In this paper, we compile the very-high-energy and high-energy spectral indices of 43 BL Lac objects from the literature. Based on a simple math model, ΔΓobs=αz+β, we present evidence for the origin of an observed spectral break that is denoted by the difference between the observed very-high-energy and high-energy spectral indices, ΔΓobs. We find by linear regression analysis that α=0 and β=0. These results suggest that the extragalactic background light attenuation and the intrinsic curvature dominate on the GeV-TeV γ-ray energy spectral break of BL Lac objects. We argue that the extragalactic background light attenuation is an exclusive explanation for the redshift evolution of the observed spectral break.
@article{arxiv.1808.00599,
title = {GeV-TeV $\gamma$-ray energy spectral break of BL Lac objects},
author = {W. Zhong and W. G. Liu and Y. G. Zheng},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1808.00599},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in APSS