VERITAS Collaboration, A. U. Abeysekara, W. Benbow, R. Bird, R. Brose, J. L. Christiansen, A. J. Chromey, W. Cui, M. K. Daniel, A. Falcone, L. Fortson, D. Hanna… 展开作者
VERITAS Collaboration, A. U. Abeysekara, W. Benbow, R. Bird, R. Brose, J. L. Christiansen, A. J. Chromey, W. Cui, M. K. Daniel, A. Falcone, L. Fortson, D. Hanna, T. Hassan, O. Hervet, J. Holder, G. Hughes, T. B. Humensky, P. Kaaret, P. Kar, N. Kelley-Hoskins, M. Kertzman, D. Kieda, M. Krause, M. J. Lang, G. Maier, P. Moriarty, D. Nieto, M. Nievas-Rosillo, R. A. Ong, D. Pandel, M. Pohl, R. R. Prado, E. Pueschel, J. Quinn, K. Ragan, P. T. Reynolds, G. T. Richards, E. Roache, I. Sadeh, M. Santander, G. H. Sembroski, A. Weinstein, P. Wilcox, D. A. Williams, T. J Williamson
With 8 hours of observations, VERITAS confirms the detection of two very high energy gamma-ray sources. The gamma-ray binary LS 5039 is detected with a statistical significance of $8.8σ$. The measured flux above 1 TeV is $(2.5 \pm 0.4) \times 10^{-12} \rm \, cm^{-2} \, s^{-1}$ near inferior conjunction and $(7.8 \pm 2.8) \times 10^{-13} \rm \, cm^{-2} \, s^{-1}$ near superior conjunction. The pulsar wind nebula HESS J1825-137 is detected with a statistical significance of $6.7σ$ and a measured flux above 1 TeV of $(3.9 \pm 0.8) \times 10^{-12} \rm \, cm^{-2} \, s^{-1}$.
HESS J1943+213 is a very-high-energy (VHE; >100 GeV) gamma-ray point source detected during the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey. Radio, infrared, X-ray, and GeV gamma-ray counterparts have been identified for HESS J1943+213; however, the classification of the source is still uncertain. Recent publications have argued primarily in favor of an extreme BL Lac object behind the Galactic plane, though the scenario that HESS J1943+213 is a young pulsar wind nebula is viable as well. We present deep VERITAS observations of HESS J1943+213, which provide the most significant VHE detection of the source …
The gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057 has been observed at very-high energies for almost ten years by all major systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. We present new observations taken by the VERITAS observatory and an updated analysis of the previously published observations. HESS J0632+057 has been detected by VERITAS with a total significance $>20σ$ at energies above 350 GeV in about 200 hours of observations. The exposure covers now almost the entire orbital period of 315 days including the flux enhancements at phases $\approx$0.35 and, for the first time, detected with VERITAS…
HESS J0632+057 is an unidentified gamma-ray source located in the Monoceros region, probably associated with the massive Be star MWC 148. H.E.S.S. and VERITAS observations in the very high energy (VHE) range combined with Swift X-ray data indicate that this object is a new member of the elusive gamma-ray binary class. We present here results of VHE gamma-ray observations from VERITAS and HESS at energies above 100 GeV taken over more than six years. The observations confirm HESS J0632+057 as a point-like VHE source with a significance of more than 12 standard deviations. The VHE gamma-ray resu…
The gamma-ray binary HESSJ0632+057 (VERJ0633+057) has been observed at very-high energies for a decade by all major systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. We present here new observations taken by the VERITAS observatory during the season 2015-2016. The observations cover now all phases of the binary orbit (with its period of about 315 days), showing clearly enhancements around phases 0.35 and 0.75. The results are discussed along with simultaneous observations with Swift's X-Ray Telescope.
