Exploring a SNR/molecular cloud association within HESS J1745–303

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2008-05, Vol.483 (2), p.509-517
• Main Authors: Aharonian, F., Akhperjanian, A. G., Behera, B., Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Bernlöhr, K., Boisson, C., Bolz, O., Borrel, V., Brion, E., Brown, A. M., Bühler, R., Bulik, T., Chounet, L.-M., Clapson, A. C., Coignet, G., Costamante, L., Dalton, M., Degrange, B., Djannati-Ataï, A., Dubus, G., Emmanoulopoulos, D., Feinstein, F., Fiasson, A., Förster, A., Fontaine, G., Füßling, M., Gallant, Y. A., Glicenstein, J. F., Hadjichristidis, C., Hauser, D., Hauser, M., Heinzelmann, G., Henri, G., Hermann, G., Hinton, J. A., Hoffmann, A., Hofmann, W., Horns, D., Jacholkowska, A., de Jager, O. C., Jung, I., Kendziorra, E., Kerschhaggl, M., Komin, Nu, Kosack, K., Lamanna, G., Latham, I. J., Lohse, T., Martin, J. M., Martineau-Huynh, O., Masterson, C., Maurin, D., Moulin, E., Naumann-Godo, M., de Naurois, M., Nedbal, D., Nekrassov, D., Nolan, S. J., Ohm, S., Olive, J.-P., Orford, K. J., Osborne, J. L., Ostrowski, M., Panter, M., Petrucci, P.-O., Pühlhofer, G., Punch, M., Raubenheimer, B. C., Raue, M., Rayner, S. M., Renaud, M., Ripken, J., Rob, L., Rosier-Lees, S., Rowell, G., Rudak, B., Sahakian, V., Schlickeiser, R., Schröder, R., Schwarzburg, S., Schwemmer, S., Shalchi, A., Sol, H., Spangler, D., Stawarz, Ł., Steenkamp, R., Stegmann, C., Superina, G., Tam, P. H., Tavernet, J.-P., van Eldik, C., Venter, C., Vincent, P., Völk, H. J., Volpe, F., Wagner, S. J., Ward, M., Zdziarski, A. A., Zech, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics; Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Galaxy: general; gamma rays: observations; ISM: clouds; ISM: cosmic rays; Physics; Sciences of the Universe; X-rays: general
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746; 1432-0756
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20079230

Aims. HESS J1745-303 is an extended, unidentified VHE (very high energy) gamma-ray source discovered using HESS in the Galactic Plane Survey. Since no obvious counterpart has previously been found in longer-wavelength data, the processes that power the VHE emission are not well understood. Methods. Combining the latest VHE data with recent XMM-Newton observations and a variety of source catalogs and lower-energy survey data, we attempt to match (from an energetic and positional standpoint) the various parts of the emission of HESS J1745-303 with possible candidates. Results. Though no single counterpart is found to fully explain the VHE emission, we postulate that at least a fraction of the VHE source may be explained by a supernova-remnant/molecular-cloud association and/or a high-spin-down-flux pulsar.