München 2009 – scientific programme
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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik
T 82: Gamma-Astronomie 1
T 82.5: Talk
Monday, March 9, 2009, 18:05–18:20, M218
A joint H.E.S.S./MAGIC/VERITAS observation campaign on the radio galaxy M 87 in 2008 — •M. Raue1, M. Beilicke2, M. Hui3, D. Mazin4, R.M. Wagner5, and S. Wagner6 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg, Germany — 2Department of Physics, Washington University, St.Louis, USA — 3University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA — 4IFAE, Edifici Cn. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain — 5Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, Munich, Germany — 6Landessternwarte Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
for the H.E.S.S, MAGIC and VERITAS Collaborations.
The giant elliptical radio galaxy M 87 is the closest known extragalactic object emitting very-high-energy (VHE) γ-rays. The prominent jet of M 87 was extensively studied throughout the electromagnetic spectrum in the past revealing a complex structure resolved at radio, optical and X-ray energies. Knots in the jet indicate active regions, possibly associated with particle acceleration to ultra-relativistic energies. However, the origin of the measured VHE γ-rays is still unknown. No clear correlation of the VHE γ-rays with other wavelengths was found so far, whereas the size of the VHE emitting region is strongly constrained by the detection of variability on time-scales of days in 2005 and 2008. In a joint effort, H.E.S.S., MAGIC and VERITAS performed an intensive, coordinated monitoring campaign on M 87 in 2008 with a total coverage of >120 h of observation time. The motivation, coordination, results and implications for future campaigns are discussed.