Account for spectral absorption due to the EBL#

Gamma rays emitted from extra-galactic objects, eg blazars, interact with the photons of the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) through pair production and are attenuated, thus modifying the intrinsic spectrum.

Various models of the EBL are supplied in GAMMAPY_DATA. This notebook shows how to use these models to correct for this interaction.

Setup#

As usual, we’ll start with the standard imports …

import astropy.units as u
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from gammapy.catalog import SourceCatalog4FGL
from gammapy.datasets import SpectrumDatasetOnOff
from gammapy.estimators import FluxPointsEstimator
from gammapy.modeling import Fit
from gammapy.modeling.models import (
    EBL_DATA_BUILTIN,
    EBLAbsorptionNormSpectralModel,
    GaussianPrior,
    PowerLawSpectralModel,
    SkyModel,
)

Load the data#

We will use 6 observations of the blazars PKS 2155-304 taken in 2008 by H.E.S.S. when it was in a steady state. The data have already been reduced to OGIP format SpectrumDatasetOnOff following the procedure Spectral analysis tutorial using a ReflectedRegions background estimation. The spectra and IRFs from the 6 observations have been stacked together.

We will load this dataset as a SpectrumDatasetOnOff and proceed with the modeling. You can do a 3D analysis as well.

dataset = SpectrumDatasetOnOff.read(
    "$GAMMAPY_DATA/PKS2155-steady/pks2155-304_steady.fits.gz"
)

print(dataset)
SpectrumDatasetOnOff
--------------------

  Name                            : stacked

  Total counts                    : 119
  Total background counts         : 37.75
  Total excess counts             : 81.25

  Predicted counts                : 44.00
  Predicted background counts     : 44.00
  Predicted excess counts         : nan

  Exposure min                    : 3.80e+05 m2 s
  Exposure max                    : 2.68e+09 m2 s

  Number of total bins            : 10
  Number of fit bins              : 8

  Fit statistic type              : wstat
  Fit statistic value (-2 log(L)) : 109.21

  Number of models                : 0
  Number of parameters            : 0
  Number of free parameters       : 0

  Total counts_off                : 453
  Acceptance                      : 8
  Acceptance off                  : 96

Model the observed spectrum#

The observed spectrum is already attenuated due to the EBL. Assuming that the intrinsic spectrum is a power law, the observed spectrum is a gammapy.modeling.models.CompoundSpectralModel given by the product of an EBL model with the intrinsic model.

For a list of available models, see EBL_DATA_BUILTIN.

print(EBL_DATA_BUILTIN.keys())
dict_keys(['franceschini', 'dominguez', 'finke', 'franceschini17', 'saldana-lopez21'])

To use other EBL models, you need to save the optical depth as a function of energy and redshift as an XSPEC model. Alternatively, you can use packages like ebltable which shows how to interface other EBL models with Gammapy.

Define the power law

index = 2.3
amplitude = 1.81 * 1e-12 * u.Unit("cm-2 s-1 TeV-1")
reference = 1 * u.TeV
pwl = PowerLawSpectralModel(index=index, amplitude=amplitude, reference=reference)
pwl.index.frozen = False
# Specify the redshift of the source
redshift = 0.116

# Load the EBL model. Here we use the model from Dominguez, 2011
absorption = EBLAbsorptionNormSpectralModel.read_builtin("dominguez", redshift=redshift)


# The power-law model is multiplied by the EBL to get the final model
spectral_model = pwl * absorption
print(spectral_model)
CompoundSpectralModel
    Component 1 : PowerLawSpectralModel

type    name     value         unit        error   min max frozen link prior
---- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- --- --- ------ ---- -----
         index 2.3000e+00                0.000e+00 nan nan  False
     amplitude 1.8100e-12 cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 0.000e+00 nan nan  False
     reference 1.0000e+00            TeV 0.000e+00 nan nan   True
    Component 2 : EBLAbsorptionNormSpectralModel

type    name      value    unit   error   min max frozen link prior
---- ---------- ---------- ---- --------- --- --- ------ ---- -----
     alpha_norm 1.0000e+00      0.000e+00 nan nan   True
       redshift 1.1600e-01      0.000e+00 nan nan   True
    Operator : mul

Now, create a sky model and proceed with the fit

sky_model = SkyModel(spatial_model=None, spectral_model=spectral_model, name="pks2155")

dataset.models = sky_model

Note that since this dataset has been produced by a reflected region analysis, it uses ON-OFF statistic and does not require a background model.

fit = Fit()
result = fit.run(datasets=[dataset])

# we make a copy here to compare it later
model_best = sky_model.copy()

print(result.models.to_parameters_table())
 model  type    name      value         unit      ... min max frozen link prior
------- ---- ---------- ---------- -------------- ... --- --- ------ ---- -----
pks2155           index 2.5531e+00                ... nan nan  False
pks2155       amplitude 1.2978e-11 cm-2 s-1 TeV-1 ... nan nan  False
pks2155       reference 1.0000e+00            TeV ... nan nan   True
pks2155      alpha_norm 1.0000e+00                ... nan nan   True
pks2155        redshift 1.1600e-01                ... nan nan   True

Get the flux points#

To get the observed flux points, just run the FluxPointsEstimator normally

energy_edges = dataset.counts.geom.axes["energy"].edges
fpe = FluxPointsEstimator(
    energy_edges=energy_edges, source="pks2155", selection_optional="all"
)
flux_points_obs = fpe.run(datasets=[dataset])

To get the deabsorbed flux points (ie, intrinsic points), we simply need to set the reference model to the best fit power law instead of the compound model.

