Discovery of a point-like very-high-energy γ-ray source in Monoceros

Aims.The complex Monoceros Loop SNR/Rosette Nebula region contains several potential sources of very-high-energy (VHE) $\gamma$-ray emission and two as yet unidentified high-energy EGRET sources. Sensitive VHE observations are required to probe acceleration processes in this region. Methods.The HESS telescope array has been used to search for very high-energy $\gamma$-ray sources in this region. CO data from the NANTEN telescope were used to map the molecular clouds in the region, which could act as target material for $\gamma$-ray production via hadronic interactions. Results.We announce the discovery of a new $\gamma$-ray source, HESS J0632+057, located close to the rim of the Monoceros SNR. This source is unresolved by HESS and has no clear counterpart at other wavelengths but is possibly associated with the weak X-ray source 1RXS J063258.3+054857, the Be-star MWC 148 and/or the lower energy $\gamma$-ray source 3EG J0634+0521. No evidence for an associated molecular cloud was found in the CO data

Detection of extended very-high-energy γ-ray emission towards the young stellar cluster Westerlund 2

Aims. Results from $\gamma$-ray observations by the HESS telescope array in the direction of the young stellar cluster Westerlund 2 are presented. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov light emission of $\gamma$-ray induced showers in the atmosphere is used to study the celestial region around the massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) binary WR 20a. Spectral and positional analysis is performed using standard event reconstruction techniques and parameter cuts. Results. The detection of a new $\gamma$-ray source is reported from HESS observations in 2006. HESS J1023-575 is found to be coincident with the young stellar cluster Westerlund 2 in the well-known HII complex RCW 49. The source is detected with a statistical significance of more than 9$\sigma$, and shows extension beyond a point-like object within the HESS point-spread function. The differential $\gamma$-ray spectrum of the emission region is measured over approximately two orders of magnitude in flux. Conclusions.The spatial coincidence between HESS J1023-575 and the young open cluster Westerlund 2, hosting e.g. the massive WR binary WR 20a, requires one to look into a variety of potential models to account for the observed very-high-energy (VHE) $\gamma$-ray emission. Considered emission scenarios include emission from the colliding wind zone of WR 20a, collective stellar winds from the extraordinary ensemble of hot and massive stars in the stellar cluster Westerlund 2, diffusive shock acceleration in the wind-blown bubble itself, and supersonic winds breaking out into the interstellar medium (ISM). The observed source extension argues against a single star origin of the observed VHE emission

Exploring a SNR/molecular cloud association within HESS J1745-303

Aims. HESS J1745-303 is an extended, unidentified VHE (very high energy) gamma-ray source discovered using HESS in the Galactic Plane Survey. Since no obvious counterpart has previously been found in longer-wavelength data, the processes that power the VHE emission are not well understood. Methods. Combining the latest VHE data with recent XMM-Newton observations and a variety of source catalogs and lower-energy survey data, we attempt to match (from an energetic and positional standpoint) the various parts of the emission of HESS J1745-303 with possible candidates. Results. Though no single counterpart is found to fully explain the VHE emission, we postulate that at least a fraction of the VHE source may be explained by a supernova-remnant/molecular-cloud association and/or a high-spin-down-flux pulsar

HESS upper limits for Kepler's supernova remnant

Aims. Observations of Kepler's supernova remnant (G4.5+6.8) with the HESS telescope array in 2004 and 2005 with a total live time of 13 h are presented. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results. No evidence for a very high energy (VHE: >100 GeV) gamma-ray signal from the direction of the remnant is found. An upper limit (99% confidence level) on the energy flux in the range $230~{\rm GeV}{-}12.8~{\rm TeV}$ of 8.6 $\times$ $10^{-13}~{\rm erg}~{\rm cm}^{-2}~{\rm s}^{-1}$ is obtained. Conclusions. In the context of an existing theoretical model for the remnant, the lack of a detectable gamma-ray flux implies a distance of at least $6.4~{\rm kpc}$. A corresponding upper limit for the density of the ambient matter of $0.7~{\rm cm}^{-3}$ is derived. With this distance limit, and assuming a spectral index $\Gamma = 2$, the total energy in accelerated protons is limited to $E_{\rm p} < 8.6$ $\times$ $10^{49}~{\rm erg}$. In the synchrotron/inverse Compton framework, extrapolating the power law measured by RXTE between 10 and $20~{\rm keV}$ down in energy, the predicted gamma-ray flux from inverse Compton scattering is below the measured upper limit for magnetic field values greater than $52~\mu {\rm G}$

