The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars

M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; A. Allafort; P. Schady; L. Baldini; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; R. Bellazzini; R. D. Blandford; E. D. Bloom; A. W. Borgland; E. Bottacini; A. Bouvier; J. Bregeon; M. Brigida; P. Bruel; R. Buehler; S. Buson; G. A. Caliandro; R. A. Cameron; P. A. Caraveo; E. Cavazzuti; C. Cecchi; E. Charles; R. C.G. Chaves; A. Chekhtman; C. C. Cheung; J. Chiang; G. Chiaro; S. Ciprini; R. Claus; J. Cohen-Tanugi; J. Conrad; S. Cutini; F. D'Ammando; F. De Palma; C. D. Dermer; S. W. Digel; E. Do Couto E Silva; A. Domínguez; P. S. Drell; A. Drlica-Wagner; C. Favuzzi; S. J. Fegan; W. B. Focke; A. Franckowiak; Y. Fukazawa; S. Funk; P. Fusco; F. Gargano; D. Gasparrini; N. Gehrels; S. Germani; N. Giglietto; F. Giordano; M. Giroletti; T. Glanzman; G. Godfrey; I. A. Grenier; J. E. Grove; S. Guiriec; M. Gustafsson; D. Hadasch; M. Hayashida; E. Hays; M. S. Jackson; T. Jogler; J. Kataoka; J. Knödlseder; M. Kuss; J. Lande; S. Larsson; L. Latronico; F. Longo; F. Loparco; M. N. Lovellette; P. Lubrano; M. N. Mazziotta; J. E. McEnery; J. Mehault; P. F. Michelson; T. Mizuno; C. Monte; M. E. Monzani; A. Morselli; I. V. Moskalenko; S. Murgia; A. Tramacere; E. Nuss; J. Greiner; M. Ohno; T. Ohsugi; N. Omodei; M. Orienti; E. Orlando; J. F. Ormes; D. Paneque; J. S. Perkins; M. Pesce-Rollins; F. Piron; G. Pivato; T. A. Porter; S. Rainò; R. Rando; M. Razzano; S. Razzaque; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; L. C. Reyes; S. Ritz; A. Rau; C. Romoli; M. Roth; M. Sánchez-Conde; D. A. Sanchez; J. D. Scargle; C. Sgrò; E. J. Siskind; G. Spandre; P. Spinelli; Łukasz Stawarz; D. J. Suson; H. Takahashi; T. Tanaka; J. G. Thayer; D. J. Thompson; L. Tibaldo; M. Tinivella; D. F. Torres; G. Tosti; E. Troja; T. L. Usher; J. Vandenbroucke; V. Vasileiou; G. Vianello; V. Vitale; A. P. Waite; B. L. Winer; K. S. Wood; M. Wood

doi:10.1126/science.1227160

The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars

M. Ackermann, M. Ajello, A. Allafort, P. Schady, L. Baldini, J. Ballet, G. Barbiellini, D. Bastieri, R. Bellazzini, R. D. Blandford, E. D. Bloom, A. W. Borgland, E. Bottacini, A. Bouvier, J. Bregeon, M. Brigida, P. Bruel, R. Buehler, S. Buson, G. A. CaliandroR. A. Cameron, P. A. Caraveo, E. Cavazzuti, C. Cecchi, E. Charles, R. C.G. Chaves, A. Chekhtman, C. C. Cheung, J. Chiang, G. Chiaro, S. Ciprini, R. Claus, J. Cohen-Tanugi, J. Conrad, S. Cutini, F. D'Ammando, F. De Palma, C. D. Dermer, S. W. Digel, E. Do Couto E Silva, A. Domínguez, P. S. Drell, A. Drlica-Wagner, C. Favuzzi, S. J. Fegan, W. B. Focke, A. Franckowiak, Y. Fukazawa, S. Funk, P. Fusco, F. Gargano, D. Gasparrini, N. Gehrels, S. Germani, N. Giglietto, F. Giordano, M. Giroletti, T. Glanzman, G. Godfrey, I. A. Grenier, J. E. Grove, S. Guiriec, M. Gustafsson, D. Hadasch, M. Hayashida, E. Hays, M. S. Jackson, T. Jogler, J. Kataoka, J. Knödlseder, M. Kuss, J. Lande, S. Larsson, L. Latronico, F. Longo, F. Loparco, M. N. Lovellette, P. Lubrano, M. N. Mazziotta, J. E. McEnery, J. Mehault, P. F. Michelson, T. Mizuno, C. Monte, M. E. Monzani, A. Morselli, I. V. Moskalenko, S. Murgia, A. Tramacere, E. Nuss, J. Greiner, M. Ohno, T. Ohsugi, N. Omodei, M. Orienti, E. Orlando, J. F. Ormes, D. Paneque, J. S. Perkins, M. Pesce-Rollins, F. Piron, G. Pivato, T. A. Porter, S. Rainò, R. Rando, M. Razzano, S. Razzaque, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, L. C. Reyes, S. Ritz, A. Rau, C. Romoli, M. Roth, M. Sánchez-Conde, D. A. Sanchez, J. D. Scargle, C. Sgrò, E. J. Siskind, G. Spandre, P. Spinelli, Łukasz Stawarz, D. J. Suson, H. Takahashi, T. Tanaka, J. G. Thayer, D. J. Thompson, L. Tibaldo, M. Tinivella, D. F. Torres, G. Tosti, E. Troja, T. L. Usher, J. Vandenbroucke, V. Vasileiou, G. Vianello, V. Vitale, A. P. Waite, B. L. Winer, K. S. Wood, M. Wood