SkyModel

  Name                      : 2pH8jOvN
  Datasets names            : None
  Spectral model type       : CompoundSpectralModel
  Spatial  model type       :
  Temporal model type       :
  Parameters:
    index                         :      2.553   +/-    0.30
    amplitude                     :   1.30e-11   +/- 1.9e-12 1 / (cm2 s TeV)
    reference             (frozen):      1.000       TeV
    alpha_norm            (frozen):      1.000
    redshift              (frozen):      0.116


SkyModel

  Name                      : Wtik4wx0
  Datasets names            : None
  Spectral model type       : PowerLawSpectralModel
  Spatial  model type       :
  Temporal model type       :
  Parameters:
    index                         :      2.553   +/-    0.30
    amplitude                     :   1.30e-11   +/- 1.9e-12 1 / (cm2 s TeV)
    reference             (frozen):      1.000       TeV

Plot the observed and intrinsic fluxes#

plt.figure()
sed_type = "e2dnde"
energy_bounds = [0.2, 20] * u.TeV
ax = flux_points_obs.plot(sed_type=sed_type, label="observed", color="navy")
flux_points_intrinsic.plot(ax=ax, sed_type=sed_type, label="intrinsic", color="red")

model_best.spectral_model.plot(
    ax=ax, energy_bounds=energy_bounds, sed_type=sed_type, color="blue"
)
model_best.spectral_model.plot_error(
    ax=ax, energy_bounds=energy_bounds, sed_type="e2dnde", facecolor="blue"
)

pwl.plot(ax=ax, energy_bounds=energy_bounds, sed_type=sed_type, color="tomato")
pwl.plot_error(
    ax=ax, energy_bounds=energy_bounds, sed_type=sed_type, facecolor="tomato"
)
plt.ylim(bottom=1e-13)
plt.legend()
plt.show()
# sphinx_gallery_thumbnail_number = 2
ebl

Further extensions#

In this notebook, we have kept the parameters of the EBL model, the alpha_norm and the redshift frozen. Under reasonable assumptions on the intrinsic spectrum, it can be possible to constrain these parameters.

Example: We now assume that the FermiLAT 4FGL catalog spectrum of the source is a good assumption of the intrinsic spectrum.

NOTE: This is a very simplified assumption and in reality, EBL absorption can affect the Fermi spectrum significantly. Also, blazar spectra vary with time and long term averaged states may not be representative of a specific steady state

catalog = SourceCatalog4FGL()

src = catalog["PKS 2155-304"]

# Get the intrinsic model
intrinsic_model = src.spectral_model()
print(intrinsic_model)
LogParabolaSpectralModel

type    name     value         unit        error   min max frozen link prior
---- --------- ---------- -------------- --------- --- --- ------ ---- -----
     amplitude 1.2591e-11 cm-2 MeV-1 s-1 1.317e-13 nan nan  False
     reference 1.1610e+03            MeV 0.000e+00 nan nan   True
         alpha 1.7733e+00                1.029e-02 nan nan  False
          beta 4.1893e-02                3.743e-03 nan nan  False

We add Gaussian priors on the alpha and beta parameters based on the 4FGL measurements and the associated errors. For more details on using priors, see Priors

As before, multiply the intrinsic model with the EBL model

Now, free the redshift of the source

type    name      value         unit      ... max frozen link     prior
---- ---------- ---------- -------------- ... --- ------ ---- -------------
      amplitude 1.2591e-11 cm-2 MeV-1 s-1 ... nan  False
      reference 1.1610e+03            MeV ... nan   True
          alpha 1.7733e+00                ... nan  False      GaussianPrior
           beta 4.1893e-02                ... nan  False      GaussianPrior
     alpha_norm 1.0000e+00                ... nan   True
       redshift 1.1600e-01                ... nan  False
type    name      value         unit      ... max frozen link     prior
---- ---------- ---------- -------------- ... --- ------ ---- -------------
      amplitude 1.9692e-11 cm-2 MeV-1 s-1 ... nan  False
      reference 1.1610e+03            MeV ... nan   True
          alpha 1.7733e+00                ... nan  False      GaussianPrior
           beta 4.1896e-02                ... nan  False      GaussianPrior
     alpha_norm 1.0000e+00                ... nan   True
       redshift 1.4338e-01                ... nan  False

Get a fit stat profile for the redshift#

For more information about stat profiles, see Fitting

total_stat = result1.total_stat

par = sky_model.parameters["redshift"]
par.scan_max = par.value + 5.0 * par.error
par.scan_min = max(0, par.value - 5.0 * par.error)
par.scan_n_values = 31

# %time
profile = fit.stat_profile(
    datasets=[dataset], parameter=sky_model.parameters["redshift"], reoptimize=True
)

plt.figure()
ax = plt.gca()
ax.plot(
    profile["observed.spectral.model2.redshift_scan"], profile["stat_scan"] - total_stat
)
ax.set_title("TS profile")
ax.set_xlabel("Redshift")
ax.set_ylabel("$\Delta$ TS")
plt.show()
TS profile

We see that the redshift is well constrained.

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