来自遥远的类星体的非常高能量的玛射线:宇宙有多透明?
概括
MAGIC望远镜检测到来自遥远的类星体3C 279的非常高能马射线,标志着观察到的最遥远的物体发出的这种辐射. 这一发现表明宇宙中分散的背景光的水平很低.
科学领域:
- * 天文学和天体物理学
- *高能马射线天文学
背景情况:
- * 准恒星无线电源 (类星体) 是已知在电磁频谱中发射辐射的活跃星系核.
- * 探测来自遥远物体的非常高能 (VHE) 马射线是具有挑战性的,因为它可能被银河系外背景光 (EBL) 吸收.
研究的目的:
- *使用低值马射线望远镜检测远方类星体的VHE马射线辐射.
- * 基于VHE马射线传播的银河系外背景光的特性.
主要方法:
- *使用了大气玛成像切伦科夫 (MAGIC) 望远镜,优化用于低能量值观测.
- *观测和分析了来自类星体3C 279巨型耀斑的马射线信号.
主要成果:
- *成功检测到来自类星体3C 279的VHE马射线,该类星体位于0.536的红移 (距离我们超过50亿光年).
- * 这代表了迄今为止检测到的最遥远的物体,它能发射50千兆电子伏特 (GeV) 以上的马射线.
- *这些观测表明,银河系外背景光的密度低于预期.
结论:
- *从3C 279探测到VHE马射线将可观测马射线天文学的前沿推向前所未有的距离.
- *推断出的低EBL密度与从星系计数中得出的估计一致,提供了一个独立的证据线.
- *这项研究证明了当前的马射线望远镜能够探测遥远的宇宙及其中间辐射场的能力.
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