Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

J. Albert; E. Aliu; H. Anderhub; L. A. Antonelli; P. Antoranz; M. Backes; C. Baixeras; J. A. Barrio; H. Bartko; D. Bastieri; J. K. Becker; W. Bednarek; K. Berger; E. Bernardini; C. Bigongiari; A. Biland; R. K. Bock; G. Bonnoli; P. Bordas; V. Bosch-Ramon; T. Bretz; I. Britvitch; M. Camara; E. Carmona; A. Chilingarian; S. Commichau; J. L. Contreras; J. Cortina; M. T. Costado; S. Covino; V. Curtef; F. Dazzi; A. De Angelis; E. De Cea del Pozo; C. Delgado Mendez; R. de los Reyes; B. De Lotto; M. De Maria; F. De Sabata; A. Dominguez; D. Dorner; M. Doro; M. Errando; M. Fagiolini; D. Ferenc; E. Fernández; R. Firpo; M. V. Fonseca; L. Font; N. Galante; R. J. García López; M. Garczarczyk; M. Gaug; F. Goebel; M. Hayashida; A. Herrero; D. Höhne; J. Hose; C. C. Hsu; S. Huber; T. Jogler; D. Kranich; A. La Barbera; A. Laille; E. Leonardo; E. Lindfors; S. Lombardi; F. Longo; M. López; E. Lorenz; P. Majumdar; G. Maneva; N. Mankuzhiyil; K. Mannheim; L. Maraschi; M. Mariotti; M. Martínez; D. Mazin; M. Meucci; M. Meyer; J. M. Miranda; R. Mirzoyan; M. Moles; A. Moralejo; D. Nieto; K. Nilsson; J. Ninkovic; N. Otte; I. Oya; M. Panniello; R. Paoletti; J. M. Paredes; M. Pasanen; D. Pascoli; F. Pauss; R. G. Pegna; M. A. Perez-Torres; M. Persic; L. Peruzzo; A. Piccioli; F. Prada; E. Prandini; N. Puchades; A. Raymers; W. Rhode; M. Ribó; J. Rico; M. Rissi; A. Robert; S. Rügamer; A. Saggion; T. Y. Saito; M. Salvati; M. Sanchez-Conde; P. Sartori; K. Satalecka; V. Scalzotto; V. Scapin; R. Schmitt; T. Schweizer; M. Shayduk; K. Shinozaki; N. Sidro; A. Sierpowska-Bartosik; A. Sillanpää; D. Sobczynska; F. Spanier; A. Stamerra; L. S. Stark; L. Takalo; F. Tavecchio; P. Temnikov; D. Tescaro; M. Teshima; M. Tluczykont; D. F. Torres; N. Turini; H. Vankov; A. Venturini; V. Vitale; R. M. Wagner; W. Wittek; V. Zabalza; F. Zandanel; R. Zanin; J. Zapatero; John Ellis; N. E. Mavromatos; D. V. Nanopoulos; A. S. Sakharov; E. K.G. Sarkisyan

doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

J. Albert
, E. Aliu
, H. Anderhub
, L. A. Antonelli
, P. Antoranz
, M. Backes
, C. Baixeras
, J. A. Barrio
, H. Bartko
, D. Bastieri
, J. K. Becker
, W. Bednarek
, K. Berger
, E. Bernardini
, C. Bigongiari
, A. Biland
, R. K. Bock
, G. Bonnoli
, P. Bordas
, V. Bosch-Ramon

