Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1

J. Albert; E. Aliu; H. Anderhub; P. Antoranz; A. Armada; C. Baixeras; J. A. Barrio; H. Bartko; D. Bastieri; J. K. Becker; W. Bednarek; K. Berger; C. Bigongiari; A. Biland; R. K. Bock; P. Bordas; V. Bosch-Ramon; T. Bretz; I. Britvitch; M. Camara; E. Carmona; A. Chilingarian; J. A. Coarasa; S. Commichau; J. L. Contreras; J. Cortina; M. T. Costado; V. Curtef; V. Danielyan; F. Dazzi; A. De Angelis; C. Delgado; R. De Los Reyes; B. De Lotto; E. Domingo-Santamaría; D. Dorner; M. Doro; M. Errando; M. Fagiolini; D. Ferenc; E. Fernández; R. Firpo; J. Flix; M. V. Fonseca; L. Font; M. Fuchs; N. Galante; R. J. García-López; M. Garczarczyk; M. Gaug; M. Giller; F. Goebel; D. Hakobyan; M. Hayashida; T. Hengstebeck; A. Herrero; D. Höhne; J. Hose; C. C. Hsu; P. Jacon; T. Jogler; R. Kosyra; D. Kranich; R. Kritzer; A. Laille; E. Lindfors; S. Lombardi; F. Longo; J. López; M. López; E. Lorenz; P. Majumdar; G. Maneva; K. Mannheim; O. Mansutti; M. Mariotti; M. Martínez; D. Mazin; C. Merck; M. Meucci; M. Meyer; J. M. Miranda; R. Mirzoyan; S. Mizobuchi; A. Moralejo; D. Nieto; K. Nilsson; J. Ninkovic; E. Oña-Wilhelmi; N. Otte; I. Oya; M. Panniello; R. Paoletti; J. M. Paredes; M. Pasanen; D. Pascoli; F. Pauss; R. Pegna; M. Persic; L. Peruzzo; A. Piccioli; E. Prandini; N. Puchades; A. Raymers; W. Rhode; M. Ribo; J. Rico; M. Rissi; A. Robert; S. Rügamer; A. Saggion; T. Saito; A. Sánchez; P. Sartori; V. Scalzotto; V. Scapin; R. Schmitt; T. Schweizer; M. Shayduk; K. Shinozaki; S. N. Shore; N. Sidro; A. Sillanpáá; D. Sobczynska; A. Stamerra; L. S. Stark; L. Takalo; P. Temnikov; D. Tescaro; M. Teshima; D. F. Torres; N. Turini; H. Vankov; V. Vitale; R. M. Wagner; T. Wibig; W. Wittek; F. Zandanel; R. Zanin; J. Zapatero

doi:10.1086/521145

Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1

J. Albert
, E. Aliu
, H. Anderhub
, P. Antoranz
, A. Armada
, C. Baixeras
, J. A. Barrio
, H. Bartko
, D. Bastieri
, J. K. Becker
, W. Bednarek
, K. Berger
, C. Bigongiari
, A. Biland
, R. K. Bock
, P. Bordas
, V. Bosch-Ramon
, T. Bretz
, I. Britvitch
, M. Camara