Discovery of VHE γ-rays from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object RGB J0152+017

Aims. The BL Lac object RGB J0152+017 (z=0.080) was predicted to be a very high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) $\gamma$-ray source, due to its high X-ray and radio fluxes. Our aim is to understand the radiative processes by investigating the observed emission and its production mechanism using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) experiment. Methods. We report recent observations of the BL Lac source RGB J0152+017 made in late October and November 2007 with the HESS array consisting of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous observations were made in X-rays by the Swift and RXTE satellites, in the optical band with the ATOM telescope, and in the radio band with the Nançay Radio Telescope. Results. A signal of 173 $\gamma$-ray photons corresponding to a statistical significance of 6.6$\sigma$ was found in the data. The energy spectrum of the source can be described by a powerlaw with a spectral index of $\Gamma=2.95\pm0.36_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm 0.20_{\mathrm{syst}}$. The integral flux above 300 GeV corresponds to ~2% of the flux of the Crab nebula. The source spectral energy distribution (SED) can be described using a two-component non-thermal synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) leptonic model, except in the optical band, which is dominated by a thermal host galaxy component. The parameters that are found are very close to those found in similar SSC studies in TeV blazars. Conclusions. RGB J0152+017 is discovered as a source of VHE $\gamma$-rays by HESS The location of its synchrotron peak, as derived from the SED in Swift data, allows clear classification as a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL)

Discovery of VHE γ-rays from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object RGB J0152+017

Aims. The BL Lac object RGB J0152+017 (z=0.080) was predicted to be a very high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) $\gamma$-ray source, due to its high X-ray and radio fluxes. Our aim is to understand the radiative processes by investigating the observed emission and its production mechanism using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) experiment. Methods. We report recent observations of the BL Lac source RGB J0152+017 made in late October and November 2007 with the HESS array consisting of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Contemporaneous observations were made in X-rays by the Swift and RXTE satellites, in the optical band with the ATOM telescope, and in the radio band with the Nançay Radio Telescope. Results. A signal of 173 $\gamma$-ray photons corresponding to a statistical significance of 6.6$\sigma$ was found in the data. The energy spectrum of the source can be described by a powerlaw with a spectral index of $\Gamma=2.95\pm0.36_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm 0.20_{\mathrm{syst}}$. The integral flux above 300 GeV corresponds to ~2% of the flux of the Crab nebula. The source spectral energy distribution (SED) can be described using a two-component non-thermal synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) leptonic model, except in the optical band, which is dominated by a thermal host galaxy component. The parameters that are found are very close to those found in similar SSC studies in TeV blazars. Conclusions. RGB J0152+017 is discovered as a source of VHE $\gamma$-rays by HESS The location of its synchrotron peak, as derived from the SED in Swift data, allows clear classification as a high-frequency-peaked BL Lac (HBL)

Discovery of a VHE gamma-ray source coincident with the supernova remnant CTB 37A

Aims. The supernova remnant (SNR) complex CTB 37 is an interesting candidate for observations with very high energy (VHE) $\gamma$-ray telescopes such as HESS. In this region, three SNRs are seen. One of them is potentially associated with several molecular clouds, a circumstance that can be used to probe the acceleration of hadronic cosmic rays. Methods. This region was observed with the HESS Cherenkov telescopes and the data were analyzed with standard HESS procedures. Recent X-ray observations with Chandra and XMM-Newton were used to search for X-ray counterparts. Results. The discovery of a new VHE $\gamma$-ray source HESS J1714-385 coincident with the remnant CTB 37A is reported. The energy spectrum is well described by a power-law with a photon index of $\Gamma$ = 2.30 $\pm$ 0.13 and a differential flux at 1 TeV of $\Phi_0 = (8.7 \pm 1.0_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 1.8_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-13}$ cm-2 s-1 TeV-1. The integrated flux above 1 TeV is equivalent to 3% of the flux of the Crab nebula above the same energy. This VHE $\gamma$-ray source is a counterpart candidate for the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1714-3857. The observed VHE emission is consistent with the molecular gas distribution around CTB 37A; a close match is expected in a hadronic scenario for $\gamma$-ray production. The X-ray observations reveal the presence of thermal X-rays from the NE part of the SNR. In the NW part of the remnant, an extended non-thermal X-ray source, CXOU J171419.8-383023, is discovered as well. Possible connections of the X-ray emission to the newly found VHE source are discussed

