TeV Gamma-Ray Observations of the Galactic Center

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Abstract
We report a possible detection of TeV gamma rays from the Galactic center by the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope. Twenty-six hours of data were taken over an extended period from 1995 through 2003 resulting in a total significance of 3.7 σ. The measured excess corresponds to an integral flux of 1.6 × 10-8 ± 0.5 × 10-8 (stat) ± 0.3 × 10-8 (sys) photons m-2 s-1 above an energy of 2.8 TeV, roughly 40% of the flux from the Crab Nebula at this energy. The 95% confidence region has an angular extent of about 15' and includes the position of Sgr A*. The detection is consistent with a point source and shows no evidence of variability.
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