Probing quantum gravity using photons from a flare of the active galactic nucleus Markarian 501 observed by the MAGIC telescope

We use the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC gamma-ray telescope during a flare of the active galaxy Markarian 501 to probe a vacuum refractive index ~ 1-(E/M_QGn)^n, n = 1,2, that might be induced by quantum gravity. The peaking of the flare is found to maximize for quantum-gravity mass scale...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Albert, J., Aliu, E., Anderhub, H., Antonelli, L.A., Antoranz, P., Backes, M., Baixeras, C., Barrio, J.A., Bartko, H., Bastieri, D., Becker, J.K., Bednarek, W., Berger, K., Bernardini, E., Bigongiari, C., Biland, A., Bock, R.K., Bonnoli, G., Bordas, P., Bosch-Ramon, V., Bretz, T., Britvitch, I., Camara, M., Carmona, E., Chilingarian, A., Commichau, S., Contreras, J.L., Cortina, J., Costado, M.T., Covino, S., Curtef, V., Dazzi, F., De Angelis, A., De Cea del Pozo, E., Delgado Mendez, C., de los Reyes, R., De Lotto, B., De Maria, M., De Sabata, F., Dominguez, A., Dorner, D., Doro, M., Errando, M., Fagiolini, M., Ferenc, D., Fernandez, E., Firpo, R., Fonseca, M.V., Font, L., Galante, N., Garcia Lopez, R.J., Garczarczyk, M., Gaug, M., Goebel, F., Hayashida, M., Herrero, A., Hohne, D., Hose, J., Hsu, C.C., Huber, S., Jogler, T., Kranich, D., La Barbera, A., Laille, A., Leonardo, E., Lindfors, E., Lombardi, S., Longo, F., Lopez, M., Lorenz, E., Majumdar, P., Maneva, G., Mankuzhiyil, N., Mannheim, K., Maraschi, L., Mariotti, M., Martinez, M., Mazin, D., Meucci, M., Meyer, M., Miranda, J.M., Mirzoyan, R., Moles, M., Moralejo, A., Nieto, D., Nilsson, K., Ninkovic, J., Otte, N., Oya, I., Panniello, M., Paoletti, R., Paredes, J.M., Pasanen, M., Pascoli, D., Pauss, F., Pegna, R.G., Perez-Torres, M.A., Persic, M., Peruzzo, L., Piccioli, A., Prada, F., Prandini, E., Puchades, N., Raymers, A., Rhode, W., Ribo, M., Rico, J., Rissi, M., Robert, A., Rugamer, S., Saggion, A., Saito, T.Y., Salvati, M., Sanchez-Conde, M., Sartori, P., Satalecka, K., Scalzotto, V., Scapin, V., Schmitt, R., Schweizer, T., Shayduk, M., Shinozaki, K., Sidro, N., Sierpowska-Bartosik, A., Sillanpaa, A., Sobczynska, D., Spanier, F., Stamerra, A., Stark, L.S., Takalo, L., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Tescaro, D., Teshima, M., Tluczykont, M., Torres, D.F., Turini, N., Vankov, H., Venturini, A., Vitale, V., Wagner, R.M., Wittek, W., Zabalza, V., Zandanel, F., Zanin, R., Zapatero, J., Ellis, John R., Mavromatos, N.E., Nanopoulos, D.V., Sakharov, A.S., Sarkisyan, E.K.G.
Lenguaje:eng
Publicado: 2007
Materias:
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Acceso en línea:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2008.08.053
http://cds.cern.ch/record/1052516
Descripción
Sumario:We use the timing of photons observed by the MAGIC gamma-ray telescope during a flare of the active galaxy Markarian 501 to probe a vacuum refractive index ~ 1-(E/M_QGn)^n, n = 1,2, that might be induced by quantum gravity. The peaking of the flare is found to maximize for quantum-gravity mass scales M_QG1 ~ 0.4x10^18 GeV or M_QG2 ~ 0.6x10^11 GeV, and we establish lower limits M_QG1 > 0.26x10^18 GeV or M_QG2 > 0.39x10^11 GeV at the 95% C.L. Monte Carlo studies confirm the MAGIC sensitivity to propagation effects at these levels. Thermal plasma effects in the source are negligible, but we cannot exclude the importance of some other source effect.

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