E. Carmona, A. Chilingarian, J. A. Coarasa, S. Commichau, J. L. Contreras, J. Cortina, M. T. Costado, V. Curtef, V. Danielyan, F. Dazzi, A. De Angelis, C. Delgado, R. De Los Reyes, B. De Lotto, E. Domingo-Santamaría, D. Dorner, M. Doro, M. Errando, M. Fagiolini, D. Ferenc, E. Fernández, R. Firpo, J. Flix, M. V. Fonseca, L. Font, M. Fuchs, N. Galante, R. J. García-López, M. Garczarczyk, M. Gaug, M. Giller, F. Goebel, D. Hakobyan, M. Hayashida, T. Hengstebeck, A. Herrero, D. Höhne, J. Hose, C. C. Hsu, P. Jacon, T. Jogler, R. Kosyra, D. Kranich, R. Kritzer, A. Laille, E. Lindfors, S. Lombardi, F. Longo, J. López, M. López, E. Lorenz, P. Majumdar, G. Maneva, K. Mannheim, O. Mansutti, M. Mariotti, M. Martínez, D. Mazin, C. Merck, M. Meucci, M. Meyer, J. M. Miranda, R. Mirzoyan, S. Mizobuchi, A. Moralejo, D. Nieto, K. Nilsson, J. Ninkovic, E. Oña-Wilhelmi, N. Otte, I. Oya, M. Panniello, R. Paoletti, J. M. Paredes, M. Pasanen, D. Pascoli, F. Pauss, R. Pegna, M. Persic, L. Peruzzo, A. Piccioli, E. Prandini, N. Puchades, A. Raymers, W. Rhode, M. Ribo, J. Rico, M. Rissi, A. Robert, S. Rügamer, A. Saggion, T. Saito, A. Sánchez, P. Sartori, V. Scalzotto, V. Scapin, R. Schmitt, T. Schweizer, M. Shayduk, K. Shinozaki, S. N. Shore, N. Sidro, A. Sillanpáá, D. Sobczynska, A. Stamerra, L. S. Stark, L. Takalo, P. Temnikov, D. Tescaro, M. Teshima, D. F. Torres, N. Turini, H. Vankov, V. Vitale, R. M. Wagner, T. Wibig, W. Wittek, F. Zandanel, R. Zanin, J. Zapatero

Department of Physics

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

256 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report on the results from the observations in the very high energy band (VHE; E_γ ≥ 100 GeV) of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. The observations were performed with the MAGIC telescope, for a total of 40 hr during 26 nights, spanning the period between 2006 June and November. Searches for steady γ-ray signals yielded no positive result, and upper limits to the integral flux ranging between 1% and 2% of the Crab Nebula flux, depending on the energy, have been established. We also analyzed each observation night independently, obtaining evidence of γ-ray signals at the 4.0 σ significance level (3.2 σ after trial correction) for 154 minutes of effective on-time (EOT) on September 24 between 20:58 and 23:41 UTC, coinciding with an X-ray flare seen by RXTE, Swift, and INTEGRAL. A search for faster-varying signals within a night resulted in an excess with a significance of 4.9 σ (4.1 σ after trial correction) for 79 minutes EOT between 22:17 and 23:41 UTC. The measured excess is compatible with a pointlike source at the position of Cygnus X-1 and excludes the nearby radio nebula powered by its relativistic jet. The differential energy spectrum is well fitted by an unbroken power law described as dN/(dA dt dE) p (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10^-12(E/1 TeV)^-3.2±0.6. This is the first experimental evidence of VHE emission from a stellar mass black hole and therefore from a confirmed accreting X-ray binary.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L51-L54
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	665
Issue number	1 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/521145
State	Published - 2007

Keywords

Acceleration of particles
Binaries: general
Gamma rays: observations
X-rays: individual(cygnus X-1)

Access to Document

10.1086/521145

Cite this

Albert, J., Aliu, E., Anderhub, H., Antoranz, P., Armada, A., Baixeras, C., Barrio, J. A., Bartko, H., Bastieri, D., Becker, J. K., Bednarek, W., Berger, K., Bigongiari, C., Biland, A., Bock, R. K., Bordas, P., Bosch-Ramon, V., Bretz, T., Britvitch, I., ... Zapatero, J. (2007). Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1. Astrophysical Journal, 665(1 PART 2), L51-L54. https://doi.org/10.1086/521145

@article{4dd59dd89482457e893be8f821128dad,

title = "Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1",

abstract = "We report on the results from the observations in the very high energy band (VHE; Eγ ≥ 100 GeV) of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. The observations were performed with the MAGIC telescope, for a total of 40 hr during 26 nights, spanning the period between 2006 June and November. Searches for steady γ-ray signals yielded no positive result, and upper limits to the integral flux ranging between 1\% and 2\% of the Crab Nebula flux, depending on the energy, have been established. We also analyzed each observation night independently, obtaining evidence of γ-ray signals at the 4.0 σ significance level (3.2 σ after trial correction) for 154 minutes of effective on-time (EOT) on September 24 between 20:58 and 23:41 UTC, coinciding with an X-ray flare seen by RXTE, Swift, and INTEGRAL. A search for faster-varying signals within a night resulted in an excess with a significance of 4.9 σ (4.1 σ after trial correction) for 79 minutes EOT between 22:17 and 23:41 UTC. The measured excess is compatible with a pointlike source at the position of Cygnus X-1 and excludes the nearby radio nebula powered by its relativistic jet. The differential energy spectrum is well fitted by an unbroken power law described as dN/(dA dt dE) p (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10-12(E/1 TeV)-3.2±0.6. This is the first experimental evidence of VHE emission from a stellar mass black hole and therefore from a confirmed accreting X-ray binary.",

