Exploring the Galaxy at TeV energies: Latest results from the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey

TL;DR

The H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey has mapped the inner Galaxy at TeV energies, discovering over 60 gamma-ray sources and improving sensitivity with advanced analysis methods, revealing a diverse population of VHE emitters.

Contribution

This paper presents the first comprehensive survey of the inner Galaxy at TeV energies, identifying over 60 sources and enhancing detection sensitivity with new analysis techniques.

Findings

Discovered over 60 VHE gamma-ray sources in the inner Galaxy.

Identified the dominant source classes as pulsar wind nebulae and supernova remnants.

Improved sensitivity of H.E.S.S. to faint sources through advanced discrimination methods.

Abstract

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is an array of four imaging atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes located in Namibia and designed to detect extensive air showers initiated by gamma-rays in the very-high-energy domain. It is an ideal instrument for surveying the Galactic plane in search of new sources, thanks to its location in the Southern Hemisphere, its excellent sensitivity, and its large field-of-view. The efforts of the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey, the first comprehensive survey of the inner Galaxy at TeV energies, have contributed to the discovery of an unexpectedly large and diverse population of over 60 sources of VHE gamma rays within its current range of l=250 to 65 degrees in longitude and |b|<=3.5 degrees in latitude. The population of VHE gamma-ray emitters is dominated by the pulsar wind nebula and supernova remnant source classes, although nearly a third remain unidentified or confused. The sensitivity of H.E.S.S. to sources in the inner Galaxy has improved significantly over the past two years, from continued survey observations, dedicated follow-up observations of interesting source candidates, and from the development of advanced methods for discrimination of gamma-ray-induced showers from the dominant background of hadron-induced showers. The latest maps of the Galaxy at TeV energies will be presented, and a few remarkable new sources will be highlighted.