T. Bretz, I. Britvitch, M. Camara, E. Carmona, A. Chilingarian, S. Commichau, J. L. Contreras, J. Cortina, M. T. Costado, S. Covino, V. Curtef, F. Dazzi, A. De Angelis, E. De Cea del Pozo, C. Delgado Mendez, R. de los Reyes, B. De Lotto, M. De Maria, F. De Sabata, A. Dominguez, D. Dorner, M. Doro, M. Errando, M. Fagiolini, D. Ferenc, E. Fernández, R. Firpo, M. V. Fonseca, L. Font, N. Galante, R. J. García López, M. Garczarczyk, M. Gaug, F. Goebel, M. Hayashida, A. Herrero, D. Höhne, J. Hose, C. C. Hsu, S. Huber, T. Jogler, D. Kranich, A. La Barbera, A. Laille, E. Leonardo, E. Lindfors, S. Lombardi, F. Longo, M. López, E. Lorenz, P. Majumdar, G. Maneva, N. Mankuzhiyil, K. Mannheim, L. Maraschi, M. Mariotti, M. Martínez, D. Mazin, M. Meucci, M. Meyer, J. M. Miranda, R. Mirzoyan, M. Moles, A. Moralejo, D. Nieto, K. Nilsson, J. Ninkovic, N. Otte, I. Oya, M. Panniello, R. Paoletti, J. M. Paredes, M. Pasanen, D. Pascoli, F. Pauss, R. G. Pegna, M. A. Perez-Torres, M. Persic, L. Peruzzo, A. Piccioli, F. Prada, E. Prandini, N. Puchades, A. Raymers, W. Rhode, M. Ribó, J. Rico, M. Rissi, A. Robert, S. Rügamer, A. Saggion, T. Y. Saito, M. Salvati, M. Sanchez-Conde, P. Sartori, K. Satalecka, V. Scalzotto, V. Scapin, R. Schmitt, T. Schweizer, M. Shayduk, K. Shinozaki, N. Sidro, A. Sierpowska-Bartosik, A. Sillanpää, D. Sobczynska, F. Spanier, A. Stamerra, L. S. Stark, L. Takalo, F. Tavecchio, P. Temnikov, D. Tescaro, M. Teshima, M. Tluczykont, D. F. Torres, N. Turini, H. Vankov, A. Venturini, V. Vitale, R. M. Wagner, W. Wittek, V. Zabalza, F. Zandanel, R. Zanin, J. Zapatero, John Ellis, N. E. Mavromatos, D. V. Nanopoulos, A. S. Sakharov, E. K.G. Sarkisyan

Department of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

239 Scopus citations

Abstract

We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index ≃ 1 + (E / M_QGn)ⁿ, n = 1, 2. Parametrizing the delay between γ-rays of different energies as Δ t = ± τ_l E or Δ t = ± τ_q E², we find τ_l = (0.030 ± 0.012) s / GeV at the 2.5-σ level, and τ_q = (3.71 ± 2.57) × 10^-6 s / GeV², respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits M_{QG 1} > 0.21 × 10¹⁸ GeV and M_{QG 2} > 0.26 × 10¹¹ GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	253-257
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
Volume	668
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053
State	Published - Oct 16 2008

Keywords

Active galactic nuclei
Gamma-ray sources (Individual: Mkn 501)
Particle acceleration
Quantum gravity
Supersymmetric models

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10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

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Albert, J., Aliu, E., Anderhub, H., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Backes, M., Baixeras, C., Barrio, J. A., Bartko, H., Bastieri, D., Becker, J. K., Bednarek, W., Berger, K., Bernardini, E., Bigongiari, C., Biland, A., Bock, R. K., Bonnoli, G., Bordas, P., ... Sarkisyan, E. K. G. (2008). Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope. Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics, 668(4), 253-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

@article{aeac12c47695491cb134df90616cd4b9,

title = "Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope",

abstract = "We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index ≃ 1 + (E / MQGn)n, n = 1, 2. Parametrizing the delay between γ-rays of different energies as Δ t = ± τl E or Δ t = ± τq E2, we find τl = (0.030 ± 0.012) s / GeV at the 2.5-σ level, and τq = (3.71 ± 2.57) × 10-6 s / GeV2, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits MQG 1 > 0.21 × 1018 GeV and MQG 2 > 0.26 × 1011 GeV at the 95\% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.",

keywords = "Active galactic nuclei, Gamma-ray sources (Individual: Mkn 501), Particle acceleration, Quantum gravity, Supersymmetric models",