keywords = "Acceleration of particles, Binaries: general, Gamma rays: observations, X-rays: individual(cygnus X-1)",

author = "J. Albert and E. Aliu and H. Anderhub and P. Antoranz and A. Armada and C. Baixeras and Barrio, \{J. A.\} and H. Bartko and D. Bastieri and Becker, \{J. K.\} and W. Bednarek and K. Berger and C. Bigongiari and A. Biland and Bock, \{R. K.\} and P. Bordas and V. Bosch-Ramon and T. Bretz and I. Britvitch and M. Camara and E. Carmona and A. Chilingarian and Coarasa, \{J. A.\} and S. Commichau and Contreras, \{J. L.\} and J. Cortina and Costado, \{M. T.\} and V. Curtef and V. Danielyan and F. Dazzi and \{De Angelis\}, A. and C. Delgado and \{De Los Reyes\}, R. and \{De Lotto\}, B. and E. Domingo-Santamar{\'i}a and D. Dorner and M. Doro and M. Errando and M. Fagiolini and D. Ferenc and E. Fern{\'a}ndez and R. Firpo and J. Flix and Fonseca, \{M. V.\} and L. Font and M. Fuchs and N. Galante and Garc{\'i}a-L{\'o}pez, \{R. J.\} and M. Garczarczyk and M. Gaug and M. Giller and F. Goebel and D. Hakobyan and M. Hayashida and T. Hengstebeck and A. Herrero and D. H{\"o}hne and J. Hose and Hsu, \{C. C.\} and P. Jacon and T. Jogler and R. Kosyra and D. Kranich and R. Kritzer and A. Laille and E. Lindfors and S. Lombardi and F. Longo and J. L{\'o}pez and M. L{\'o}pez and E. Lorenz and P. Majumdar and G. Maneva and K. Mannheim and O. Mansutti and M. Mariotti and M. Mart{\'i}nez and D. Mazin and C. Merck and M. Meucci and M. Meyer and Miranda, \{J. M.\} and R. Mirzoyan and S. Mizobuchi and A. Moralejo and D. Nieto and K. Nilsson and J. Ninkovic and E. O{\~n}a-Wilhelmi 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 R. Pegna and M. Persic and L. Peruzzo and A. Piccioli and E. Prandini and N. Puchades and A. Raymers and W. Rhode and M. Ribo and J. Rico and M. Rissi and A. Robert and S. R{\"u}gamer and A. Saggion and T. Saito and A. S{\'a}nchez and P. Sartori and V. Scalzotto and V. Scapin and R. Schmitt and T. Schweizer and M. Shayduk and K. Shinozaki and Shore, \{S. N.\} and N. Sidro and A. Sillanp{\'a}{\'a} and D. Sobczynska and A. Stamerra and Stark, \{L. S.\} and L. Takalo and P. Temnikov and D. Tescaro and M. Teshima and Torres, \{D. F.\} and N. Turini and H. Vankov and V. Vitale and Wagner, \{R. M.\} and T. Wibig and W. Wittek and F. Zandanel and R. Zanin and J. Zapatero",

