Observations of the magnetars 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586 with the MAGIC telescopes

Context: Magnetars are an extreme, highly magnetized class of isolated neutron stars whose large X-ray luminosity is believed to be driven by their high magnetic field. Aims: We study for the first time the possible very high energy γ-ray emission above 100 GeV from magnetars, observing the sources 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586. Methods: We observed the two sources with atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes in the very high energy range (E > 100 GeV). 4U 0142+61 was observed with the MAGIC I telescope in 2008 for about 25 h and 1E 2259+586 was observed with the MAGIC stereoscopic system in 2010 for about 14 h. The data were analyzed with the standard MAGIC analysis software. Results: Neither magnetar was detected. Upper limits to the differential and integral flux above 200 GeV were computed using the Rolke algorithm. We obtain integral upper limits to the flux of 1.52 × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 and 2.7 × 10-12 cm-2 s-1 with a confidence level of 95% for 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586, respectively. The resulting differential upper limits are presented together with X-ray data and upper limits in the GeV energy range.

Astronomy | L. A. Antonelli | Tenerife | Lausanne | M. V. Fonseca | Zeuthen | Technische Universitat Dortmund | Centro de Investigaciones Energ'eticas | H Germany | S. Spiro | F. Prada | E. Madrid | Spain. | Instituto de Astrof'isica de Canarias | U. L. Laguna | M. F. Physik | Switzerland. | Finland. | I-35131 Padova | Italy. | Japan. | U. Barcelona | Inst. de Astrof'isica de Andaluc'ia | E. Granada | U. Padova | E. Bernardini | W. Rhode | K. Satalecka | O. Blanch | M. Meucci | R. Paoletti | A. Angelis | B. Lotto | D. Lelas | I. Puljak | K. Mannheim | Kyoto University | Infn | V. Stamatescu | A. Treves | A. Biland | R. Mirzoyan | M. Teshima | D. Paneque | T. Toyama | T. Saito | F. Jankowski | T. Schweizer | M. Salvati | S. Covino | Institut de Ciencies de l'Espai | Campus Uab | D. Elektronen-Synchrotron | S. Shore | T. Bretz | Inst. for Nucl. Research | E. Lorenz | M. Makariev | E. Zurich | C. Fruck | Poland | M. Gaug | L. Maraschi | J. Kushida | M. Mariotti | S. Paiano | F. Dazzi | P. Antoranz | J. Barrio | W. Bednarek | G. Bonnoli | E. Carmona | A. Carosi | P. Colin | J. Contreras | J. Cortina | L. Cossio | M. Doert | D. Dorner | M. Doro | D. Ferenc | L. Font | G. Giavitto | A. G. Muñoz | D. Hadasch | D. Hrupec | T. Krahenbuhl | J. Krause | E. Lindfors | S. Lombardi | G. Maneva | D. Mazin | J. Miranda | P. Munar-Adrover | D. Nakajima | A. Niedźwiecki | D. Nieto | N. Nowak | R. Orito | J. Paredes | M. Persic | E. Prandini | J. Rico | A. Saggion | K. Saito | V. Scalzotto | V. Scapin | C. Schultz | J. Sitarek | D. Sobczynska | F. Spanier | A. Stamerra | S. Sun | L. Takalo | H. Takami | P. Temnikov | O. Tibolla | D. Torres | P. Vogler | Q. Weitzel | R. Zanin | D. Tridon | F. Tavecchio | I. Trieste | U. D. Almeida | S. Bonnefoy | E. Colombo | P. D. Vela | G. Caneva | C. Mendez | A. Dom'inguez | D. D. Prester | D. Eisenacher | D. Elsaesser | R. L'opez | M. Garczarczyk | D. G. Terrats | N. Godinovi'c | S. Gozzini | A. Herrero | J. Hose | V. Kadenius | S. Klepser | A. Barbera | N. Lewandowska | M. L'opez | R. L'opez-Coto | A. L'opez-Oramas | I. Lozano | K. Mallot | N. Mankuzhiyil | B. Marcote | M. Mart'inez | A. Moralejo | K. Nilsson | M. Palatiello | S. Partini | P. Moroni | R. Reinthal | M. Rib'o | S. Rugamer | A. Sillanpaa | I. Šnidarić | J. Storz | T. Suri'c | T. Terzi'c | D. Tescaro | M. Uellenbeck | R. Wagner | F. Zandanel | E-08193 Bellaterra | U. Udine | I. Udine | I. I. F. Astrophysics | I. Rome | U. Siena | I. Pisa | Croatian Magic Consortium | Rudjer Boskovic Institute | University of Rijeka | University of Split | HR-10000 Zagreb | Croatia. | D-80805 Munchen | U. Complutense | E-38200 La Laguna | U. L'od'z | PL-90236 L'od'z | D. Zeuthen | CH-8093 Zurich | U. Wurzburg | D-97074 Wurzburg | Medioambientales y Tecnol'ogicas | D. Dortmund | Universita' dell'Insubria | Como | I-22100 Como | Japanese Magic Consortium | D. Physics | T. Observatory | U. Turku | Nucl. Energy | BG-1784 Sofia | Bulgaria. | E. Barcelona | U. Pisa | N. C. E. P. F. D. Lausanne | N. Eso | A. M. D. D. F. Teorica | Uamcsic | M. Pilia | M. Asensio | K. Berger | R. Bock | J. Masbou | A. Boller | B. Steinke | E. Leonardo | J. Mold'on | I. Reichardt | Edifici Cn. | I-53100 Siena | D. Astrof'isica | FI-21500 Piikkio | Inaf-Osservatorio Astronomico | Icrea | supported by Infn Padova | University of L'od'z | M. Knoetig | D. Fidalgo | A. Hadamek | T. M. C. J. Aleksi'c | N. R. Ifae | now at Desy | A. Domínguez | PL-90236 Lodz | L. Antonelli | T. Saito | E. Bernardini | I. Puljak | T. Saito | Institut de Ci'encies de l'Espai | INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico

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