Detection of VHE Bridge emission from the Crab pulsar with the MAGIC Telescopes

Abstract

The Crab pulsar is the only astronomical pulsed source detected above 100 GeV. The emission mechanism of very high energy gamma-ray pulsation is not yet fully understood, although several theoretical models have been proposed. In order to test the new models, we measured the light curve and the spectra of the Crab pulsar with high precision by means of deep observations. We analyzed 135 hours of selected MAGIC data taken between 2009 and 2013 in stereoscopic mode. In order to discuss the spectral shape in connection with lower energies, 4.6 years of Fermi-LAT data were also analyzed. The known two pulses per period were detected with a significance of 8.0 σ and 12.6 σ. In addition, significant bridge emission was found between the two pulses with 6.2 σ. This emission can not be explained with the existing theories. These data can be used for testing new theoretical models.