Pulsed Very High Energy γ-ray Emission Constraints for PSR B1951+32 from STACEE Observations

Abstract

The Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) is a ground-based telescope that uses the wave-front-sampling technique to detect very high energy (VHE) gamma rays. STACEE’s sensitivity in the energy range near 100 GeV permits useful observations of pulsars with the potential to discriminate between various proposed mechanisms for pulsed gamma-ray emission. Based on the 11.3 hr of data taken during the 2005 and 2006 observing seasons, we derive an upper limit on the pulsed gamma-ray emission from PSR B1951+32 of <6.53 × 10⁻¹¹ photons cm⁻² s⁻¹ above an energy threshold of 117 GeV.

John Kildea

Associate Professor (tenured) of Medical Physics