particle acceleration and likely subsequent interaction with a nearby gas cloud. Alternatively, one could envisage γ-ray production via a jet-driven termination shock.F. A. Aharonian, ... G. P. Rowell, ... [et al
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