HESS J0632+057 is one of only two unidentified high energy gamma-ray sources which appear to be point-like in nature. It is possibly associated with the massive star MWC 148 and has been suggested to resemble known TeV binary systems like LS I +61 303 or LS 5039. These binaries are rare and extreme (only three TeV binaries are known to date), and their gamma-ray emission mechanism has not been understood. HESS J0632+057 was observed by VERITAS, an array of four 12 m imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Based on these observations we present evidence for variability…
The gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057 has been observed at very-high energies (E $>$ 100 GeV) for more than ten years by the major systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. We present a summary of results obtained with the H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS experiments based on roughly 440 h of observations in total. This includes a discussion of an unusually bright TeV outburst of HESS J0632+057 in January 2018. The updated gamma-ray light curve now covers all phases of the orbital period with significant detections in almost all orbital phases. Results are discussed in context with simult…
HESS J0632+057 has been recently identified as a new gamma-ray binary system. The source, located in the Monoceros region and associated with the massive Be star MWC 148, shows variability from radio to very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays, displaying a maximum of its non-thermal emission about 100 days after periastron passage (at orbital phases close to 0.3). We present here the results obtained with the VERITAS and H.E.S.S Cherenkov telescopes spanning a wide time interval from 2004 to 2012. The source is detected at TeV gamma-rays at a high significance level at orbital phase 0.3. We also rep…
HESS J1943+213 is a very high energy (VHE; 100 GeV) γ-ray source in the direction of the Galactic plane. 38 hours of deep VERITAS observations taken over two seasons detect the source with ~20 σ significance. Monitoring observations of HESS J1943+213 show a remarkably stable flux and spectrum in VHE γ-rays. Studies exploring the classification of HESS J1943+213 are converging towards accepting the source as an extreme synchrotron BL Lac object. Specifically, overall SED characteristics of the source, the detection of a potential host galaxy in near-IR imaging, and VLBI observations of the HESS…
The H.E.S.S. Galactic plane scan has revealed a large population of Galactic very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) emitters. The majority of the galactic sources are extended and can typically be associated with pulsar wind nebulae (35%) and supernova remnants (21%), while some of the sources remain unidentified (31%). A much smaller fraction of point-like sources (5 in total, corresponding to 4%) are identified as gamma-ray binaries. Active galactic nuclei located behind the Galactic plane are also a potential source class. An active galaxy could be identified in the VHE regime by a point-like …
HESS J0632+057 is a gamma-ray binary composed of a compact object and a Be star, with an orbital period of about 315 days. The actual nature of its non-thermal emission, spanning from radio to very-high-energy (VHE, >100 GeV) gamma-rays, is currently unknown. In this contribution we will present the results of a set of simultaneous observations performed by the NuSTAR X-ray telescope and the VERITAS observatory. The combination of hard X-rays (3-30 keV) and VHE gamma-rays (0.1-5 TeV) provide valuable information for the understanding of the radiative processes occurring in the system. The spec…
Gamma-ray binaries are variable sources of GeV-to-TeV photons with the peak in their spectral energy distributions above 100 MeV. There are only five Galactic gamma-ray binaries known and the processes which govern particle acceleration, non-thermal emission and the variability patterns are not well understood. We present here for the first time results of the VERITAS binary discovery program at VHE energies and a summary of eleven years of observations of the gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057. VERITAS has acquired more than 220 hours of observations on HESS J0632+057. The results are discussed …
Since the commissioning of the array in Spring 2007, the VERITAS array (sensitive in the 0.1-50 TeV energy range) has acquired over 300 hours of observations investigating the TeV emission from X-ray binary star systems, in particular focusing on the known TeV binary targets LS I +61 303 and HESS J0632+057. Both TeV binaries have been monitored by VERITAS for several years and the resulting dataset is continuing to yield important results in the characterization of these poorly understood systems. We present these results, as well as the contemporaneous observations of these sources taken with…
