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A low level of extragalactic background light as revealed by γ-rays from blazars

Author

Listed:
  • F. Aharonian

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • A. G. Akhperjanian

    (Yerevan Physics Institute)

  • A. R. Bazer-Bachi

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS/UPS)

  • M. Beilicke

    (Universität Hamburg, Institut für Experimentalphysik)

  • W. Benbow

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • D. Berge

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • K. Bernlöhr

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
    Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • C. Boisson

    (LUTH, UMR 8102 du CNRS, Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon)

  • O. Bolz

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • V. Borrel

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS/UPS)

  • I. Braun

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • F. Breitling

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • A. M. Brown

    (University of Durham)

  • P. M. Chadwick

    (University of Durham)

  • L.-M. Chounet

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • R. Cornils

    (Universität Hamburg, Institut für Experimentalphysik)

  • L. Costamante

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
    European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy)

  • B. Degrange

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • H. J. Dickinson

    (University of Durham)

  • A. Djannati-Ataï

    (APC)

  • L. O'C. Drury

    (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)

  • G. Dubus

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • D. Emmanoulopoulos

    (Landessternwarte, Königstuhl)

  • P. Espigat

    (APC)

  • F. Feinstein

    (Université Montpellier II)

  • G. Fontaine

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • Y. Fuchs

    (Université Joseph Fourier)

  • S. Funk

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • Y. A. Gallant

    (Université Montpellier II)

  • B. Giebels

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • S. Gillessen

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • J. F. Glicenstein

    (DAPNIA/DSM/CEA, CE Saclay)

  • P. Goret

    (DAPNIA/DSM/CEA, CE Saclay)

  • C. Hadjichristidis

    (University of Durham)

  • D. Hauser

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • M. Hauser

    (Landessternwarte, Königstuhl)

  • G. Heinzelmann

    (Universität Hamburg, Institut für Experimentalphysik)

  • G. Henri

    (Université Joseph Fourier)

  • G. Hermann

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • J. A. Hinton

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • W. Hofmann

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • M. Holleran

    (North-West University)

  • D. Horns

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • A. Jacholkowska

    (Université Montpellier II)

  • O. C. de Jager

    (North-West University)

  • B. Khélifi

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • S. Klages

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • Nu. Komin

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • A. Konopelko

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • I. J. Latham

    (University of Durham)

  • R. Le Gallou

    (University of Durham)

  • A. Lemière

    (APC)

  • M. Lemoine-Goumard

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • N. Leroy

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique)

  • T. Lohse

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • J. M. Martin

    (LUTH, UMR 8102 du CNRS, Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon)

  • O. Martineau-Huynh

    (Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • A. Marcowith

    (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS/UPS)

  • C. Masterson

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik
    European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy)

  • T. J. L. McComb

    (University of Durham)

  • M. de Naurois

    (Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • S. J. Nolan

    (University of Durham)

  • A. Noutsos

    (University of Durham)

  • K. J. Orford

    (University of Durham)

  • J. L. Osborne

    (University of Durham)

  • M. Ouchrif

    (European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy
    Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • M. Panter

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • G. Pelletier

    (Université Joseph Fourier)

  • S. Pita

    (APC)

  • G. Pühlhofer

    (Landessternwarte, Königstuhl)

  • M. Punch

    (APC)

  • B. C. Raubenheimer

    (North-West University)

  • M. Raue

    (Universität Hamburg, Institut für Experimentalphysik)

  • J. Raux

    (Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • S. M. Rayner

    (University of Durham)

  • A. Reimer

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • O. Reimer

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • J. Ripken

    (Universität Hamburg, Institut für Experimentalphysik)

  • L. Rob

    (Charles University)

  • L. Rolland

    (Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • G. Rowell

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • V. Sahakian

    (Yerevan Physics Institute)

  • L. Saugé

    (Université Joseph Fourier)

  • S. Schlenker

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • R. Schlickeiser

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • C. Schuster

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • U. Schwanke

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • M. Siewert

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • H. Sol

    (LUTH, UMR 8102 du CNRS, Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon)

  • D. Spangler

    (University of Durham)

  • R. Steenkamp

    (University of Namibia)

  • C. Stegmann

    (Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

  • J.-P. Tavernet

    (Universités Paris VI & VII)

  • R. Terrier

    (APC)

  • C. G. Théoret

    (APC)

  • M. Tluczykont

    (Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, IN2P3/CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique
    European Associated Laboratory for Gamma-Ray Astronomy)

  • C. van Eldik

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • G. Vasileiadis

    (Université Montpellier II)

  • C. Venter

    (North-West University)

  • P. Vincent

    (North-West University)

  • H. J. Völk

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • S. J. Wagner

    (Landessternwarte, Königstuhl)

Abstract

Subdued lighting The diffuse light permeating intergalactic space contains precious information about the early Universe. Exactly what information is a matter of conjecture: light from the first stars, perhaps, or direct starlight from later galaxies? Gamma-ray observations of two distant active galaxies with HESS, the High Energy Stereoscopic System array in Namibia, reveal that the diffuse light intensity is lower than expected from recent claims. This suggests that the Universe is more transparent to γ-rays than was thought, and favours galaxies as the dominant light source, rather than early stars.

Suggested Citation

  • F. Aharonian & A. G. Akhperjanian & A. R. Bazer-Bachi & M. Beilicke & W. Benbow & D. Berge & K. Bernlöhr & C. Boisson & O. Bolz & V. Borrel & I. Braun & F. Breitling & A. M. Brown & P. M. Chadwick & L, 2006. "A low level of extragalactic background light as revealed by γ-rays from blazars," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7087), pages 1018-1021, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:440:y:2006:i:7087:d:10.1038_nature04680
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04680
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