School of Advanced Science and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

179 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The light emitted by stars and accreting compact objects through the history of the universe is encoded in the intensity of the extragalactic background light (EBL). Knowledge of the EBL is important to understand the nature of star formation and galaxy evolution, but direct measurements of the EBL are limited by galactic and other foreground emissions. Here, we report an absorption feature seen in the combined spectra of a sample of gamma-ray blazars out to a redshift of z ∼ 1.6. This feature is caused by attenuation of gamma rays by the EBL at optical to ultraviolet frequencies and allowed us to measure the EBL flux density in this frequency band.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1190-1192
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	338
Issue number	6111
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1227160
Publication status	Published - 2012 Nov 30

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

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Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Allafort, A., Schady, P., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bellazzini, R., Blandford, R. D., Bloom, E. D., Borgland, A. W., Bottacini, E., Bouvier, A., Bregeon, J., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., ... Wood, M. (2012). The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars. Science, 338(6111), 1190-1192. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1227160

The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars. / Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.; Schady, P.; Baldini, L.; Ballet, J.; Barbiellini, G.; Bastieri, D.; Bellazzini, R.; Blandford, R. D.; Bloom, E. D.; Borgland, A. W.; Bottacini, E.; Bouvier, A.; Bregeon, J.; Brigida, M.; Bruel, P.; Buehler, R.; Buson, S.; Caliandro, G. A.; Cameron, R. A.; Caraveo, P. A.; Cavazzuti, E.; Cecchi, C.; Charles, E.; Chaves, R. C.G.; Chekhtman, A.; Cheung, C. C.; Chiang, J.; Chiaro, G.; Ciprini, S.; Claus, R.; Cohen-Tanugi, J.; Conrad, J.; Cutini, S.; D'Ammando, F.; De Palma, F.; Dermer, C. D.; Digel, S. W.; Do Couto E Silva, E.; Domínguez, A.; Drell, P. S.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Favuzzi, C.; Fegan, S. J.; Focke, W. B.; Franckowiak, A.; Fukazawa, Y.; Funk, S.; Fusco, P.; Gargano, F.; Gasparrini, D.; Gehrels, N.; Germani, S.; Giglietto, N.; Giordano, F.; Giroletti, M.; Glanzman, T.; Godfrey, G.; Grenier, I. A.; Grove, J. E.; Guiriec, S.; Gustafsson, M.; Hadasch, D.; Hayashida, M.; Hays, E.; Jackson, M. S.; Jogler, T.; Kataoka, J.; Knödlseder, J.; Kuss, M.; Lande, J.; Larsson, S.; Latronico, L.; Longo, F.; Loparco, F.; Lovellette, M. N.; Lubrano, P.; Mazziotta, M. N.; McEnery, J. E.; Mehault, J.; Michelson, P. F.; Mizuno, T.; Monte, C.; Monzani, M. E.; Morselli, A.; Moskalenko, I. V.; Murgia, S.; Tramacere, A.; Nuss, E.; Greiner, J.; Ohno, M.; Ohsugi, T.; Omodei, N.; Orienti, M.; Orlando, E.; Ormes, J. F.; Paneque, D.; Perkins, J. S.; Pesce-Rollins, M.; Piron, F.; Pivato, G.; Porter, T. A.; Rainò, S.; Rando, R.; Razzano, M.; Razzaque, S.; Reimer, A.; Reimer, O.; Reyes, L. C.; Ritz, S.; Rau, A.; Romoli, C.; Roth, M.; Sánchez-Conde, M.; Sanchez, D. A.; Scargle, J. D.; Sgrò, C.; Siskind, E. J.; Spandre, G.; Spinelli, P.; Stawarz, Łukasz; Suson, D. J.; Takahashi, H.; Tanaka, T.; Thayer, J. G.; Thompson, D. J.; Tibaldo, L.; Tinivella, M.; Torres, D. F.; Tosti, G.; Troja, E.; Usher, T. L.; Vandenbroucke, J.; Vasileiou, V.; Vianello, G.; Vitale, V.; Waite, A. P.; Winer, B. L.; Wood, K. S.; Wood, M.