author = "J. Albert and E. Aliu and H. Anderhub and Antonelli, \{L. A.\} and P. Antoranz and M. Backes and C. Baixeras and Barrio, \{J. A.\} and H. Bartko and D. Bastieri and Becker, \{J. K.\} and W. Bednarek and K. Berger and E. Bernardini and C. Bigongiari and A. Biland and Bock, \{R. K.\} and G. Bonnoli and P. Bordas and V. Bosch-Ramon and T. Bretz and I. Britvitch and M. Camara and E. Carmona and A. Chilingarian and S. Commichau and Contreras, \{J. L.\} and J. Cortina and Costado, \{M. T.\} and S. Covino and V. Curtef and F. Dazzi and \{De Angelis\}, A. and \{De Cea del Pozo\}, E. and \{Delgado Mendez\}, C. and \{de los Reyes\}, R. and \{De Lotto\}, B. and \{De Maria\}, M. and \{De Sabata\}, F. and A. Dominguez and D. Dorner and M. Doro and M. Errando and M. Fagiolini and D. Ferenc and E. Fern{\'a}ndez and R. Firpo and Fonseca, \{M. V.\} and L. Font and N. Galante and \{Garc{\'i}a L{\'o}pez\}, \{R. J.\} and M. Garczarczyk and M. Gaug and F. Goebel and M. Hayashida and A. Herrero and D. H{\"o}hne and J. Hose and Hsu, \{C. C.\} and S. Huber and T. Jogler and D. Kranich and \{La Barbera\}, A. and A. Laille and E. Leonardo and E. Lindfors and S. Lombardi and F. Longo and M. L{\'o}pez and E. Lorenz and P. Majumdar and G. Maneva and N. Mankuzhiyil and K. Mannheim and L. Maraschi and M. Mariotti and M. Mart{\'i}nez and D. Mazin and M. Meucci and M. Meyer and Miranda, \{J. M.\} and R. Mirzoyan and M. Moles and A. Moralejo and D. Nieto and K. Nilsson and J. Ninkovic and N. Otte and I. Oya and M. Panniello and R. Paoletti and Paredes, \{J. M.\} and M. Pasanen and D. Pascoli and F. Pauss and Pegna, \{R. G.\} and Perez-Torres, \{M. A.\} and M. Persic and L. Peruzzo and A. Piccioli and F. Prada and E. Prandini and N. Puchades and A. Raymers and W. Rhode and M. Rib{\'o} and J. Rico and M. Rissi and A. Robert and S. R{\"u}gamer and A. Saggion and Saito, \{T. Y.\} and M. Salvati and M. Sanchez-Conde and P. Sartori and K. Satalecka and V. Scalzotto and V. Scapin and R. Schmitt and T. Schweizer and M. Shayduk and K. Shinozaki and N. Sidro and A. Sierpowska-Bartosik and A. Sillanp{\"a}{\"a} and D. Sobczynska and F. Spanier and A. Stamerra and Stark, \{L. S.\} and L. Takalo and F. Tavecchio and P. Temnikov and D. Tescaro and M. Teshima and M. Tluczykont and Torres, \{D. F.\} and N. Turini and H. Vankov and A. Venturini and V. Vitale and Wagner, \{R. M.\} and W. Wittek and V. Zabalza and F. Zandanel and R. Zanin and J. Zapatero and John Ellis and Mavromatos, \{N. E.\} and Nanopoulos, \{D. V.\} and Sakharov, \{A. S.\} and Sarkisyan, \{E. K.G.\}",

