Title:
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Multiwavelength Observations of the TeV Binary LS I +61303
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This thesis describes the search for and eventual detection of very high energy gamma-ray
emission from the galactic binary LS I +61 303 utilizing both the Fred Lawrence Whipple 10
meter atmospheric Cherenkov telescope as well as VERITAS, which is a newly constructed array
of atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes; both sensitive in the TeV gamma-ray regime. Although
the source was not detected with the Whipple 10 m telescope, flux upper limits were placed on
its emission above >540 GeV. Observations of LS I +61 303 were conducted with the VERITAS
array in the 2006/2007 observing season resulting in a detection of the source in> 310 GeV
gamma-rays at a 7.23cr significance. Along with the detection in very high energy gamma-rays
by VERITAS, contemporaneous observations of LS I +61 303 in the hard X-ray regime with the
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and Swift satellites are described. All three sets of observations
show LS 1+61 303 to be a variable source in both energy regimes, with this variability associated
with changes in the 26.496 day orbital cycle of the binary system. A search for correlation
between emission in both the hard X-ray and energy regimes is carried out with no statistically
viable correlation found. The two most basic models built to describe the system (i.e. rnicroquasar
_ __ __ __ _ ~~bina!Y pulsar) are described in detail and compared to the available observations. --- -- --'- -------'------_._----- - ._~ It is found __. --------_ -.:'.-:-- _ _'.-_._._---------._------_._------------
that neither model satisfactorily describes the emission properties of the system as detailed in this
work.
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