Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

The VERITAS Survey of the Cygnus Region

M. Krause
for the VERITAS Collaboration

Abstract:

Regions with prominent star formation activity contain a larger number of potential cosmic-ray accelerators such as supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, high mass X-ray binary systems and massive star clusters. They are of great interest for understanding the acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays. The interactions of cosmic rays with the Galactic interstellar gas and radiation fields lead to the emission of very-high-energy diffuse gamma radiation. The Cygnus region is a very active star-forming region of our Galaxy, with a large number of known GeV-TeV gamma-ray emitters. The TeV regime was studied using data taken by VERITAS, an array of four 12-meter-diameter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes located in Arizona, USA. From 2007 through 2012, it surveyed the Cygnus region for about 300 hours, covering the area from 67 to 83 degrees in Galactic longitude and from -2 to 5 degrees in Galactic latitude. We present an updated analysis of the VERITAS dataset.