The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the gamma-ray glow emanating from the giant radio lobes of the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The resolved gamma-ray image shows the lobes clearly separated from the central active source. In contrast to all other active galaxies detected so far in high-energy gamma-rays, the lobe flux constitutes a considerable portion (greater than one-half) of the total source emission. The gamma-ray emission from the lobes is interpreted as inverse Compton-scattered relic radiation from the cosmic microwave background, with additional contribution at higher energies from the infrared-to-optical extragalactic background light. These measurements provide gamma-ray constraints on the magnetic field and particle energy content in radio galaxy lobes, as well as a promising method to probe the cosmic relic photon fields.

Fermi Gamma-Ray Imaging of a Radio Galaxy / Abdo, A.a., Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Atwood, W.b., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Baughman, B.m., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Blandford, R.d., Bloom, E.d., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A.w., Bregeon, J., Brez, A., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., et al.. - In: SCIENCE. - ISSN 0036-8075. - STAMPA. - 328:5979(2010), pp. 725-729. [10.1126/science.1184656]

Fermi Gamma-Ray Imaging of a Radio Galaxy

FAVUZZI, Cecilia;GIGLIETTO, Nicola;
2010

Abstract

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the gamma-ray glow emanating from the giant radio lobes of the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The resolved gamma-ray image shows the lobes clearly separated from the central active source. In contrast to all other active galaxies detected so far in high-energy gamma-rays, the lobe flux constitutes a considerable portion (greater than one-half) of the total source emission. The gamma-ray emission from the lobes is interpreted as inverse Compton-scattered relic radiation from the cosmic microwave background, with additional contribution at higher energies from the infrared-to-optical extragalactic background light. These measurements provide gamma-ray constraints on the magnetic field and particle energy content in radio galaxy lobes, as well as a promising method to probe the cosmic relic photon fields.
2010
Fermi Gamma-Ray Imaging of a Radio Galaxy / Abdo, A.a., Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Atwood, W.b., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Baughman, B.m., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Blandford, R.d., Bloom, E.d., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A.w., Bregeon, J., Brez, A., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., et al.. - In: SCIENCE. - ISSN 0036-8075. - STAMPA. - 328:5979(2010), pp. 725-729. [10.1126/science.1184656]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11589/9952
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