In: Science, Vol. 338, No. 6111, 30.11.2012, p. 1190-1192.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Ackermann, M, Ajello, M, Allafort, A, Schady, P, Baldini, L, Ballet, J, Barbiellini, G, Bastieri, D, Bellazzini, R, Blandford, RD, Bloom, ED, Borgland, AW, Bottacini, E, Bouvier, A, Bregeon, J, Brigida, M, Bruel, P, Buehler, R, Buson, S, Caliandro, GA, Cameron, RA, Caraveo, PA, Cavazzuti, E, Cecchi, C, Charles, E, Chaves, RCG, Chekhtman, A, Cheung, CC, Chiang, J, Chiaro, G, Ciprini, S, Claus, R, Cohen-Tanugi, J, Conrad, J, Cutini, S, D'Ammando, F, De Palma, F, Dermer, CD, Digel, SW, Do Couto E Silva, E, Domínguez, A, Drell, PS, Drlica-Wagner, A, Favuzzi, C, Fegan, SJ, Focke, WB, Franckowiak, A, Fukazawa, Y, Funk, S, Fusco, P, Gargano, F, Gasparrini, D, Gehrels, N, Germani, S, Giglietto, N, Giordano, F, Giroletti, M, Glanzman, T, Godfrey, G, Grenier, IA, Grove, JE, Guiriec, S, Gustafsson, M, Hadasch, D, Hayashida, M, Hays, E, Jackson, MS, Jogler, T, Kataoka, J, Knödlseder, J, Kuss, M, Lande, J, Larsson, S, Latronico, L, Longo, F, Loparco, F, Lovellette, MN, Lubrano, P, Mazziotta, MN, McEnery, JE, Mehault, J, Michelson, PF, Mizuno, T, Monte, C, Monzani, ME, Morselli, A, Moskalenko, IV, Murgia, S, Tramacere, A, Nuss, E, Greiner, J, Ohno, M, Ohsugi, T, Omodei, N, Orienti, M, Orlando, E, Ormes, JF, Paneque, D, Perkins, JS, Pesce-Rollins, M, Piron, F, Pivato, G, Porter, TA, Rainò, S, Rando, R, Razzano, M, Razzaque, S, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Reyes, LC, Ritz, S, Rau, A, Romoli, C, Roth, M, Sánchez-Conde, M, Sanchez, DA, Scargle, JD, Sgrò, C, Siskind, EJ, Spandre, G, Spinelli, P, Stawarz, Ł, Suson, DJ, Takahashi, H, Tanaka, T, Thayer, JG, Thompson, DJ, Tibaldo, L, Tinivella, M, Torres, DF, Tosti, G, Troja, E, Usher, TL, Vandenbroucke, J, Vasileiou, V, Vianello, G, Vitale, V, Waite, AP, Winer, BL, Wood, KS & Wood, M 2012, 'The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars', Science, vol. 338, no. 6111, pp. 1190-1192. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1227160

