The VERITAS Survey of the Cygnus Region of the Galaxy

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed gamma-ray survey of the Cygnus region using VERITAS and Fermi-LAT data, revealing insights into particle acceleration in various astrophysical sources.

Contribution

It provides a reanalysis of VERITAS data with improved techniques and cross-correlates it with Fermi-LAT observations to enhance understanding of gamma-ray sources.

Findings

Reanalysis with more sensitive techniques

Cross-correlation with Fermi-LAT data

Motivation for continued observations

Abstract

The Cygnus region is a very active region of our Galaxy with many sources of GeV and TeV gamma-ray emission, such as supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, and massive star clusters. A detailed study of the Cygnus region at these energies can give insight into the processes of particle acceleration in astrophysical sources. VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is an array of four 12 meter diameter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO) in southern Arizona. From 2007 through 2012 VERITAS observed the Cygnus region for nearly 300 hours, from 67 to 82 degrees Galactic longitude and from -1 to 4 degrees in Galactic latitude. We have reanalyzed the VERITAS data with updated more sensitive analysis techniques and will be cross correlating that data with the results of an analysis of nearly six years of Fermi-LAT data in the region. Using this cross correlation we can motivate continued observations in this active region of the Galaxy.