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

Abstract

The Galactic Center (GC) region hosts a variety of powerful astronomical sources and rare astrophysical processes that emit a large flux of non-thermal radiation. The inner 375 pc x 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. We present the results of our improved analysis of the very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission above 2 TeV from the GC using 125 hours of data taken with the VERITAS imaging-atmospheric Cherenkov 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 $(38\sigma)$, 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 $2.12^{+0.22}_{-0.17}$, a flux normalization at 5.3 TeV of $1.27^{+0.22}_{-0.23}\times 10^{-13}$ TeV-1 cm-2 s-1, and cutoff energy of $10.0^{+4.0}_{-2.0}$ 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 $9.5\sigma$. The diffuse GC ridge spectrum is best fit by a power law with a hard index of 2.19 $\pm$ 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 supernova remnant G0.9+0.1 and HESS J1746-285.