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Register a new userVERITAS observations of the BL Lac 1ES 1218+304
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The VERITAS collaboration reports the detection of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1218+304 located at a redshift of z=0.182. A gamma-ray signal was detected with a statistical significance of 10.4 standard deviations (10.4 sigma) for the observations taken during the first three months of 2007, confirming the discovery of this object made by the MAGIC collaboration. The photon spectrum between ~160 GeV and ~1.8 TeV is well described by a power law with an index of Gamma = 3.08 +/- 0.34_stat +/- 0.2_sys. The integral flux is Phi(E > 200 GeV) = (12.2 +/- 2.6) X 10^-12 cm^-2 s^-1, which corresponds to ~6% of that of the Crab Nebula. The light curve does not show any evidence for VHE flux variability. Using lower limits on the density of the extragalactic background light in the near to mid-infrared we are able to limit the range of intrinsic energy spectra for 1ES 1218+304. We show that the intrinsic photon spectrum has an index that is harder than Gamma = 2.32 +/- 0.37_stat. When including constraints from the spectra of 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 0229+200, the spectrum of 1ES 1218+304 is likely to be harder than Gamma = 1.86 +/- 0.37_stat.
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We present the analysis and results of recent high-energy gamma-ray observations of the high energy-peaked BL Lac (HBL) object 1ES 1218+304 with the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE). 1ES 1218+304 is an X-ray bright HBL at a redshift z=0.182. It has been predicted to be a gamma-ray emitter above 100 GeV, detectable by ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. Recently this source has been detected by MAGIC and VERITAS, confirming these predictions. STACEEs sensitivity to astrophysical sources at energies above 100 GeV allows it to explore high energy sources such as X-ray bright active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts. We present results from STACEE observations of 1ES 1218+304 in the 2006 and 2007 observing seasons.
Here we present highlights from VERITAS observations of high-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects (HBLs). We discuss the key science motivations for observing these sources -- including performing multiwavelength campaigns critical to understanding the emission mechanisms at work in HBLs, constraining the intensity and spectra shape of the extragalactic background light, and placing limits on the strength of the intergalactic magnetic field.
We present results from VERITAS observations of the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 spanning the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. The time-averaged spectrum, measured between 160 and 560,GeV, is well described by a power law with a spectral index of $4.33 pm 0.09$. The time-averaged integral flux above $200,$GeV measured for this period was $(1.69 pm 0.06) times 10^{-11} , mathrm{ph} , mathrm{cm}^{-2} , mathrm{s}^{-1}$, corresponding to 6.9% of the Crab Nebula flux. We also present the combined $gamma$-ray spectrum from the Fermi Large Area Telescope and VERITAS covering an energy range from 100~MeV to 560~GeV. The data are well fit by a power law with an exponential cutoff at $rm {101.9 pm 3.2 , mathrm{GeV}} $. The origin of the cutoff could be intrinsic to PG~1553+113 or be due to the $gamma$-ray opacity of our universe through pair production off the extragalactic background light (EBL). Given lower limits to the redshift of $rm z egthinspace > egthinspace 0.395$ based on optical/UV observations of PG~1553+113, the cutoff would be dominated by EBL absorption. Conversely, the small statistical uncertainties of the VERITAS energy spectrum have allowed us to provide a robust upper limit on the redshift of PG 1553+113 of $z egthinspace leq egthinspace 0.62$. A strongly-elevated mean flux of $(2.50 pm 0.14) times 10^{-11} , mathrm{ph} , mathrm{cm}^{-2} , mathrm{s}^{-1}$ (10.3% of the Crab Nebula flux) was observed during 2012, with the daily flux reaching as high as $(4.44 pm 0.71) times 10^{-11} , mathrm{ph} , mathrm{cm}^{-2} , mathrm{s}^{-1}$ (18.3% of the Crab Nebula flux) on MJD 56048. The light curve measured during the 2012 observing season is marginally inconsistent with a steady flux, giving a $chi^2$ probability for a steady flux of 0.03%.
On 2017 September 22, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory reported the detection of the high-energy neutrino event icnu, of potential astrophysical origin. It was soon determined that the neutrino direction was consistent with the location of the gamma-ray blazar txs~(3FGL J0509.4+0541), which was in an elevated gamma-ray emission state as measured by the emph{Fermi} satellite. VERITAS observations of the neutrino/blazar region started on 2017 September 23 in response to the neutrino alert and continued through 2018 February 6. While no significant very-high-energy (VHE; E $>$ 100 GeV) emission was observed from the blazar by VERITAS in the two-week period immediately following the IceCube alert, TXS 0506+056 was detected by VERITAS with a significance of 5.8 standard deviations ($sigma$) in the full 35-hour data set. The average photon flux of the source during this period was $(8.9 pm 1.6) times 10^{-12} ; mathrm{cm}^{-2} , mathrm{s}^{-1}$, or 1.6% of the Crab Nebula flux, above an energy threshold of 110 GeV, with a soft spectral index of $4.8 pm 1.3$.
During moonlit nights, observations with ground-based Cherenkov telescopes at very high energies (VHE, $E>100$ GeV) are constrained since the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in the telescope camera are extremely sensitive to the background moonlight. Observations with the VERITAS telescopes in the standard configuration are performed only with a moon illumination less than 35$%$ of full moon. Since 2012, the VERITAS collaboration has implemented a new observing mode under bright moonlight, by either reducing the voltage applied to the PMTs (reduced-high-voltage configuration, RHV), or by utilizing UV-transparent filters. While these operating modes result in lower sensitivity and increased energy thresholds, the extension of the available observing time is useful for monitoring variable sources such as blazars and sources requiring spectral measurements at the highest energies. In this paper we report the detection of $gamma$-ray flaring activity from the BL Lac object 1ES 1727+502 during RHV observations. This detection represents the first evidence of VHE variability from this blazar. The integral flux is $(1.1pm0.2)times10^{-11}mathrm{cm^{-2}s^{-1}}$ above 250 GeV, which is about five times higher than the low-flux state. The detection triggered additional veritas observations during standard dark-time. Multiwavelength observations with the FLWO 48 telescope, and the Swift and Fermi satellites are presented and used to produce the first spectral energy distribution (SED) of this object during $gamma$-ray flaring activity. The SED is then fitted with a standard synchrotron-self-Compton model, placing constraints on the properties of the emitting region and of the acceleration mechanism at the origin of the relativistic particle population in the jet.
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