The search for Dark Matter (DM) has great potential to reveal physics beyond the Standard Model. As such, searches for evidence of DM particles are being carried out using a wide range of techniques, such as direct searches for DM particles, searches for DM produced with colliders, and indirect searches for the Standard Model annihilation products of DM. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are excellent targets for indirect Dark Matter searches due to their relatively high DM content and negligible expected astrophysical background. A collaboration was formed to maximise the sensitivity of DM se…
HESS J0632+057 belongs to a rare subclass of binary systems which emits gamma-rays above 100 GeV. It stands out for its distinctive high-energy light curve, which features a sharp ``primary'' peak and broader ``secondary'' peak. We present the results of contemporaneous observations by NuSTAR and VERITAS during the secondary peak between Dec. 2019 and Feb. 2020, when the orbital phase ($ϕ$) is between 0.55 and 0.75. NuSTAR detected X-ray spectral evolution, while VERITAS detected TeV emission. We fit a leptonic wind-collision model to the multi-wavelength spectra data obtained over the four Nu…
Non-thermal variable emission from radio to very-high energy gamma rays (VHE; >100 GeV) are the prime characteristics of gamma-ray binaries. The underlying physical processes leading to the observed VHE emission are not well understood, as even the most basic features of these systems are under dispute (microquasar model vs shocked pulsar wind model). VHE binaries can be difficult to observe, some have orbital periods of the order of years (e.g. HESS J0632+057 or PSR B1259-69) or show irregular emission patterns as observed in LS I +61 303. We present here new VERITAS observations of the binar…
A Multiwavelength Interpretation of HESS J1857+026 Emission Using the Fermi-LAT, VERITAS, and HAWC Observatories
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center（美国国家航空航天局戈达德太空飞行中心）；University of Maryland（马里兰大学）；DePauw University（迪堡大学）；Temple University（天普大学）；University of Utah（犹他大学）；University College Dublin（都柏林大学学院）；University of California, Los Angeles（加州大学洛杉矶分校）；California Polytechnic State University（加州州立理工大学）
Located in southern Arizona, VERITAS is amongst the most sensitive detectors for astrophysical very high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma rays and has been operational since April 2007. We highlight some recent results from VERITAS observations. These include the long-term observations of the gamma-ray binaries HESS J0632+057 and LS I +61° 303, the observations of the Galactic Center region, and of the supernova remnant Cas~A. We discuss the results from a decade of multi-wavelength observations of the blazar 1ES 1215+303, the EHT 2017 campaign on the M87 galaxy, the discovery of 3C 264 in VHE, a…
HESS J0632+057 is a gamma-ray binary composed of a compact object orbiting a Be star with a period of about $315$ days. Extensive X-ray and TeV gamma-ray observations have revealed a peculiar light curve containing two peaks, separated by a dip. We present the results of simultaneous observations in hard X-rays with NuSTAR and in TeV gamma-rays with VERITAS, performed in November and December 2017. These observations correspond to the orbital phases $ϕ\approx0.22$ and $0.3$, where the fluxes are rising towards the first light-curve peak. A significant variation of the spectral index from 1.77$…
Due to its extraordinarily high concentration of known relativistic particle accelerators such as pulsar wind nebula, supernova remnants, dense molecular cloud regions, and the supermassive black hole (Sgr A*); the center of the Milky Way galaxy has long been an ideal target for high energy (HE, 0.1-100 GeV) and very high energy ( VHE, 50 GeV-50 TeV) gamma-ray emission. Indeed, detections of Sgr A* and other nearby regions of gamma-ray emission have been reported by EGRET and Fermi-LAT in the HE band, as well as CANGAROO, Whipple, HESS, VERITAS, and MAGIC in the VHE band. Here we report on the…
VERITAS is a major ground-based detector of very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma rays and cosmic rays. VERITAS consists of an ar- ray of four 12m-diameter atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that has been fully operational since September 2007. VERITAS has detected many as- trophysical sources of VHE gamma rays, including at least 17 VHE sources that are likely Galactic in origin. This paper describes some of the Galactic source highlights from VERITAS with an emphasis on those aspects that relate to the origin of cosmic rays. Specifically, topics include the VERITAS discovery of VHE emissio…
Cosmic-ray electrons and positrons (CREs) at GeV-TeV energies are a unique probe of our local Galactic neighbourhood. CREs lose energy rapidly via inverse Compton scattering and synchrotron processes while propagating in the Galaxy, effectively placing a maximal propagation distance for TeV electrons of order ~1 kpc. Within this window, detected CREs can come from only a handful of known, nearby astrophysical sources capable of exciting CREs to that energy or from more exotic production mechanisms, like particle dark matter. HESS, and later MAGIC, have shown that ground-based imaging atmospher…
