VHE γ-ray observations of bright BL Lacs with the Large-Sized Telescope prototype (LST-1) of the CTAO

Abe, K.; Abe, S.; Abhishek, A.; Acero, F.; Aguasca-Cabot, A.; Agudo, I.; Alispach, C.; Ambrosino, D.; Ambrosino, F.; Antonelli, L. A.; Aramo, C.; Arbet-Engels, A.; Arcaro, C.; Arnesen, T. T. H.; Asano, K.; Aubert, P.; Baktash, A.; Balbo, M.; Bamba, A.; Baquero Larriva, A.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Barrios Jiménez, L.; Batkovic, I.; Baxter, J.; Becerra González, J.; Bernardini, E.; Bernete, J.; Berti, A.; Bezshyiko, I.; Bigongiari, C.; Bissaldi, E.; Blanch, O.; Bonnoli, G.; Bordas, P.; Borkowski, G.; Brunelli, G.; Bulgarelli, A.; Bunse, M.; Burelli, I.; Burmistrov, L.; Cardillo, M.; Caroff, S.; Carosi, A.; Carraro, R.; Carrasco, M. S.; Cassol, F.; Cerasole, D.; Ceribella, G.; Cortínez, A. Cerviño; Chai, Y.; Cheng, K.; Chiavassa, A.; Chikawa, M.; Chon, G.; Chytka, L.; Cicciari, G. M.; Cifuentes, A.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Costantini, H.; Dalchenko, M.; Da Vela, P.; Dazzi, F.; De Angelis, A.; de Lavergne, M. de Bony; Del Burgo, R.; Delgado, C.; Delgado Mengual, J.; Dellaiera, M.; della Volpe, D.; De Lotto, B.; Del Peral, L.; de Menezes, R.; De Palma, G.; Díaz, C.; Di Marco, G.; Di Piano, A.; Di Pierro, F.; Di Tria, R.; Di Venere, L.; Dominik, R. M.; Dominis Prester, D.; Donini, A.; Dorner, D.; Doro, M.; Eisenberger, L.; Elsässer, D.; Emery, G.; Escudero, J.; Fallah Ramazani, V.; Ferrarotto, F.; Fiasson, A.; Foffano, L.; Frías García-Lago, F.; Fröse, S.; Fukazawa, Y.; Gallozzi, S.; Garcia López, R.; Garcia Soto, S. et al.
Referencia bibliográfica

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Fecha de publicación:
11
2025
Número de autores
332
Número de autores del IAC
12
Número de citas
0
Número de citas referidas
0
Descripción
Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is the next-generation ground-based $\gamma$-ray observatory operating in the energy range from $20\, \mathrm{GeV}$ up to $300\, \mathrm{TeV}$, with two sites in La Palma (Spain) and Paranal (Chile). It will consist of telescopes of three sizes, covering different parts of the large energy range. We report on the performance of Large-Sized Telescope prototype (LST-1) in the detection and characterization of extragalactic $\gamma$-ray sources, with a focus on the reconstructed $\gamma$-ray spectra and variability of classical bright BL Lacertae objects, which were observed during the early commissioning phase of the instrument. LST-1 data from known bright $\gamma$-ray blazars – Markarian 421, Markarian 501, 1ES 1959+650, 1ES 0647+250, and PG 1553 + 113 – were collected between 2020 July 10, and 2022 May 23, covering a zenith angle range of 4$^\circ$ to 57$^\circ$. The reconstructed light curves were analysed using a Bayesian block algorithm to distinguish the different activity phases of each blazar. Simultaneous Fermi-LAT data were utilized to reconstruct the broad-band $\gamma$-ray spectra for the sources during each activity phase. High-level reconstructed data in a format compatible with gammapy are provided together with measured light curves and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for several bright blazars and an interpretation of the observed variability in long and short time-scales. Simulations of historical flares are generated to evaluate the sensitivity of LST-1. This work represents the first milestone in monitoring bright BL Lacertae objects with a CTAO telescope.