1. Ultrahigh-energy photons up to 1.4 petaelectronvolts from 12 γ-ray Galactic sources.
- Author
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Cao Z, Aharonian FA, An Q, Axikegu, Bai LX, Bai YX, Bao YW, Bastieri D, Bi XJ, Bi YJ, Cai H, Cai JT, Cao Z, Chang J, Chang JF, Chang XC, Chen BM, Chen J, Chen L, Chen L, Chen L, Chen MJ, Chen ML, Chen QH, Chen SH, Chen SZ, Chen TL, Chen XL, Chen Y, Cheng N, Cheng YD, Cui SW, Cui XH, Cui YD, Dai BZ, Dai HL, Dai ZG, Danzengluobu, Della Volpe D, D Ettorre Piazzoli B, Dong XJ, Fan JH, Fan YZ, Fan ZX, Fang J, Fang K, Feng CF, Feng L, Feng SH, Feng YL, Gao B, Gao CD, Gao Q, Gao W, Ge MM, Geng LS, Gong GH, Gou QB, Gu MH, Guo JG, Guo XL, Guo YQ, Guo YY, Han YA, He HH, He HN, He JC, He SL, He XB, He Y, Heller M, Hor YK, Hou C, Hou X, Hu HB, Hu S, Hu SC, Hu XJ, Huang DH, Huang QL, Huang WH, Huang XT, Huang ZC, Ji F, Ji XL, Jia HY, Jiang K, Jiang ZJ, Jin C, Kuleshov D, Levochkin K, Li BB, Li C, Li C, Li F, Li HB, Li HC, Li HY, Li J, Li K, Li WL, Li X, Li X, Li XR, Li Y, Li YZ, Li Z, Li Z, Liang EW, Liang YF, Lin SJ, Liu B, Liu C, Liu D, Liu H, Liu HD, Liu J, Liu JL, Liu JS, Liu JY, Liu MY, Liu RY, Liu SM, Liu W, Liu YN, Liu ZX, Long WJ, Lu R, Lv HK, Ma BQ, Ma LL, Ma XH, Mao JR, Masood A, Mitthumsiri W, Montaruli T, Nan YC, Pang BY, Pattarakijwanich P, Pei ZY, Qi MY, Ruffolo D, Rulev V, Sáiz A, Shao L, Shchegolev O, Sheng XD, Shi JR, Song HC, Stenkin YV, Stepanov V, Sun QN, Sun XN, Sun ZB, Tam PHT, Tang ZB, Tian WW, Wang BD, Wang C, Wang H, Wang HG, Wang JC, Wang JS, Wang LP, Wang LY, Wang RN, Wang W, Wang W, Wang XG, Wang XJ, Wang XY, Wang YD, Wang YJ, Wang YP, Wang Z, Wang Z, Wang ZH, Wang ZX, Wei DM, Wei JJ, Wei YJ, Wen T, Wu CY, Wu HR, Wu S, Wu WX, Wu XF, Xi SQ, Xia J, Xia JJ, Xiang GM, Xiao G, Xiao HB, Xin GG, Xin YL, Xing Y, Xu DL, Xu RX, Xue L, Yan DH, Yang CW, Yang FF, Yang JY, Yang LL, Yang MJ, Yang RZ, Yang SB, Yao YH, Yao ZG, Ye YM, Yin LQ, Yin N, You XH, You ZY, Yu YH, Yuan Q, Zeng HD, Zeng TX, Zeng W, Zeng ZK, Zha M, Zhai XX, Zhang BB, Zhang HM, Zhang HY, Zhang JL, Zhang JW, Zhang L, Zhang L, Zhang LX, Zhang PF, Zhang PP, Zhang R, Zhang SR, Zhang SS, Zhang X, Zhang XP, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang YF, Zhang YL, Zhao B, Zhao J, Zhao L, Zhao LZ, Zhao SP, Zheng F, Zheng Y, Zhou B, Zhou H, Zhou JN, Zhou P, Zhou R, Zhou XX, Zhu CG, Zhu FR, Zhu H, Zhu KJ, and Zuo X
- Abstract
The extension of the cosmic-ray spectrum beyond 1 petaelectronvolt (PeV; 10
15 electronvolts) indicates the existence of the so-called PeVatrons-cosmic-ray factories that accelerate particles to PeV energies. We need to locate and identify such objects to find the origin of Galactic cosmic rays1 . The principal signature of both electron and proton PeVatrons is ultrahigh-energy (exceeding 100 TeV) γ radiation. Evidence of the presence of a proton PeVatron has been found in the Galactic Centre, according to the detection of a hard-spectrum radiation extending to 0.04 PeV (ref.2 ). Although γ-rays with energies slightly higher than 0.1 PeV have been reported from a few objects in the Galactic plane3-6 , unbiased identification and in-depth exploration of PeVatrons requires detection of γ-rays with energies well above 0.1 PeV. Here we report the detection of more than 530 photons at energies above 100 teraelectronvolts and up to 1.4 PeV from 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources with a statistical significance greater than seven standard deviations. Despite having several potential counterparts in their proximity, including pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants and star-forming regions, the PeVatrons responsible for the ultrahigh-energy γ-rays have not yet been firmly localized and identified (except for the Crab Nebula), leaving open the origin of these extreme accelerators.- Published
- 2021
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