We report on the VERITAS detection of very-high-energy (VHE, $E > 100~\mathrm{GeV}$) $γ$-ray emission from the optically bright quasar OJ 287 which is located at a redshift of z = 0.306. OJ 287 has been observed to display regular optical outbursts with a period of approximately 12 years, with the last major optical outburst having occurred in 2015. To explain this periodicity, models involving a binary supermassive black hole system at the core of OJ 287, or a helical jet, have been developed. Motivated by elevated Swift-XRT count rates, VERITAS observed OJ 287 in February 2017, and detected …
HESS J0632+057 is one of only two unidentified very-high-energy gamma-ray sources which appear to be point-like within experimental resolution. It is possibly associated with the massive Be star MWC 148 and has been suggested to resemble known TeV binary systems like LS I +61 303 or LS 5039. HESS J0632+057 was observed by VERITAS for 31 hours in 2006, 2008 and 2009. During these observations, no significant signal in gamma rays with energies above 1 TeV was detected from the direction of HESS J0632+057. A flux upper limit corresponding to 1.1% of the flux of the Crab Nebula has been derived fr…
The Galactic Center region hosts a variety of powerful astronomical sources and rare astrophysical processes that emit a large flux of non-thermal radiation. We present the analysis of the very-high-energy gamma-ray emission above 2 TeV of the region around the Galactic Center known as the Central Molecular Zone using 125 hours of data taken with the VERITAS imaging-atmospheric Cherenkov telescope between 2010 and 2018. This analysis employs new shower reconstruction algorithms and instrument response functions optimized for data taken at large zenith angles such as the Galactic Center sources…
VERITAS is an array of four 12-m imaging Cherenkov telescopes, sensitive to gamma rays in the energy range from 85 GeV to 30 TeV. VERITAS dedicates roughly 40% of its total observing time to blazars. We present recent highlights from the VERITAS blazar discovery and long-term monitoring programs. These observations have led to 25 blazar detections, including 10 VHE discoveries. The VERITAS cameras were recently upgraded, lowering the energy threshold and enhancing the sensitivity. This upgrade helped to establish four new blazar detections with data taken after the completion of the upgrade in…
The VERITAS array of four 12-m imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes began full-scale operations in 2007, and is one of the world's most sensitive detectors of astrophysical very high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma rays. Observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are a major focus of the VERITAS Collaboration, and more than 60 AGN, primarily blazars, are known to emit VHE photons. Approximately 4000 hours have been devoted to the VERITAS AGN observation program, resulting in 34 detections. Most of these detections are accompanied by contemporaneous, broadband observations, enabling a more …
Supernova remnants (SNRs) are widely considered the most likely source of cosmic rays below the knee ($10^{15}$ eV). Studies of GeV and TeV gamma-ray emission in the vicinity of SNRs, in combination with multi-wavelength observations, can trace and constrain the nature of the charged particle population believed to be accelerated within SNR shocks. They may also speak to the diffusion and propagation of these energetic particles and to the nature of the acceleration mechanisms involved. We report here on the discoveries and interpretation of VHE gamma-ray emission from G120.1+1.4 (Tycho's SNR)…
VERITAS is one of the world's most sensitive detectors of astrophysical VHE (Very High Energy; E > 100 GeV) gamma rays. This array of four 12-m imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes has operated for ~10 years, and nearly 5000 hours of observations have been targeted on active galactic nuclei (AGN). These studies of blazars and radio galaxies have resulted in 36 detections. Most of these detections are accompanied by contemporaneous, broadband observations, which enable detailed studies of the underlying jet-powered processes. Recent highlights from the VERITAS AGN observation program and sc…
The H.E.S.S. extended Galactic plane survey revealed the presence of a new extended TeV gamma-ray source, HESSJ1503-582, with no obvious counterpart at other wavelengths. The source is, however, coincident with an HI structure with a velocity significantly different from that of galactic rotation - a so-called "Forbidden Velocity Wing". These structures have been suggested as the fast moving shells and filaments associated with the oldest supernova remnants in our galaxy. The detection of TeV gamma-ray emission from these structures might indicate that supernova remnants remain efficient parti…