year = "2007",

doi = "10.1086/521145",

language = "English",

volume = "665",

pages = "L51--L54",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

number = "1 PART 2",

}

Albert, J, Aliu, E, Anderhub, H, Antoranz, P, Armada, A, Baixeras, C, Barrio, JA, Bartko, H, Bastieri, D, Becker, JK, Bednarek, W, Berger, K, Bigongiari, C, Biland, A, Bock, RK, Bordas, P, Bosch-Ramon, V, Bretz, T, Britvitch, I, Camara, M, Carmona, E, Chilingarian, A, Coarasa, JA, Commichau, S, Contreras, JL, Cortina, J, Costado, MT, Curtef, V, Danielyan, V, Dazzi, F, De Angelis, A, Delgado, C, De Los Reyes, R, De Lotto, B, Domingo-Santamaría, E, Dorner, D, Doro, M, Errando, M, Fagiolini, M, Ferenc, D, Fernández, E, Firpo, R, Flix, J, Fonseca, MV, Font, L, Fuchs, M, Galante, N, García-López, RJ, Garczarczyk, M, Gaug, M, Giller, M, Goebel, F, Hakobyan, D, Hayashida, M, Hengstebeck, T, Herrero, A, Höhne, D, Hose, J, Hsu, CC, Jacon, P, Jogler, T, Kosyra, R, Kranich, D, Kritzer, R, Laille, A, Lindfors, E, Lombardi, S, Longo, F, López, J, López, M, Lorenz, E, Majumdar, P, Maneva, G, Mannheim, K, Mansutti, O, Mariotti, M, Martínez, M, Mazin, D, Merck, C, Meucci, M, Meyer, M, Miranda, JM, Mirzoyan, R, Mizobuchi, S, Moralejo, A, Nieto, D, Nilsson, K, Ninkovic, J, Oña-Wilhelmi, E, Otte, N, Oya, I, Panniello, M, Paoletti, R, Paredes, JM, Pasanen, M, Pascoli, D, Pauss, F, Pegna, R, Persic, M, Peruzzo, L, Piccioli, A, Prandini, E, Puchades, N, Raymers, A, Rhode, W, Ribo, M, Rico, J, Rissi, M, Robert, A, Rügamer, S, Saggion, A, Saito, T, Sánchez, A, Sartori, P, Scalzotto, V, Scapin, V, Schmitt, R, Schweizer, T, Shayduk, M, Shinozaki, K, Shore, SN, Sidro, N, Sillanpáá, A, Sobczynska, D, Stamerra, A, Stark, LS, Takalo, L, Temnikov, P, Tescaro, D, Teshima, M, Torres, DF, Turini, N, Vankov, H, Vitale, V, Wagner, RM, Wibig, T, Wittek, W, Zandanel, F, Zanin, R & Zapatero, J 2007, 'Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 665, no. 1 PART 2, pp. L51-L54. https://doi.org/10.1086/521145

TY - JOUR

T1 - Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1

AU - Albert, J.

AU - Aliu, E.

AU - Anderhub, H.

AU - Antoranz, P.

AU - Armada, A.

AU - Baixeras, C.

AU - Barrio, J. A.

AU - Bartko, H.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Becker, J. K.

AU - Bednarek, W.

AU - Berger, K.

AU - Bigongiari, C.

AU - Biland, A.

AU - Bock, R. K.

AU - Bordas, P.

AU - Bosch-Ramon, V.

AU - Bretz, T.

AU - Britvitch, I.

AU - Camara, M.

AU - Carmona, E.

AU - Chilingarian, A.

AU - Coarasa, J. A.

AU - Commichau, S.

AU - Contreras, J. L.

AU - Cortina, J.

AU - Costado, M. T.

AU - Curtef, V.

AU - Danielyan, V.

AU - Dazzi, F.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - Delgado, C.

AU - De Los Reyes, R.

AU - De Lotto, B.

AU - Domingo-Santamaría, E.

AU - Dorner, D.

AU - Doro, M.

AU - Errando, M.

AU - Fagiolini, M.

AU - Ferenc, D.

AU - Fernández, E.

AU - Firpo, R.

AU - Flix, J.

AU - Fonseca, M. V.

AU - Font, L.

AU - Fuchs, M.

AU - Galante, N.

AU - García-López, R. J.

AU - Garczarczyk, M.

AU - Gaug, M.

AU - Giller, M.

AU - Goebel, F.

AU - Hakobyan, D.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Hengstebeck, T.

AU - Herrero, A.

AU - Höhne, D.

AU - Hose, J.

AU - Hsu, C. C.

AU - Jacon, P.

AU - Jogler, T.

AU - Kosyra, R.

AU - Kranich, D.

AU - Kritzer, R.

AU - Laille, A.

AU - Lindfors, E.

AU - Lombardi, S.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - López, J.

AU - López, M.

AU - Lorenz, E.

AU - Majumdar, P.

AU - Maneva, G.

AU - Mannheim, K.

AU - Mansutti, O.

AU - Mariotti, M.

AU - Martínez, M.

AU - Mazin, D.

AU - Merck, C.

AU - Meucci, M.

AU - Meyer, M.

AU - Miranda, J. M.

AU - Mirzoyan, R.

AU - Mizobuchi, S.

AU - Moralejo, A.

AU - Nieto, D.

AU - Nilsson, K.

AU - Ninkovic, J.

AU - Oña-Wilhelmi, E.

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.

AU - Persic, M.

AU - Peruzzo, L.

AU - Piccioli, A.

AU - Prandini, E.

AU - Puchades, N.

AU - Raymers, A.

AU - Rhode, W.

AU - Ribo, M.

AU - Rico, J.

AU - Rissi, M.

AU - Robert, A.

AU - Rügamer, S.

AU - Saggion, A.

AU - Saito, T.

AU - Sánchez, A.

AU - Sartori, P.

AU - Scalzotto, V.

AU - Scapin, V.

AU - Schmitt, R.

AU - Schweizer, T.

AU - Shayduk, M.

AU - Shinozaki, K.

AU - Shore, S. N.

AU - Sidro, N.

AU - Sillanpáá, A.

AU - Sobczynska, D.

AU - Stamerra, A.

AU - Stark, L. S.

AU - Takalo, L.

AU - Temnikov, P.

AU - Tescaro, D.

AU - Teshima, M.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Turini, N.

AU - Vankov, H.

AU - Vitale, V.

AU - Wagner, R. M.

AU - Wibig, T.

AU - Wittek, W.

AU - Zandanel, F.

AU - Zanin, R.

AU - Zapatero, J.

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - We report on the results from the observations in the very high energy band (VHE; Eγ ≥ 100 GeV) of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. The observations were performed with the MAGIC telescope, for a total of 40 hr during 26 nights, spanning the period between 2006 June and November. Searches for steady γ-ray signals yielded no positive result, and upper limits to the integral flux ranging between 1% and 2% of the Crab Nebula flux, depending on the energy, have been established. We also analyzed each observation night independently, obtaining evidence of γ-ray signals at the 4.0 σ significance level (3.2 σ after trial correction) for 154 minutes of effective on-time (EOT) on September 24 between 20:58 and 23:41 UTC, coinciding with an X-ray flare seen by RXTE, Swift, and INTEGRAL. A search for faster-varying signals within a night resulted in an excess with a significance of 4.9 σ (4.1 σ after trial correction) for 79 minutes EOT between 22:17 and 23:41 UTC. The measured excess is compatible with a pointlike source at the position of Cygnus X-1 and excludes the nearby radio nebula powered by its relativistic jet. The differential energy spectrum is well fitted by an unbroken power law described as dN/(dA dt dE) p (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10-12(E/1 TeV)-3.2±0.6. This is the first experimental evidence of VHE emission from a stellar mass black hole and therefore from a confirmed accreting X-ray binary.

AB - We report on the results from the observations in the very high energy band (VHE; Eγ ≥ 100 GeV) of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Cygnus X-1. The observations were performed with the MAGIC telescope, for a total of 40 hr during 26 nights, spanning the period between 2006 June and November. Searches for steady γ-ray signals yielded no positive result, and upper limits to the integral flux ranging between 1% and 2% of the Crab Nebula flux, depending on the energy, have been established. We also analyzed each observation night independently, obtaining evidence of γ-ray signals at the 4.0 σ significance level (3.2 σ after trial correction) for 154 minutes of effective on-time (EOT) on September 24 between 20:58 and 23:41 UTC, coinciding with an X-ray flare seen by RXTE, Swift, and INTEGRAL. A search for faster-varying signals within a night resulted in an excess with a significance of 4.9 σ (4.1 σ after trial correction) for 79 minutes EOT between 22:17 and 23:41 UTC. The measured excess is compatible with a pointlike source at the position of Cygnus X-1 and excludes the nearby radio nebula powered by its relativistic jet. The differential energy spectrum is well fitted by an unbroken power law described as dN/(dA dt dE) p (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10-12(E/1 TeV)-3.2±0.6. This is the first experimental evidence of VHE emission from a stellar mass black hole and therefore from a confirmed accreting X-ray binary.

KW - Acceleration of particles

KW - Binaries: general

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - X-rays: individual(cygnus X-1)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/34548295243

U2 - 10.1086/521145

DO - 10.1086/521145

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34548295243

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 665

SP - L51-L54

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART 2

ER -

Very high energy gamma-ray radiation from the stellar mass black hole binary Cygnus X-1

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Keywords

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