Ackermann, M. ; Ajello, M. ; Allafort, A. ; Schady, P. ; Baldini, L. ; Ballet, J. ; Barbiellini, G. ; Bastieri, D. ; Bellazzini, R. ; Blandford, R. D. ; Bloom, E. D. ; Borgland, A. W. ; Bottacini, E. ; Bouvier, A. ; Bregeon, J. ; Brigida, M. ; Bruel, P. ; Buehler, R. ; Buson, S. ; Caliandro, G. A. ; Cameron, R. A. ; Caraveo, P. A. ; Cavazzuti, E. ; Cecchi, C. ; Charles, E. ; Chaves, R. C.G. ; Chekhtman, A. ; Cheung, C. C. ; Chiang, J. ; Chiaro, G. ; Ciprini, S. ; Claus, R. ; Cohen-Tanugi, J. ; Conrad, J. ; Cutini, S. ; D'Ammando, F. ; De Palma, F. ; Dermer, C. D. ; Digel, S. W. ; Do Couto E Silva, E. ; Domínguez, A. ; Drell, P. S. ; Drlica-Wagner, A. ; Favuzzi, C. ; Fegan, S. J. ; Focke, W. B. ; Franckowiak, A. ; Fukazawa, Y. ; Funk, S. ; Fusco, P. ; Gargano, F. ; Gasparrini, D. ; Gehrels, N. ; Germani, S. ; Giglietto, N. ; Giordano, F. ; Giroletti, M. ; Glanzman, T. ; Godfrey, G. ; Grenier, I. A. ; Grove, J. E. ; Guiriec, S. ; Gustafsson, M. ; Hadasch, D. ; Hayashida, M. ; Hays, E. ; Jackson, M. S. ; Jogler, T. ; Kataoka, J. ; Knödlseder, J. ; Kuss, M. ; Lande, J. ; Larsson, S. ; Latronico, L. ; Longo, F. ; Loparco, F. ; Lovellette, M. N. ; Lubrano, P. ; Mazziotta, M. N. ; McEnery, J. E. ; Mehault, J. ; Michelson, P. F. ; Mizuno, T. ; Monte, C. ; Monzani, M. E. ; Morselli, A. ; Moskalenko, I. V. ; Murgia, S. ; Tramacere, A. ; Nuss, E. ; Greiner, J. ; Ohno, M. ; Ohsugi, T. ; Omodei, N. ; Orienti, M. ; Orlando, E. ; Ormes, J. F. ; Paneque, D. ; Perkins, J. S. ; Pesce-Rollins, M. ; Piron, F. ; Pivato, G. ; Porter, T. A. ; Rainò, S. ; Rando, R. ; Razzano, M. ; Razzaque, S. ; Reimer, A. ; Reimer, O. ; Reyes, L. C. ; Ritz, S. ; Rau, A. ; Romoli, C. ; Roth, M. ; Sánchez-Conde, M. ; Sanchez, D. A. ; Scargle, J. D. ; Sgrò, C. ; Siskind, E. J. ; Spandre, G. ; Spinelli, P. ; Stawarz, Łukasz ; Suson, D. J. ; Takahashi, H. ; Tanaka, T. ; Thayer, J. G. ; Thompson, D. J. ; Tibaldo, L. ; Tinivella, M. ; Torres, D. F. ; Tosti, G. ; Troja, E. ; Usher, T. L. ; Vandenbroucke, J. ; Vasileiou, V. ; Vianello, G. ; Vitale, V. ; Waite, A. P. ; Winer, B. L. ; Wood, K. S. ; Wood, M. / The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars. In: Science. 2012 ; Vol. 338, No. 6111. pp. 1190-1192.

