Very high energy gamma rays from the direction of Sagittarius A*

Abstract

We report the detection of a point-like source of very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays coincident within 1' of Sgr A*, obtained with the H.E.S.S. array of Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-rays exhibit a power-law energy spectrum with a spectral index of -2.2 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.15 and a flux above the 165 GeV threshold of (1.82 +/- 0.22) * 10^-7 m^-2 s^-1. The measured flux and spectrum differ substantially from recent results reported in particular by the CANGAROO collaboration.