TeV gamma-ray observations of SS-433 and a survey of the surrounding field with the HEGRA IACT-System

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2005-08, Vol.439 (2), p.635-643
• Main Authors: Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A., Beilicke, M., Bernlöhr, K., Börst, H.-G., Bojahr, H., Bolz, O., Coarasa, T., Contreras, J., Cortina, J., Denninghoff, S., Fonseca, V., Girma, M., Götting, N., Heinzelmann, G., Hermann, G., Heusler, A., Hofmann, W., Horns, D., Jung, I., Kankanyan, R., Kestel, M., Kohnle, A., Konopelko, A., Kranich, D., Lampeitl, H., Lopez, M., Lorenz, E., Lucarelli, F., Mang, O., Mazin, D., Meyer, H., Mirzoyan, R., Moralejo, A., Oña-Wilhelmi, E., Panter, M., Plyasheshnikov, A., Pühlhofer, G., R. de los Reyes, Rhode, W., Ripken, J., Rowell, G. P., Sahakian, V., Samorski, M., Schilling, M., Siems, M., Sobzynska, D., Stamm, W., Tluczykont, M., Vitale, V., Völk, H. J., Wiedner, C. A., Wittek, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: gamma rays: observations; stars: individual: SS-433
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20042248

We present results of a search for TeV γ-ray emission from the microquasar SS-433 and the surrounding region covering a ~$8^\circ$ $\times$ $8^\circ$ field of view. Analysis of data taken with the HEGRA stereoscopic system of imaging atmospheric Čerenkov imaging telescopes reveals no evidence of steady or variable emission from any position. Observation times of over 100 h have been achieved in central parts of the field of view. We set 99% confidence level upper limits to a number of a-priori-chosen objects of interest, including SS-443 and its interaction regions, 32 pulsars, 3 supernova remnants and the GeV source GeV J1907+0537. Our upper limit of 3.2% Crab flux (for energies $E>0.8$ TeV) for the eastern-lobe region e3 of SS-433 permits, after comparison with X-ray fluxes, a lower limit of $B\geq19~\mu$G on the post-shocked magnetic field in this region. An ensemble upper limit at 0.3% Crab flux ($E>0.7$ TeV) from a subset (11) of the 32 pulsars implies a maximum of 4.5% of the spin-down pulsar power is available for TeV γ-ray production. For one of the SNR in our FoV, 3C 396, recent Chandra observations suggest that a central pulsar-driven wind nebula may be the source of X-ray emission. Our upper limit implies that a maximum of 0.1% of the spin-down power from the central source of 3C 396 would be available for TeV γ-rays.