Published in:
Astrophysical Journal 608,2 (2004) L97-L100;
Abstract
We report a possible detection of TeV gamma rays from the Galactic center by the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope. Twenty-six hours of data were taken over an extended period from 1995 through 2003 resulting in a total significance of 3.7 sigma. The measured excess corresponds to an integral flux of 1.6 x 10(-8) +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) (stat) +/- 0.3 x 10(-8) (sys) photons m(-2) s(-1) above an energy of 2.8 TeV, roughly 40% of the flux from the Crab Nebula at this energy. The 95% confidence region has an angular extent of about 15' and includes the position of Sgr A*. The detection is consistent with a point source and shows no evidence of variability.
Keywords
dark matter;; galaxy : center;; galaxy : nucleus;; gamma rays : observations;; supermassive black-hole;; sagittarius-a-asterisk;; dark-matter halos;; milky-way;; annihilation;; emission;; direction;; spectra;; flare;; east
Date of this Version
January 2004