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Free keywords:
Astrophysics, High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, astro-ph.HE
Abstract:
Very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma radiation has already been detected
from several supernova remnants (SNRs). These objects, which are well-studied
in radio, optical and X-ray wavelengths, constitute one of the most intriguing
source classes in VHE astronomy. H.E.S.S., an array of four imaging atmospheric
Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia, has recorded an extensive dataset of VHE
gamma-ray observations covering the central region of the Milky Way, both from
pointed observations as well as from the Galactic Plane Survey conducted in the
inner region of the Galaxy. From radio observations, several hundred SNRs are
known in the Milky Way, but until now only few of them have been identified as
VHE gamma-ray emitters. Using the H.E.S.S. dataset and a large ensemble of
radio SNRs localized in the inner region of the Galaxy, the standard framework
that links the origin of cosmic rays to the gamma-ray visibility of SNRs can
now be tested. Here we present the ensemble of investigated SNRs and discuss
constraints on the parameter space used within a theoretical model of hadronic
VHE gamma-ray production.
