H.E.S.S. detection of the PSR J0855−4644 nebula
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Context. HESS J0852−463 is a TeV γ -ray source located in the Galactic plane. The region consists of a supernova remnant (SNR, RX J0852.0−4622) with a shell-like morphology, commonly referred to as Vela Junior, and a pulsar named PSR J0855−4644. Pulsars are among the most efficient leptonic accelerators in our Galaxy, making this region particularly interesting to study. Aims. We utilise the most recent data taken by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) to investigate any γ -ray emission associated with the pulsar in this region, PSR J0855−4644. Methods. We applied a full forward-folding method on the H.E.S.S. data. Utilising 3D modelling techniques, we evaluated the TeV γ -ray emission towards the various components of this complex system. Results. The distinct energy-dependent morphology observed in our data motivates further investigation of this source. We resolved the emission in the Vela Junior region into various components, several of which correspond to the SNR itself. In particular, we find a new extended component coincident with the position of PSR J0855−4644. The spectrum follows a power-law distribution with a best-fit index of Γ E = 1.81 ± 0.07 stat , which differs from the properties of the surrounding γ -ray emission of the Vela Junior SNR. A one-zone leptonic joint fit between the X-rays (from XMM-Newton) and γ -rays (from H.E.S.S.) leads to a lower limit on the magnetic field of 1.6 μG and a spectral index of α = 1.88 ± 0.01, in line with expectations of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe). Conclusions. In this paper, we report the first detection of the PWN of PSR J0855−4644 at TeV energies with the H.E.S.S. experiment, at a significance of 12.2 σ . This is attributed to the advanced techniques of the 3D analysis. Based on the pulsar’s characteristics, its PWN is consistent with the known TeV PWNe population in the Galaxy.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: F. Aharonian, H. Ashkar, M. Backes, R. Batzofin, Y. Becherini, D. Berge, K. Bernlöhr, M. Böttcher, C. Boisson, J. Bolmont, F. Brun, B. Bruno, C. Burger-Scheidlin, T. Bylund, S. Casanova, D. Cecchin Momesso, J. Celic, M. Cerruti, A. Chen, M. Chernyakova, J. O. Chibueze, O. Chibueze, B. Cornejo, G. Cotter, G. Cozzolongo, J. de Assis Scarpin, M. de Bony de Lavergne, M. de Naurois, E. de Oña Wilhelmi, A. G. Delgado Giler, J. Devin, A. Dmytriiev, K. Egberts, K. Egg, J.-P. Ernenwein, C. Escañuela Nieves, P. Fauverge, K. Feijen, M. D. Filipovic, G. Fontaine, S. Funk, S. Gabici, Y. A. Gallant, M. Genaro, J. F. Glicenstein, J. Glombitza, P. Goswami, M.-H. Grondin, L. Heckmann, B. Heß, W. Hofmann, T. L. Holch, M. Holler, D. Horns, M. Jamrozy, F. Jankowsky, A. Jardin-Blicq, I. Jaroschewski, D. Jimeno, I. Jung-Richardt, E. Kasai, K. Katarzyński, D. Kerszberg, B. Khélifi, W. Kluźniak, N. Komin, K. Kosack, D. Kostunin, R. G. Lang, S. Lazarević, A. Lemière, M. Lemoine-Goumard, J.-P. Lenain, P. Liniewicz, A. Luashvili, J. Mackey, D. Malyshev, D. Malyshev, V. Marandon, M. G. F. Mayer, A. Mehta, A. M. W. Mitchell, R. Moderski, L. Mohrmann, E. Moulin, J. Niemiec, P. O’Brien, L. Olivera-Nieto, M. O. Moghadam, S. Panny, M. Panter, R. D. Parsons, P. Pichard, T. Preis, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, A. Quirrenbach, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, I. Reis, Q. Remy, H. X. Ren, B. Reville, F. Rieger, G. Rowell, B. Rudak, K. Sabri, V. Sahakian, M. Sasaki, F. Schüssler, J. N. S. Shapopi, W. Si Said, Ł. Stawarz, R. Steenkamp, S. Steinmassl, T. Tanaka, A. M. Taylor, G. L. Taylor, R. Terrier, Y. Tian, M. Tsirou, T. Unbehaun, C. van Eldik, M. Vecchi, C. Venter, J. Vink, V. Voitsekhovskyi, T. Wach, S. J. Wagner, A. Wierzcholska, M. Zacharias, A. Zech, W. Zhong, F. Acero, L. Giunti
Institutions: Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies, Yerevan State University, Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, University of Namibia, North-West University, University of Potsdam, Université Paris Cité, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay - Etablissement de Saclay, Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, University of the Witwatersrand, Dublin City University, University of Oxford, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre de physique des particules de Marseille, Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier, Université de Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Physique des deux infinis Bordeaux, Western Sydney University, Heidelberg University, University of Tübingen, Universität Innsbruck, Universität Hamburg, Jagiellonian University, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Leicester, University of Amsterdam, The University of Adelaide, A. Alikhanyan National Laboratory, Konan University, University of Groningen, Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation, CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
OpenAlex ID: W7129406637