1. Extremely rapid bursts of TeV photons from the active galaxy Markarian 421
- Author
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Gaidos, J.A., Akerlof, C.W., Biller, S., Boyle, P.J., Breslin, A.C., Buckley, J.H., Carter-Lewis, D.A., Catanese, M., Cawley, M.F., Fegan, D.J., Finley, J.P., Gordo, J. Bussons, Hillas, A.M., Krennrich, F., Lamb, R.C., Lessard, R.W., McEnery, J.E., Masterson, C., Mohanty, G., Moriarty, P., Quinn, J., Rodgers, A.J., Rose, H.J., Samuelson, F., Schubnell, M.S., Sembroski, G.H., Srinivasan, R., Weekes, T.C., Wilson, C.L., and Zweerink, J.
- Subjects
Galaxies -- Research ,Photons -- Research ,Environmental issues ,Science and technology ,Zoology and wildlife conservation - Abstract
Previous studies have concluded that the flux from TeV energy sources, together with the timescales on which they vary, limits the emission mechanisms of their sources. This means that the emission region of TeV energy may grow at a steady rate. However, two observations of TeV photons from the active galaxy Markarian 421 challenge such an assertion. During the first burst, which had a doubling time of about one hour, the flux increased above the relatively quiescent value by more than a factor of 50. During the second burst, which lasted about 30 minutes, the flux increased by a factor of 20-25.
- Published
- 1996