Possible detection of TeV gamma rays from AM Herculis

Abstract

This paper reports a possible detection of TeV gamma rays from the magnetic white dwarf binary system AM Herculis, with a phase-averaged flux of (5.6 + or - 2.1) x 10 to the -11th photons/sq cm per sec at energies above 2 x 10 to the 12th eV. The gamma-ray light curve exhibits two broad emission peaks at magnetic phases around (0.1 + or - 0.2) and (0.6 + or - 0.2) and closely matches in shape the phase modulation of circularly polarized light emitted by the source.