We present the results of extensive observations by the gamma-ray AGILE satellite of the Galactic region hosting the Carina nebula and the remarkable colliding wind binary Eta Carinae (eta Car) during the period 2007 July-2009 January. We detect a gamma-ray source (1AGL J1043-5931) consistent with the position of eta Car. If 1AGL J1043-5931 is associated with the Car system, our data provide the long sought first detection above 100 MeV of a colliding wind binary. The average gamma-ray flux above 100 MeV and integrated over the preperiastron period 2007 July-2008 October is F-gamma = (37 +/- 5) x 10(-8) ph cm(-2) s(-1) corresponding to an average gamma-ray luminosity of L-gamma = 3.4 x 10(34) erg s(-1) for a distance of 2.3 kpc. We also report a two-day gamma-ray flaring episode of 1AGL J1043-5931 on 2008 October 11-13 possibly related to a transient acceleration and radiation episode of the strongly variable shock in the system.
Detection Of Gamma-Ray Emission From The Eta-Carinae Region / M., T., S., S., E., P., A., B., P., C., R. F., V., M. F., C., A., G., C., P., F., V., S., V., S., M., A., A., G., B., F., B., P. W., C., A. W., C., V., C., F., D., E., C., et al.. - In: THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS. - ISSN 2041-8205. - STAMPA. - 698:(2009), pp. L142-L146. [10.1088/0004-637X/698/2/L142]
Detection Of Gamma-Ray Emission From The Eta-Carinae Region
LONGO, FRANCESCO;
2009-01-01
Abstract
We present the results of extensive observations by the gamma-ray AGILE satellite of the Galactic region hosting the Carina nebula and the remarkable colliding wind binary Eta Carinae (eta Car) during the period 2007 July-2009 January. We detect a gamma-ray source (1AGL J1043-5931) consistent with the position of eta Car. If 1AGL J1043-5931 is associated with the Car system, our data provide the long sought first detection above 100 MeV of a colliding wind binary. The average gamma-ray flux above 100 MeV and integrated over the preperiastron period 2007 July-2008 October is F-gamma = (37 +/- 5) x 10(-8) ph cm(-2) s(-1) corresponding to an average gamma-ray luminosity of L-gamma = 3.4 x 10(34) erg s(-1) for a distance of 2.3 kpc. We also report a two-day gamma-ray flaring episode of 1AGL J1043-5931 on 2008 October 11-13 possibly related to a transient acceleration and radiation episode of the strongly variable shock in the system.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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