@article{030f03b1afad49bbbe59d28edc54cc33,

title = "The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars",

abstract = "The light emitted by stars and accreting compact objects through the history of the universe is encoded in the intensity of the extragalactic background light (EBL). Knowledge of the EBL is important to understand the nature of star formation and galaxy evolution, but direct measurements of the EBL are limited by galactic and other foreground emissions. Here, we report an absorption feature seen in the combined spectra of a sample of gamma-ray blazars out to a redshift of z ∼ 1.6. This feature is caused by attenuation of gamma rays by the EBL at optical to ultraviolet frequencies and allowed us to measure the EBL flux density in this frequency band.",

author = "M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and A. Allafort and P. Schady and L. Baldini and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and R. Bellazzini and Blandford, {R. D.} and Bloom, {E. D.} and Borgland, {A. W.} and E. Bottacini and A. Bouvier and J. Bregeon and M. Brigida and P. Bruel and R. Buehler and S. Buson and Caliandro, {G. A.} and Cameron, {R. A.} and Caraveo, {P. A.} and E. Cavazzuti and C. Cecchi and E. Charles and Chaves, {R. C.G.} and A. Chekhtman and Cheung, {C. C.} and J. Chiang and G. Chiaro and S. Ciprini and R. Claus and J. Cohen-Tanugi and J. Conrad and S. Cutini and F. D'Ammando and {De Palma}, F. and Dermer, {C. D.} and Digel, {S. W.} and {Do Couto E Silva}, E. and A. Dom{\'i}nguez and Drell, {P. S.} and A. Drlica-Wagner and C. Favuzzi and Fegan, {S. J.} and Focke, {W. B.} and A. Franckowiak and Y. Fukazawa and S. Funk and P. Fusco and F. Gargano and D. Gasparrini and N. Gehrels and S. Germani and N. Giglietto and F. Giordano and M. Giroletti and T. Glanzman and G. Godfrey and Grenier, {I. A.} and Grove, {J. E.} and S. Guiriec and M. Gustafsson and D. Hadasch and M. Hayashida and E. Hays and Jackson, {M. S.} and T. Jogler and J. Kataoka and J. Kn{\"o}dlseder and M. Kuss and J. Lande and S. Larsson and L. Latronico and F. Longo and F. Loparco and Lovellette, {M. N.} and P. Lubrano and Mazziotta, {M. N.} and McEnery, {J. E.} and J. Mehault and Michelson, {P. F.} and T. Mizuno and C. Monte and Monzani, {M. E.} and A. Morselli and Moskalenko, {I. V.} and S. Murgia and A. Tramacere and E. Nuss and J. Greiner and M. Ohno and T. Ohsugi and N. Omodei and M. Orienti and E. Orlando and Ormes, {J. F.} and D. Paneque and Perkins, {J. S.} and M. Pesce-Rollins and F. Piron and G. Pivato and Porter, {T. A.} and S. Rain{\`o} and R. Rando and M. Razzano and S. Razzaque and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and Reyes, {L. C.} and S. Ritz and A. Rau and C. Romoli and M. Roth and M. S{\'a}nchez-Conde and Sanchez, {D. A.} and Scargle, {J. D.} and C. Sgr{\`o} and Siskind, {E. J.} and G. Spandre and P. Spinelli and {\L}ukasz Stawarz and Suson, {D. J.} and H. Takahashi and T. Tanaka and Thayer, {J. G.} and Thompson, {D. J.} and L. Tibaldo and M. Tinivella and Torres, {D. F.} and G. Tosti and E. Troja and Usher, {T. L.} and J. Vandenbroucke and V. Vasileiou and G. Vianello and V. Vitale and Waite, {A. P.} and Winer, {B. L.} and Wood, {K. S.} and M. Wood",

year = "2012",

month = nov,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1126/science.1227160",

language = "English",

volume = "338",

pages = "1190--1192",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6111",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The imprint of the extragalactic background light in the gamma-ray spectra of blazars

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Allafort, A.

AU - Schady, P.

AU - Baldini, L.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Blandford, R. D.

AU - Bloom, E. D.

AU - Borgland, A. W.

AU - Bottacini, E.

AU - Bouvier, A.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Brigida, M.

AU - Bruel, P.

AU - Buehler, R.

AU - Buson, S.

AU - Caliandro, G. A.

AU - Cameron, R. A.

AU - Caraveo, P. A.

AU - Cavazzuti, E.

AU - Cecchi, C.

AU - Charles, E.

AU - Chaves, R. C.G.

AU - Chekhtman, A.

AU - Cheung, C. C.

AU - Chiang, J.

AU - Chiaro, G.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Claus, R.

AU - Cohen-Tanugi, J.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Cutini, S.

AU - D'Ammando, F.

