The Energetic Particle Population in Centaurus A. Issue Volume 12:Issue S324(2016) (23rd June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chadwick, Paula; Brown, Anthony M.; Boehm, Celine; Graham, Jamie; Lacroix, Thomas; Silk, Joseph
• Editors: Gomboc, Andreja
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 12:Issue S324(2016)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 214
• Publication Date: 2017-06-23
• Subjects: gamma rays: observations, -- dark matter, -- galaxies: active, -- pulsars: general; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921317002290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: We report a significant hardening of the Fermi -LAT gamma-ray spectrum from the core of Cen A at E > 2.4 GeV, suggesting there is a source of high energy particles in the core of Cen A which is in addition to the jet component. We show that the observed gamma-ray spectrum is compatible with either a spike in the dark matter halo profile or a population of millisecond pulsars. This work gives a strong indication of new gamma-ray production mechanisms in active galactic nuclei and could even provide evidence for the clustering of heavy dark matter particles around black holes.