No Arabic abstract
Only BL Lac objects have been detected as extragalactic sources of very high energy (E > 300 GeV) gamma rays. Using the Whipple Observatory Gamma-ray Telescope, we have attempted to detect more BL Lacs using three approaches. First, we have conducted surveys of nearby BL Lacs, which led to the detections of Mrk 501 and 1ES 2344+514. Second, we have observed X-ray bright BL Lacs when the RXTE All-Sky Monitor identifies high state X-ray emission in an object, in order to efficiently detect extended high emission states. Third, we have conducted rapid observations of several BL Lacs and QSOs located close together in the sky to search for very high flux, short time-scale flare states such as have been seen from Mrk 421. We will present the results of a survey using the third observational technique.
The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory has been shown to be sensitive to non-transient hard X-ray sources in our galaxy, down to flux levels of 100 mCrab for daily measurements, 3 mCrab for integrations over several years. We use the continuous BATSE database and the Earth Occultation technique to extract average flux values between 20 and 200 keV from complete radio- and X-ray- selected BL Lac samples over a 2 year period.
Context: We present the results of a set of observations of nine TeV detected BL Lac objects performed by the XRT and UVOT detectors on board the Swift satellite between March and December 2005. Aims: We are mainly interested in measuring the spectral parameters, and particularly the intrinsic curvature in the X-ray band. Methods: We perform X-ray spectral analysis of observed BL Lac TeV objects using either a log-parabolic or a simple power-law model . Results: We found that many of the objects in our sample do show significant spectral curvature, whereas those having the peak of the spectral energies distribution at energies lower than ~0.1 keV show power law spectra. In these cases, however, the statistics are generally low thus preventing a good estimate of the curvature. Simultaneous UVOT observations are important to verify how X-ray spectra can be extrapolated at lower frequencies and to search for multiple emission components. Conclusions: The results of our analysis are useful for the study of possible signatures of statistical acceleration processes predicting intrinsically curved spectra and for modelling the SED of BL Lacertae objects up to TeV energies where a corresponding curvature is likely to be present.
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 performed an observational program with the X-ray satellite BeppoSAX to study objects with extreme synchrotron peak frequencies (nu_peak > 1 keV). Of the seven sources observed, four showed peak frequencies in the range 1-5 keV, while one (1ES 1426+428) displayed a flat power law spectrum (alpha= 0.92), locating its synchrotron peak at or above 100 keV. This is the third source of this type ever found, after Mkn 501 and 1ES 2344+514. Our data confirm the large nu_peak variability of this class of sources, compared with lower peaked objects. The high synchrotron peak energies, flagging the presence of high energy electrons, make the extreme BL Lacs also good candidates for TeV emission, and therefore good probes for the IR background.
We present 6 ASCA and SAX observations of 4 intermediate BL Lac objects (1034+5727, 1055+5644, 1424+2401, 1741+1936). Their X-ray spectral properties and spectral energy distributions are compared to typical X-ray and radio selected BL Lacs. 1055+5644 varied by a factor of ten in flux without significant spectral changes.