Chandra and HESS observations of the supernova remnant CTB 37B

We discovered the >100 GeV $\gamma$-ray source, HESS J1713-381, apparently associated with the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 37B, using HESS in 2006. In 2007 we performed X-ray follow-up observations with Chandra with the aim of identifying a synchrotron counterpart to the TeV source and/or thermal emission from the SNR shell. These new Chandra data, together with additional TeV data, allow us to investigate the nature of this object in much greater detail than was previously possible. The new X-ray data reveal thermal emission from a ~4' region in close proximity to the radio shell of CTB 37B. The temperature of this emission implies an age for the remnant of ~5000 years and an ambient gas density of ~0.5 cm-3. Both these estimates are considerably uncertain due to the asymmetry of the SNR and possible modifications of the kinematics due to efficient cosmic ray (CR) acceleration. A bright ($\approx$ 7 $\times$ 10-13 erg cm-2 s-1) and unresolved (<1\arcsec) source (CXOU J171405.7-381031), with a soft ($\Gamma$$\approx$3.3) non-thermal spectrum is also detected in coincidence with the radio shell. Absorption indicates a column density consistent with the thermal emission from the shell, suggesting a genuine association rather than a chance alignment. The observed TeV morphology is consistent with an origin in the complete shell of CTB 37B. The lack of diffuse non-thermal X-ray emission suggests an origin of the $\gamma$-ray emission via the decay of neutral pions produced in interactions of protons and nuclei, rather than inverse Compton (IC) emission from relativistic electrons

HESS upper limits for Kepler's supernova remnant

Aims. Observations of Kepler's supernova remnant (G4.5+6.8) with the HESS telescope array in 2004 and 2005 with a total live time of 13 h are presented. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results. No evidence for a very high energy (VHE: >100 GeV) gamma-ray signal from the direction of the remnant is found. An upper limit (99% confidence level) on the energy flux in the range $230~{\rm GeV}{-}12.8~{\rm TeV}$ of 8.6 $\times$ $10^{-13}~{\rm erg}~{\rm cm}^{-2}~{\rm s}^{-1}$ is obtained. Conclusions. In the context of an existing theoretical model for the remnant, the lack of a detectable gamma-ray flux implies a distance of at least $6.4~{\rm kpc}$. A corresponding upper limit for the density of the ambient matter of $0.7~{\rm cm}^{-3}$ is derived. With this distance limit, and assuming a spectral index $\Gamma = 2$, the total energy in accelerated protons is limited to $E_{\rm p} < 8.6$ $\times$ $10^{49}~{\rm erg}$. In the synchrotron/inverse Compton framework, extrapolating the power law measured by RXTE between 10 and $20~{\rm keV}$ down in energy, the predicted gamma-ray flux from inverse Compton scattering is below the measured upper limit for magnetic field values greater than $52~\mu {\rm G}$

HESS observations and VLT spectroscopy of PG1553+113

Aims.The properties of the very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) $\gamma$-ray emission from the high-frequency peaked BL Lac PG 1553+113 are investigated. An attempt is made to measure the currently unknown redshift of this object. Methods.VHE Observations of PG 1553+113 were made with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) in 2005 and 2006. H + K (1.45-2.45 $\mu$m) spectroscopy of PG 1553+113 was performed in March 2006 with SINFONI, an integral field spectrometer of the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Results.A VHE signal, ~10 standard deviations, is detected by HESS during the 2 years of observations (24.8 h live time). The integral flux above 300 GeV is $(4.6 \pm 0.6_{\rm stat} \pm 0.9_{\rm syst})$ $\times$ 10-12 cm-2 s-1, corresponding to ~3.4% of the flux from the Crab Nebula above the same threshold. The time-averaged energy spectrum is measured from 225 GeV to ~1.3 TeV, and is characterized by a very soft power law (photon index of $\Gamma = 4.5 \pm 0.3_{\rm stat} \pm 0.1_{\rm syst}$). No evidence for any flux or spectral variations is found on any sampled time scale within the VHE data. The redshift of PG 1553+113 could not be determined. Indeed, even though the measured SINFONI spectrum is the most sensitive ever reported for this object at near infrared wavelengths, and the sensitivity is comparable to the best spectroscopy at other wavelengths, no absorption or emission lines were found in the H+K spectrum presented here