arXiv · astro-ph/0107113
Cutoff in the TeV Energy Spectrum of Markarian 421 During Strong Flares in 2001
Abstract
Exceptionally strong and long lasting flaring activity of the blazar Markarian 421 (Mrk 421) occurred between January and March 2001. Based on the excellent signal-to-noise ratio of the data we derive the energy spectrum between 260 GeV - 17 TeV with unprecedented statistical precision. The spectrum is not well described by a simple power law even with a curvature term. Instead the data can be described by a power law with exponential cutoff: $\rm {{dN}\over{dE}} \propto \rm E^{-2.14 \pm 0.03_{stat}} \times e^{-E/E_{0}} m^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1}$ with $\rm E_{0} = 4.3 \pm 0.3_{stat} TeV$. Mrk 421 is the second $γ$-ray blazar that unambiguously exhibits an absorption-like feature in its spectral energy distribution at 3-6 TeV suggesting that this may be a universal phenomenon, possibly due to the extragalactic infra-red background radiation.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
F. Krennrich, H. M. Badran, I. H. Bond, S. M. Bradbury, J. H. Buckley, D. A. Carter-Lewis, M. Catanese, W. Cui, S. Dunlea, D. Das, I. de la Calle Perez, D. J. Fegan, S. J. Fegan, J. P. Finley, J. A. Gaidos, K. Gibbs, G. H. Gillanders, T. A. Hall, A. M. Hillas, J. Holder, D. Horan, M. Jordan, M. Kertzman, D. Kieda, J. Kildea, J. Knapp, K. Kosack, M. J. Lang, S. LeBohec, B. McKernan, P. Moriarty, D. Müller, R. Ong, R. Pallassini, D. Petry, J. Quinn, N. W. Reay, P. T. Reynolds, H. J. Rose, G. H. Sembroski, R. Sidwell, N. Stanton, S. P. Swordy, V. V. Vassiliev, S. P. Wakely, T. C. Weekes. 2001-07-05. Cutoff in the TeV Energy Spectrum of Markarian 421 During Strong Flares in 2001. https://doi.org/10.1086/324221
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.