year = "2008",

month = oct,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053",

language = "English",

volume = "668",

pages = "253--257",

journal = "Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics",

issn = "0370-2693",

number = "4",

}

Albert, J, Aliu, E, Anderhub, H, Antonelli, LA, Antoranz, P, Backes, M, Baixeras, C, Barrio, JA, Bartko, H, Bastieri, D, Becker, JK, Bednarek, W, Berger, K, Bernardini, E, Bigongiari, C, Biland, A, Bock, RK, Bonnoli, G, Bordas, P, Bosch-Ramon, V, Bretz, T, Britvitch, I, Camara, M, Carmona, E, Chilingarian, A, Commichau, S, Contreras, JL, Cortina, J, Costado, MT, Covino, S, Curtef, V, Dazzi, F, De Angelis, A, De Cea del Pozo, E, Delgado Mendez, C, de los Reyes, R, De Lotto, B, De Maria, M, De Sabata, F, Dominguez, A, Dorner, D, Doro, M, Errando, M, Fagiolini, M, Ferenc, D, Fernández, E, Firpo, R, Fonseca, MV, Font, L, Galante, N, García López, RJ, Garczarczyk, M, Gaug, M, Goebel, F, Hayashida, M, Herrero, A, Höhne, D, Hose, J, Hsu, CC, Huber, S, Jogler, T, Kranich, D, La Barbera, A, Laille, A, Leonardo, E, Lindfors, E, Lombardi, S, Longo, F, López, M, Lorenz, E, Majumdar, P, Maneva, G, Mankuzhiyil, N, Mannheim, K, Maraschi, L, Mariotti, M, Martínez, M, Mazin, D, Meucci, M, Meyer, M, Miranda, JM, Mirzoyan, R, Moles, M, Moralejo, A, Nieto, D, Nilsson, K, Ninkovic, J, Otte, N, Oya, I, Panniello, M, Paoletti, R, Paredes, JM, Pasanen, M, Pascoli, D, Pauss, F, Pegna, RG, Perez-Torres, MA, Persic, M, Peruzzo, L, Piccioli, A, Prada, F, Prandini, E, Puchades, N, Raymers, A, Rhode, W, Ribó, M, Rico, J, Rissi, M, Robert, A, Rügamer, S, Saggion, A, Saito, TY, Salvati, M, Sanchez-Conde, M, Sartori, P, Satalecka, K, Scalzotto, V, Scapin, V, Schmitt, R, Schweizer, T, Shayduk, M, Shinozaki, K, Sidro, N, Sierpowska-Bartosik, A, Sillanpää, A, Sobczynska, D, Spanier, F, Stamerra, A, Stark, LS, Takalo, L, Tavecchio, F, Temnikov, P, Tescaro, D, Teshima, M, Tluczykont, M, Torres, DF, Turini, N, Vankov, H, Venturini, A, Vitale, V, Wagner, RM, Wittek, W, Zabalza, V, Zandanel, F, Zanin, R, Zapatero, J, Ellis, J, Mavromatos, NE, Nanopoulos, DV, Sakharov, AS & Sarkisyan, EKG 2008, 'Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope', Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics, vol. 668, no. 4, pp. 253-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

TY - JOUR

T1 - Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

AU - Albert, J.

AU - Aliu, E.

AU - Anderhub, H.

AU - Antonelli, L. A.

AU - Antoranz, P.

AU - Backes, M.

AU - Baixeras, C.

AU - Barrio, J. A.

AU - Bartko, H.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Becker, J. K.

AU - Bednarek, W.

AU - Berger, K.

AU - Bernardini, E.

AU - Bigongiari, C.

AU - Biland, A.

AU - Bock, R. K.

AU - Bonnoli, G.

AU - Bordas, P.

AU - Bosch-Ramon, V.

AU - Bretz, T.

AU - Britvitch, I.

AU - Camara, M.

AU - Carmona, E.

AU - Chilingarian, A.

AU - Commichau, S.

AU - Contreras, J. L.

AU - Cortina, J.

AU - Costado, M. T.

AU - Covino, S.

AU - Curtef, V.

AU - Dazzi, F.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - De Cea del Pozo, E.

AU - Delgado Mendez, C.

AU - de los Reyes, R.

AU - De Lotto, B.

AU - De Maria, M.

AU - De Sabata, F.

AU - Dominguez, A.

AU - Dorner, D.

AU - Doro, M.

AU - Errando, M.

AU - Fagiolini, M.

AU - Ferenc, D.

AU - Fernández, E.

AU - Firpo, R.

AU - Fonseca, M. V.

AU - Font, L.

AU - Galante, N.

AU - García López, R. J.

AU - Garczarczyk, M.

AU - Gaug, M.

AU - Goebel, F.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Herrero, A.

AU - Höhne, D.

AU - Hose, J.

AU - Hsu, C. C.

AU - Huber, S.

AU - Jogler, T.

AU - Kranich, D.

AU - La Barbera, A.

AU - Laille, A.

