Open AccessXMM‐NewtonObservations Reveal the X‐Ray Counterpart of the Very High Energy Gamma‐Ray Source HESS J1640−465
Author(s) -
S. Funk,
J. A. Hinton,
G. Pühlhofer,
F. Aharonian,
W. Hofmann,
O. Reimer,
S. J. Wagner
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the astrophysical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376
H-Index - 489
eISSN - 1538-4357
pISSN - 0004-637X
DOI - 10.1086/516567
Subject(s) - physics , pulsar , supernova remnant , astrophysics , pulsar wind nebula , flux (metallurgy) , astronomy , gamma ray , x ray , compact star , angular resolution (graph drawing) , supernova , neutron star , optics , materials science , mathematics , combinatorics , metallurgy
We present X-ray observations of the as of yet unidentified very high-energy(VHE) gamma-ray source HESSJ1640-465 with the aim of establishing a counterpartof this source in the keV energy range, and identifying the mechanismresponsible for the VHE emission. The 21.8 ksec XMM-Newton observation ofHESSJ1640-465 in September 2005 represents a significant improvement insensitivity and angular resolution over previous ASCA studies in this region.These new data show a hard-spectrum X-ray emitting object at the centroid ofthe H.E.S.S. source, within the shell of the radio Supernova Remnant (SNR)G338.3-0.0. This object is consistent with the position and flux previouslymeasured by both ASCA and Swift-XRT but is now shown to be significantlyextended. We argue that this object is very likely the counterpart toHESSJ1640-465 and that both objects may represent the Pulsar Wind Nebula of anas of yet undiscovered pulsar associated with G338.3-0.0.Comment: submitted to the Astrophysical Journa
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom