VERITAS Observations of the Galactic Center Region at Multi-TeV Gamma-Ray Energies

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 913; no. 2; pp. 115 - 125
• Main Authors: Adams, C. B., Benbow, W., Brill, A., Brose, R., Buchovecky, M., Capasso, M., Christiansen, J. L., Chromey, A. J., Daniel, M. K., Errando, M., Falcone, A., Feng, Q., Finley, J. P., Fortson, L., Furniss, A., Gent, A., Gillanders, G. H., Giuri, C., Hanna, D., Hervet, O., Holder, J., Hughes, G., Humensky, T. B., Jin, W., Kaaret, P., Kelley-Hoskins, N., Kertzman, M., Kieda, D., Krennrich, F., Kumar, S., Lang, M. J., Lundy, M., Maier, G., Moriarty, P., Mukherjee, R., Nieto, D., Nievas-Rosillo, M., O’Brien, S., Ong, R. A., Otte, A. N., Pfrang, K., Pohl, M., Prado, R. R., Pueschel, E., Quinn, J., Ragan, K., Reynolds, P. T., Ribeiro, D., Richards, G. T., Roache, E., Ryan, J. L., Santander, M., Schlenstedt, S., Sembroski, G. H., Shang, R., Stevenson, B., Wakely, S. P., Weinstein, A., Williams, D. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01-06-2021; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Black holes; Celestial bodies; Cosmic ray showers; Cosmic rays; Emission analysis; Field of view; Galactic center; Gamma emission; Gamma ray astronomy; Gamma rays; High energy astronomy; High energy astrophysics; Light curve; Nonthermal radiation; Particle accelerators; Power law; Radiation; Supermassive black holes; Supernova; Supernova remnants
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abf926

Abstract
The Galactic Center (GC) region hosts a variety of powerful astronomical sources and rare astrophysical processes that emit a large flux of nonthermal radiation. The inner 375 pc × 600 pc region, called the Central Molecular Zone, is home to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, massive cloud complexes, and particle accelerators such as supernova remnants (SNRs). We present the results of our improved analysis of the very-high-energy gamma-ray emission above 2 TeV from the GC using 125 hr of data taken with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System imaging-atmospheric Cerenkov telescope between 2010 and 2018. The central source VER J1745–290, consistent with the position of Sagittarius A*, is detected at a significance of 38 standard deviations above the background level (38
σ
), and we report its spectrum and light curve. Its differential spectrum is consistent with a power law with exponential cutoff, with a spectral index of
, a flux normalization at 5.3 TeV of
TeV
−1
cm
−2
s
−1
, and cutoff energy of
TeV. We also present results on the diffuse emission near the GC, obtained by combining data from multiple regions along the GC ridge, which yield a cumulative significance of 9.5
σ
. The diffuse GC ridge spectrum is best fit by a power law with a hard index of 2.19 ± 0.20, showing no evidence of a cutoff up to 40 TeV. This strengthens the evidence for a potential accelerator of PeV cosmic rays being present in the GC. We also provide spectra of the other sources in our field of view with significant detections, composite SNR G0.9+0.1, and HESS J1746–285.