The high-energy γ-ray emission of AP Librae

Abstract

The γ-ray spectrum of the low-frequency-peaked BL Lac (LBL) object AP Librae is studied, following the discovery of very-high-energy (VHE; E> 100 GeV) γ-ray emission up to the TeV range by the H.E.S.S. experiment. This makes AP Librae one of the few VHE emitters of the LBL type. The measured spectrum yields a flux of (8.8 ± 1.5stat ± 1.8sys) × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 above 130 GeV and a spectral index of Γ = 2.65 ± 0.19stat ± 0.20sys. This study also makes use of Fermi-LAT  observations in the high energy (HE, E> 100 MeV) range, providing the longest continuous light curve (5 years) ever published on this source. The source underwent a flaring event between MJD 56 306–56 376 in the HE range, with a flux increase of a factor of 3.5 in the 14 day bin light curve and no significant variation in spectral shape with respect to the low-flux state. While the H.E.S.S.  and (low state) Fermi-LAT fluxes are in good agreement where they overlap, a spectral curvature between the steep VHE spectrum and the Fermi-LAT  spectrum is observed. The maximum of the γ-ray emission in the spectral energy distribution is located below the GeV energy range.

Auxiliary informations

H.E.S.S. Spectrum Points

E[eV] (E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s] d(E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s]
1.60e+11 1.63e-12 1.27e-12
2.12e+11 2.57e-12 7.71e-13
2.84e+11 2.22e-12 6.00e-13
3.83e+11 1.43e-12 4.78e-13
5.14e+11 1.31e-12 4.54e-13
6.89e+11 1.03e-12 4.47e-13
9.62e+11 3.03e-13 2.68e-13
1.41e+12 1.10e-12 3.93e-13
2.08e+12 3.68e-13 3.07e-13
3.05e+12 6.45e-13 4.08e-13

Fermi 5yr Spectrum Points

E[eV] (E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s] d(E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s]
5.48e+08 9.83e-12 5.53e-13
1.73e+09 9.31e-12 5.54e-13
5.48e+09 9.76e-12 7.61e-13
1.73e+10 4.68e-12 9.75e-13
5.48e+10 3.45e-12 1.33e-12
1.73e+11 5.43e-12 0.00e+00

Fermi Flare Spectrum Points

E[eV] (E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s] d(E^2dN/dE)[ergs/cm^2/s]
5.48e+08 2.78e-11 4.06e-12
1.73e+09 2.61e-11 4.75e-12
5.48e+09 1.90e-11 5.42e-12
1.73e+10 1.57e-11 8.79e-12
5.48e+10 5.36e-11 0.00e+00
1.73e+11 2.04e-10 0.00e+00