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., Tavani; S., Sabatini; E., Pian; A., Bulgarelli; P., Caraveo; R. F., Viotti; M. F., Corcoran; A., Giuliani; C., Pittori; F., Verrecchia; S., Vercellone; S., Mereghetti; A., Argan; G., Barbiellini; F., Boffelli; P. W., Cattaneo; A. W., Chen; V., Cocco; F., D'Ammando; E., Costa; G. D., Paris; E. D., Monte; G. D., Cocco; I., Donnarumma; Y., Evangelista; A., Ferrari; M., Feroci; M., Fiorini; T., Froysland; F., Fuschino; M., Galli; F., Gianotti; C., Labanti; I., Lapshov; F., Lazzarotto; P., Lipari; Longo, Francesco; M., Marisaldi; M., Mastropietro; E., Morelli; E., Moretti; A., Morselli; L., Pacciani; A., Pellizzoni; F., Perotti; G., Piano; P., Picozza; M., Pilia; G., Porrovecchio; G., Pucella; M., Prest; M., Rapisarda; A., Rappoldi; A., Rubini; P., Soffitta; M., Trifoglio; A., Trois; E., Vallazza; V., Vittorini; A., Zambra; D., Zanello; P., Santolamazza; P., Giommi; S., Colafrancesco; L. A., Antonelli; L., Salotti. - 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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