AU - Leonardo, E.

AU - Lindfors, E.

AU - Lombardi, S.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - López, M.

AU - Lorenz, E.

AU - Majumdar, P.

AU - Maneva, G.

AU - Mankuzhiyil, N.

AU - Mannheim, K.

AU - Maraschi, L.

AU - Mariotti, M.

AU - Martínez, M.

AU - Mazin, D.

AU - Meucci, M.

AU - Meyer, M.

AU - Miranda, J. M.

AU - Mirzoyan, R.

AU - Moles, M.

AU - Moralejo, A.

AU - Nieto, D.

AU - Nilsson, K.

AU - Ninkovic, J.

AU - Otte, N.

AU - Oya, I.

AU - Panniello, M.

AU - Paoletti, R.

AU - Paredes, J. M.

AU - Pasanen, M.

AU - Pascoli, D.

AU - Pauss, F.

AU - Pegna, R. G.

AU - Perez-Torres, M. A.

AU - Persic, M.

AU - Peruzzo, L.

AU - Piccioli, A.

AU - Prada, F.

AU - Prandini, E.

AU - Puchades, N.

AU - Raymers, A.

AU - Rhode, W.

AU - Ribó, M.

AU - Rico, J.

AU - Rissi, M.

AU - Robert, A.

AU - Rügamer, S.

AU - Saggion, A.

AU - Saito, T. Y.

AU - Salvati, M.

AU - Sanchez-Conde, M.

AU - Sartori, P.

AU - Satalecka, K.

AU - Scalzotto, V.

AU - Scapin, V.

AU - Schmitt, R.

AU - Schweizer, T.

AU - Shayduk, M.

AU - Shinozaki, K.

AU - Sidro, N.

AU - Sierpowska-Bartosik, A.

AU - Sillanpää, A.

AU - Sobczynska, D.

AU - Spanier, F.

AU - Stamerra, A.

AU - Stark, L. S.

AU - Takalo, L.

AU - Tavecchio, F.

AU - Temnikov, P.

AU - Tescaro, D.

AU - Teshima, M.

AU - Tluczykont, M.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Turini, N.

AU - Vankov, H.

AU - Venturini, A.

AU - Vitale, V.

AU - Wagner, R. M.

AU - Wittek, W.

AU - Zabalza, V.

AU - Zandanel, F.

AU - Zanin, R.

AU - Zapatero, J.

AU - Ellis, John

AU - Mavromatos, N. E.

AU - Nanopoulos, D. V.

AU - Sakharov, A. S.

AU - Sarkisyan, E. K.G.

PY - 2008/10/16

Y1 - 2008/10/16

N2 - We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index ≃ 1 + (E / MQGn)n, n = 1, 2. Parametrizing the delay between γ-rays of different energies as Δ t = ± τl E or Δ t = ± τq E2, we find τl = (0.030 ± 0.012) s / GeV at the 2.5-σ level, and τq = (3.71 ± 2.57) × 10-6 s / GeV2, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits MQG 1 > 0.21 × 1018 GeV and MQG 2 > 0.26 × 1011 GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

AB - We analyze the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC telescope during a flare of the active galactic nucleus Mkn 501 for a possible correlation with energy, as suggested by some models of quantum gravity (QG), which predict a vacuum refractive index ≃ 1 + (E / MQGn)n, n = 1, 2. Parametrizing the delay between γ-rays of different energies as Δ t = ± τl E or Δ t = ± τq E2, we find τl = (0.030 ± 0.012) s / GeV at the 2.5-σ level, and τq = (3.71 ± 2.57) × 10-6 s / GeV2, respectively. We use these results to establish lower limits MQG 1 > 0.21 × 1018 GeV and MQG 2 > 0.26 × 1011 GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

KW - Active galactic nuclei

KW - Gamma-ray sources (Individual: Mkn 501)

KW - Particle acceleration

KW - Quantum gravity

KW - Supersymmetric models

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/53149091239

U2 - 10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

DO - 10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:53149091239

SN - 0370-2693

VL - 668

SP - 253

EP - 257

JO - Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics

JF - Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics

IS - 4

ER -

Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

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