AU - De Palma, F.

AU - Dermer, C. D.

AU - Digel, S. W.

AU - Do Couto E Silva, E.

AU - Domínguez, A.

AU - Drell, P. S.

AU - Drlica-Wagner, A.

AU - Favuzzi, C.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Focke, W. B.

AU - Franckowiak, A.

AU - Fukazawa, Y.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Fusco, P.

AU - Gargano, F.

AU - Gasparrini, D.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Germani, S.

AU - Giglietto, N.

AU - Giordano, F.

AU - Giroletti, M.

AU - Glanzman, T.

AU - Godfrey, G.

AU - Grenier, I. A.

AU - Grove, J. E.

AU - Guiriec, S.

AU - Gustafsson, M.

AU - Hadasch, D.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Jackson, M. S.

AU - Jogler, T.

AU - Kataoka, J.

AU - Knödlseder, J.

AU - Kuss, M.

AU - Lande, J.

AU - Larsson, S.

AU - Latronico, L.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - Loparco, F.

AU - Lovellette, M. N.

AU - Lubrano, P.

AU - Mazziotta, M. N.

AU - McEnery, J. E.

AU - Mehault, J.

AU - Michelson, P. F.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Monte, C.

AU - Monzani, M. E.

AU - Morselli, A.

AU - Moskalenko, I. V.

AU - Murgia, S.

AU - Tramacere, A.

AU - Nuss, E.

AU - Greiner, J.

AU - Ohno, M.

AU - Ohsugi, T.

AU - Omodei, N.

AU - Orienti, M.

AU - Orlando, E.

AU - Ormes, J. F.

AU - Paneque, D.

AU - Perkins, J. S.

AU - Pesce-Rollins, M.

AU - Piron, F.

AU - Pivato, G.

AU - Porter, T. A.

AU - Rainò, S.

AU - Rando, R.

AU - Razzano, M.

AU - Razzaque, S.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Reyes, L. C.

AU - Ritz, S.

AU - Rau, A.

AU - Romoli, C.

AU - Roth, M.

AU - Sánchez-Conde, M.

AU - Sanchez, D. A.

AU - Scargle, J. D.

AU - Sgrò, C.

AU - Siskind, E. J.

AU - Spandre, G.

AU - Spinelli, P.

AU - Stawarz, Łukasz

AU - Suson, D. J.

AU - Takahashi, H.

AU - Tanaka, T.

AU - Thayer, J. G.

AU - Thompson, D. J.

AU - Tibaldo, L.

AU - Tinivella, M.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Tosti, G.

AU - Troja, E.

AU - Usher, T. L.

AU - Vandenbroucke, J.

AU - Vasileiou, V.

AU - Vianello, G.

AU - Vitale, V.

AU - Waite, A. P.

AU - Winer, B. L.

AU - Wood, K. S.

AU - Wood, M.

PY - 2012/11/30

Y1 - 2012/11/30

N2 - The light emitted by stars and accreting compact objects through the history of the universe is encoded in the intensity of the extragalactic background light (EBL). Knowledge of the EBL is important to understand the nature of star formation and galaxy evolution, but direct measurements of the EBL are limited by galactic and other foreground emissions. Here, we report an absorption feature seen in the combined spectra of a sample of gamma-ray blazars out to a redshift of z ∼ 1.6. This feature is caused by attenuation of gamma rays by the EBL at optical to ultraviolet frequencies and allowed us to measure the EBL flux density in this frequency band.

AB - The light emitted by stars and accreting compact objects through the history of the universe is encoded in the intensity of the extragalactic background light (EBL). Knowledge of the EBL is important to understand the nature of star formation and galaxy evolution, but direct measurements of the EBL are limited by galactic and other foreground emissions. Here, we report an absorption feature seen in the combined spectra of a sample of gamma-ray blazars out to a redshift of z ∼ 1.6. This feature is caused by attenuation of gamma rays by the EBL at optical to ultraviolet frequencies and allowed us to measure the EBL flux density in this frequency band.

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U2 - 10.1126/science.1227160

DO - 10.1126/science.1227160

M3 - Article

C2 - 23118013

AN - SCOPUS:84870185806

VL - 338

SP - 1190

EP - 1192

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6111

ER -