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arxiv: 0708.3104 · v1 · submitted 2007-08-22 · 🌌 astro-ph

Detecting a unique EBL signature with TeV gamma rays

classification 🌌 astro-ph
keywords densitydetectingspectralbreakmid-irnearsignaturespectra
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We discuss prospects for detecting a spectral break in gamma-ray spectra of blazars due to the extragalactic background light (EBL) density falling off between the near and mid-IR. A measurable spectral change in the TeV spectra at 1 TeV could arise from a rapid or slow drop in the EBL density above ~1 micron. This effect is mediated by the ratio of the near to mid-IR density of EBL. A detection of such a spectral feature could become a clear signature of EBL absorption. A non-detection would give a strong observational constraint to the shape of the EBL spectrum. We present calculations estimating the sensitivity of TeV telescopes for detecting such a break for blazar observations at different redshifts.

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