Astronomy Seminar
| Date/Time: | Friday, 17 Apr 2015 at 4:10 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 38 Physics |
| Contact: | Steve Kawaler, Physics and Astronomy |
| Phone: | 515-294-5440 |
| Channel: | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Categories: | Lectures |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
Black hole? Check! In-falling gas? Check! Broadband non-thermal spectrum? Check! VHE Gamma Rays?
Before the advent of modern, ground-based gamma-ray telescopes like VERITAS, H.E.S.S. and MAGIC, X-ray binary systems were considered to be prime candidates for galactic sources of VHE gamma-ray emission. Given their striking morphological and spectral similarity to Active Galactic Nuclei, which were already known produce abundant photons with multi-TeV energies, it seemed obvious that X-ray binary systems should also be luminous VHE gamma-ray sources.
However, it soon became clear that this was not the case. To date, only 5 VHE Gamma-Ray Binary systems have been identified. I will discuss the historical search for VHE gamma-ray emission from X-ray binaries and will review the intriguing and frustratingly diverse characteristics of the few examples that have been identified.
Finally, I will briefly discuss how next-generation instruments like CTA may help to improve our current understanding of this rare and mysterious source category.