Microquasar observations with the MAGIC telescope

Abstract

Microquasars, X-ray binaries displaying relativistic jets driven by accretion onto a compact object, are some of the most efficient accelerators in the Galaxy. Theoretical models predict Very High Energy (VHE) emission at the base of the jet where particles are accelerated to multi-TeV energies. This emission could be detected by present IACTs. %Moreover, gamma-ray fluxes should increase during flaring events when accretion rates are enhanced. The MAGIC telescope observed the microquasars GRS 1915+105, Cyg X-3, Cyg X-1 and SS433 for ~ 150 hours in total from 2005 to 2008. We triggered our observations by using multi wavelength information through radio flaring alerts with the RATAN telescope as well as by ensuring the low/hard state of the source through RXTE/ASM and Swift/BAT monitoring data. We report on the upper limits on steady and variable emission from these sources over this long period.

Contribution to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 2009

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Gamma-ray binaries and related systems
• Detection of persistent gamma-ray emission toward SS433/W50
• A search for very high-energy flares from the microquasars GRS 1915+105, Circinus X-1, and V4641 Sgr using contemporaneous H.E.S.S. and RXTE observations
• High energy gamma-ray emission from compact galactic sources in the context of observations with the next generation Cherenkov Telescope Arrays
• A search for Very High Energy gamma-ray emission from Scorpius X-1 with the MAGIC telescopes
• Dynamical and radiative simulations of $\gamma$-ray jets in microquasars
• Phenomenology of gamma-ray emitting binaries
• Modeling particle transport in astrophysical outflows and simulations of associated emissions
• Cherenkov Telescope results on gamma-ray binaries
• Latest results on galactic sources obtained with the MAGIC telescope