Spectral trends in the Very High Energy blazar sample due to EBL absorption

Abstract

The absorption of gamma-rays in the intergalactic medium due to the EBL (Extragalactic Background Light) causes the observed blazar spectrum to be fainter and softer than their intrinsic state. It could thus be expected to see an effective spectral-softening trend with redshift. No such trend is evident in the sample of VHE blazars currently observed. To check which distributions of the properties of the parent blazar population could reproduce the observations, various simulations are done. The resulting subsamples that satisfy a generic detection criterion for the current generation of ACTs (Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope) are checked to identify whether any inherent correlations (of spectral properties with redshift) are required to explain the current observations.