In this white paper, submitted as a part of Snowmass 2013 (subgroup CF2), we examine the current status and future prospects of the VERITAS indirect dark matter detection program. The VERITAS array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), sensitive in the 0.1-50 TeV regime, is in the process of completing a multi-year program aimed at detecting signatures of neutralino dark matter. This program is spread out over a range of astrophysical targets which can potentially yield definitive signatures of neutralino self-annihilation such as dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) and the center…
We discuss the recent detection of pulsed gamma-ray emission from the Crab Pulsar above 100 GeV with the VERITAS array of atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Gamma-ray emission at theses energies is not expected in present pulsar models. We find that the photon spectrum of pulsed emission between 100 MeV and 400 GeV can be described by a broken power law, and that it is statistically preferred over a power law with an exponential cut-off. In the VERITAS energy range the spectrum can be described with a simple power law with a spectral index of -3.8 and a flux normalization at 150 GeV that is equ…
The variable gamma-ray source HESS J0632+057 is an excellent candidate for a gamma-ray binary. The putative binary system was discovered as a point-like VHE gamma-ray source by HESS. Later measurements by VERITAS yielding no detection, provided evidence for variable emission in the gamma-ray domain. A variable X-ray source as well as a Be star (MWC 148) are found at the location of the gamma-ray source. Recently a periodic X-ray outburst occurring about every 320 days was reported by Swift (ATel 3152). The putative binary system was observed by the MAGIC stereo system in 2010 and 2011. Our mea…
VERITAS, an array of atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes sensitive to gamma rays in the very-high-energy range (VHE, E > 100 GeV), carries out an extensive multimessenger program focused on the search for electromagnetic counterparts to high-energy neutrinos and gravitational waves. As both neutrinos and gamma rays are expected to be produced in hadronic interactions near cosmic ray accelerators, the detection of a gamma-ray source in temporal and spatial coincidence with the arrival of astrophysical neutrinos could reveal cosmic ray sources and provide insights into their properties. The detecti…
The VERITAS VHE gamma-ray observatory recently completed a major upgrade of its camera and pattern triggering systems. Bias curve testing of the upgraded VERITAS Observatory under dark sky conditions indicates a 50% increase in photon detection efficiency, and a 30% reduction in triggering threshold. Optimization of analysis of the Crab nebula observations performed in late 2012 and early 2013 is ongoing. A comparison of these results with pre-upgrade Crab observations can provide the most direct method for quantifying the impact of the upgrade on VERITAS sensitivity and energy threshold.
Most of the ~50 blazars detected to date at TeV energies (E>0.1 TeV) are high-frequency-peaked BL Lacs (HBLs). Only a handful episodic TeV detections of low- and intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacs (LBL/IBLs, with synchrotron peak frequencies in the infrared and optical regime) have been reported, typically during high-flux states. The VERITAS array, a ground-based TeV observatory located in southern Arizona has observed five known TeV LBL/IBLs since 2009: 3C 66A, W Comae, PKS 1424+240, S5 0716+714 and BL Lacertae, with at least 5-10 hours/year, which so far resulted in the detection of a br…
The VERITAS array of four 12-m diameter imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes in southern Arizona is used to study very high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from astrophysical objects. VERITAS is currently the most sensitive VHE gamma-ray observatory in the world and one of the VERITAS collaboration's Key Science Projects (KSP) is the study of blazars. These active galactic nuclei (AGN) are the most numerous class of identified VHE sources, with ~30 known to emit VHE photons. More than 70 AGN, almost all of which are blazars, have been observed with the VERITAS array since 2007, …
VERITAS is a ground-based gamma-ray observatory that uses the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique and operates in the very high-energy (VHE) region of the gamma- ray spectrum from 100 GeV to 50 TeV. The observatory consists of an array of four 12m-diameter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes located in southern Arizona, USA. The four-telescope array has been fully operational since September 2007, and over the last two years, VERITAS has been operating with high reliability and sensitivity. It is currently one of the most sensitive VHE observatories. This paper summarizes the status o…
Intermediate-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae objects (IBLs) are a class of blazars characterized by a spectral energy distribution (SED) with a lower-energy synchrotron peak than the majority of extragalactic sources detected by ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). Consequently, the peak gamma-ray flux falls outside the very-high-energy regime (VHE, >100 GeV) covered by IACTs such as VERITAS, making IBLs difficult to detect except during infrequent episodes of elevated flux. However, the study of these sources in a low-flux state is essential for developing a complete un…
It has been postulated that globular clusters could be sources of Very-High Energy (VHE) gamma rays, powered by milli-second pulsars. This could be due to cumulative direct emission or to plerion-type emission driven by colliding winds. In particular the southern hemisphere globular cluster 47 Tuc has been singled out as a potential source in both models. In light of the recent detection by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) of 47 Tuc, the first detection of any globular cluster as a gamma-ray source, we present the results of observations of northern hemisphere globular clusters by VE…
CTA 1 (G119.5+10.2) is a composite supernova remnant (SNR) with a shell-type structure in the radio band and a center filled morphology at X-ray energies. Fermi has detected a radio-quiet pulsar PSR J0007+7303 within the radio shell of CTA 1 in a blind search within its first months of operation. Located within an X-ray synchrotron pulsar wind nebula (PWN), the Fermi source is spatially coincident with the EGRET source 3EG J0010+7309. We present the the detection of the system in very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays by VERITAS, with a preliminary comparison to other TeV-detected PWNe.
The TeV binary system \lsi has a compact object in an eccentric orbit around a Be star about 2 kpc from Earth. \lsi exhibits modulated gamma-ray emission around its 26.5 days orbit, mostly detectable at TeV energies around its apastron passage, with maximum flux during the $ϕ= 0.55-0.65$ phase range. Multiple flaring episodes with nightly flux variability at TeV energies have been observed since its detection in 2006. At one time significant TeV emission was also detected in late 2010 from the source close to its periastron passage at superior conjunction. The TeV spectrum is well fitted by a …
Ground-based $γ$-ray observatories, such as the VERITAS array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, provide insight into very-high-energy (VHE, $\mathrm{E}>100\,\mathrm{GeV}$) astrophysical transient events. Examples include the evaporation of primordial black holes, gamma-ray bursts and flaring blazars. Identifying such events with a serendipitous location and time of occurrence is difficult. Thus, employing a robust search method becomes crucial. An implementation of a transient detection method based on deep-learning techniques for VERITAS will be presented. This data-driven approach…
The Geminga gamma ray source was first detected by the SAS-2 gamma-ray satellite observatory and the COS-B x-ray satellite observatory, and has been identified as a radio-quiet pulsar associated with a 300,000 year old supernova remnant. Geminga is one of the brightest GeV sources as seen by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi gamma-ray satellite observatory. A ground based detection was accomplished by the Milagro extensive air shower array at energies greater than 20 TeV. During 2007 VERITAS performed observations to search for TeV gamma ray emission from the Geminga pulsar and the r…
Geminga was first detected as a gamma-ray point source by the SAS-2 gamma-ray satellite observatory and the COS-B X-ray satellite observatory. Subsequent observations have identified Geminga as a heavily obscured radio-quiet pulsar associated with a nearby (250 pc) late Sedov phase (300,000 year) supernova remnant. The Geminga pulsar is the second brightest source detected by the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi gamma-ray satellite (Fermi-LAT) and has been frequently advanced as a source of the anomalous excess of cosmic ray positrons reported by PAMELA, Fermi-LAT, and AMS-2. It is surrou…
VERITAS is an array of four 12-m diameter imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes located in southern Arizona. Its aim is to study the very high energy (VHE: E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from astrophysical objects. In addition to the study of blazars, the VERITAS extragalactic science program develops a comprehensive observational program of extragalactic non-blazar sources. The study of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) is intensively pursued through the large MWL observational campaign on non-blazar radio galaxies. The success of these MWL campaigns has for the first time provided insights to…
Geminga is a nearby (250 pc) middle-aged (spin-down time scale ~12,000 years) pulsar associated with a supernova remnant. Geminga has been a prime candidate for the origin of the unexpectedly high flux of cosmic-ray positrons above 10 GeV detected at Earth. Extended TeV gamma-ray emission from a 2-degree region around the Geminga pulsar was detected by the HAWC observatory, thus suggesting efficient, high-energy leptonic acceleration. Fermi-LAT observations show that the density of GeV leptons in the TeV nebula is lower than predicted by single zone and two zone diffusion models constrained wi…
Current cosmological models and data suggest the existence of a Cold Dark Matter (DM) component, however the nature of DM particles remains unknown. A favored candidate for DM is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) in the mass range from 50 GeV to greater than 10 TeV. Nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSph) are expected to contain a high density of Dark Matter with a low gamma-ray background, and are thus promising targets for the detection of secondary gamma rays at very high energies (VHE, E > 0.1 TeV) through the annihilation of WIMPS into SM particles. Presented here are recent VE…
The VERITAS gamma ray observatory (Amado, AZ, veritas.sao.arizona.edu) uses the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique (IACT) to study sources of Very High Energy (VHE: E > 100 GeV) gamma rays. Key science results from the first three years of observation include the discovery of the first VHE emitting starburst galaxy, detection of new Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), SuperNova Remnants (SNR), gamma ray binaries as well as strong limits on the emission of VHE gamma rays from dark matter annihilation in dwarf galaxies. In April 2010, VERITAS received funding to upgrade the photomultiplier tube c…
During May 2013, a gamma-ray flare from the BL Lac object 1ES 1727+502 (z=0.055) has been detected with the VERITAS Cherenkov telescopes. This detection represents the first evidence of very-high-energy (E>100 GeV) variability from this blazar and has been achieved using a reduced-high-voltage configuration which allows observations under bright moonlight. The integral flux is about five times higher than the archival VHE flux measured by MAGIC. The detection triggered additional VERITAS observations during standard dark-time and multiwavelength observations from infrared to X-rays with the FL…
HESS J1943+213 is a very-high-energy (VHE; $>$100 GeV) $γ$-ray source in the direction of the Galactic Plane. Studies exploring the classification of the source are converging towards its identification as an extreme synchrotron BL Lac object. Here we present 38 hours of VERITAS observations of HESS J1943+213 taken over two years. The source is detected with $\sim$20 standard deviations significance, showing a remarkably stable flux and spectrum in VHE $γ$-rays. Multi-frequency very-long-baseline array (VLBA) observations of the source confirm the extended, jet-like structure previously found …
The Cygnus region of the Galactic plane is a promising target for high-energy and very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray telescopes as it is home to many potential sources, such as supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, X-ray binaries and massive star clusters. The VHE gamma-ray observatory VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is an array of four 12 m diameter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes located at Mt. Hopkins, AZ, USA. Over the period of 2007 to 2012, VERITAS has carried out extensive observations in the direction of Cygnus. These observations were initia…
We report the detection of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from supernova remnant (SNR) G106.3+2.7. Observations performed in 2008 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cherenkov gamma-ray telescope resolve extended emission overlapping the elongated radio SNR. The 7.3 sigma (pre-trials) detection has a full angular extent of roughly 0.6deg by 0.4deg. Most notably, the centroid of the VHE emission is centered near the peak of the coincident 12CO (J = 1-0) emission, 0.4deg away from the pulsar PSR J2229+6114, situated at the northern end of the SNR. Evidently the current-epoch particles from t…
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 utilizi…
Current cosmological models and data suggest the existence of a cold Dark Matter (DM) component, however the nature of DM particles remains unknown. A favored candidate for DM is a Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) in the mass range of 50 GeV to greater than 10 TeV. Nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are expected to contain a high density of DM with a low gamma-ray background, and are thus promising targets for the detection of secondary gamma rays at very high energies (VHE, E > 0.1 TeV) through the annihilation of WIMPs into Standard Model (SM) particles. The VERITAS array of …
In recent years, the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray telescope has detected a population of over 160 gamma-ray pulsars, which has enabled the detailed study of electromagnetic radiation from pulsars at energies above 100 MeV. Further, since the surprising detection of the Crab pulsar in very high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma rays by the MAGIC and VERITAS collaborations, there has been an ongoing effort in the astrophysics community to detect new pulsars in the VHE band. However, the Crab remains the only pulsar so far detected in VHE gamma rays, raising the question of whether or not the Crab is unique…
