Non-thermal Hard X-ray Emission Research Articles

CHANG-ES XXIX: the sub-kpc nuclear bubble of NGC 4438

ABSTRACT Active galactic nucleus (AGN) bubbles could play an important role in accelerating high-energy cosmic rays (CRs) and galactic feedback. Only in nearby galaxies could we have high enough angular resolution in multiwavelengths to study the sub-kpc environment of the AGN, where the bubbles are produced and strongly interact with the surrounding interstellar medium. In this paper, we present the latest Chandra observations of the Virgo cluster galaxy NGC 4438, which hosts multiscale bubbles detected in various bands. The galaxy also has low current star formation activity, so these bubbles are evidently produced by the AGN rather than a starburst. We present spatially resolved spectral analysis of the Chandra data of the ∼3 arcsec × 5 arcsec (${\sim} 200{\rm ~pc}\times 350\rm ~pc$) nuclear bubble of NGC 4438. The power-law tail in the X-ray spectra can be most naturally explained as synchrotron emission from high-energy CR leptons. The hot gas temperature increases, while the overall contribution of the non-thermal X-ray emission decreases with the vertical distance from the galactic plane. We calculate the synchrotron cooling time-scale of the CR leptons responsible for the non-thermal hard X-ray emission to be only a few tens to a few hundreds of years. The thermal pressure of the hot gas is about three times the magnetic pressure, but the current data cannot rule out the possibility that they are still in pressure balance. The spatially resolved spectroscopy presented in this paper may have important constraints on how the AGN accelerates CRs and drives outflows. We also discover a transient X-ray source only ∼5 arcsec from the nucleus of NGC 4438. The source was not detected in 2002 and 2008, but became quite X-ray bright in 2020 March, with an average 0.5–7 keV luminosity of ${\sim} 10^{39}\rm ~erg~s^{-1}$.

Properties and Energetics of Magnetic Reconnection: I. Evolution of Flare Ribbons

In this article, we measure the mean magnetic shear from the morphological evolution of flare ribbons, and examine the evolution of flare thermal and nonthermal X-ray emissions during the progress of flare reconnection. We analyze three eruptive flares and three confined flares ranging from GOES class C8.0 to M7.0. They exhibit two well-defined ribbons along the magnetic polarity-inversion line (PIL), and have been observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager from the onset of the flare throughout the impulsive phase. The analysis confirms the strong-to-weak shear evolution in the core region of the flare, and the flare hard X-ray emission rises as the shear decreases. In eruptive flares, in this sample, significant nonthermal hard X-ray emission lags the ultraviolet emission from flare ribbons, and rises rapidly when the shear is modest. In all flares, we observe that the plasma temperature rises in the early phase when the flare ribbons rapidly spread along the PIL and the shear is high. We compare these results with prior studies, and discuss their implications, as well as complications, related to the physical mechanisms governing energy partition during flare reconnection.

Correlated Spatio-temporal Evolution of Extreme-Ultraviolet Ribbons and Hard X-Rays in a Solar Flare

Abstract We analyze the structure and evolution of ribbons from the M7.3 SOL2014-04-18T13 flare using ultraviolet images from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), magnetic data from the SDO/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, hard X-ray (HXR) images from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, and light curves from the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor, in order to infer properties of coronal magnetic reconnection. As the event progresses, two flare ribbons spread away from the magnetic polarity inversion line. The width of the newly brightened front along the extension of the ribbon is highly intermittent in both space and time, presumably reflecting nonuniformities in the structure and/or dynamics of the flare current sheet. Furthermore, the ribbon width grows most rapidly in regions exhibiting concentrated nonthermal HXR emission, with sharp increases slightly preceding the HXR bursts. The light curve of the ultraviolet emission matches the HXR light curve at photon energies above 25 keV. In other regions the ribbon-width evolution and light curves do not temporally correlate with the HXR emission. This indicates that the production of nonthermal electrons is highly nonuniform within the flare current sheet. Our results suggest a strong connection between the production of nonthermal electrons and the locally enhanced perpendicular extent of flare ribbon fronts, which in turn reflects the inhomogeneous structure and/or reconnection dynamics of the current sheet. Despite this variability, the ribbon fronts remain nearly continuous, quasi-one-dimensional features. Thus, although the reconnecting coronal current sheets are highly structured, they remain quasi-two-dimensional and the magnetic energy release occurs systematically, rather than stochastically, through the volume of the reconnecting magnetic flux.

NuSTAR observations of a repeatedly microflaring active region.

We investigate the spatial, temporal, and spectral properties of 10 microflares from AR12721 on 2018 September 9 and 10 observed in X-rays using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray and the Solar Dynamic Observatory's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager. We find GOES sub-A class equivalent microflare energies of 1026-1028 erg reaching temperatures up to 10 MK with consistent quiescent or hot active region (AR) core plasma temperatures of 3-4 MK. One microflare (SOL2018-09-09T10:33), with an equivalent GOES class of A0.1, has non-thermal hard X-ray emission during its impulsive phase (of non-thermal power ~7 × 1024 erg s-1) making it one of the faintest X-ray microflares to have direct evidence for accelerated electrons. In 4 of the 10 microflares, we find that the X-ray time profile matches fainter and more transient sources in the extreme-ultraviolet, highlighting the need for observations sensitive to only the hottest material that reaches temperatures higher than those of the AR core (>5 MK). Evidence for corresponding photospheric magnetic flux cancellation/emergence present at the footpoints of eight microflares is also observed.

Joint hard X-ray observations with ASO-S/HXI and SO/STIX

This paper discusses the potential of future joint hard X-ray solar flare observations between the Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) onboard the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) mission and the Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) on Solar Orbiter. The different viewing perspectives of the two telescopes relative to the Sun will allow us for the first time to systematically study non-thermal hard X-ray emissions stereoscopically. During the 4-years of the nominal mission of ASO-S, we expect to jointly observe about 160 flares above GOES M1 class to systematically study hard X-ray directivity. For about 16 partially limb-occulted STIX flares, we will have observations of the entire flare by HXI. Such observations will enable us to simultaneously study the all-important coronal hard X-ray sources, which are generally lost in the instrument’s individual imaging dynamic range, in combination with the chromospheric footpoint emissions. The two different detector systems used in the two telescopes make the relative calibration between the two instruments a key task that needs to be addressed before creditable science results can be published. If an accurate inter-calibration can be achieved using jointly observed flares on the disk, observations with HXI and STIX will provide new and essential key diagnostics for solar flare physics.

An Analytical Model for the Propagation of Thermal Runaway Electrons in Solar Flares

The nature of the hard X-ray emission from solar flares is well known. The observed emission in both the corona and the chromosphere consists of two components: nonthermal and thermal. The non-thermal and thermal components are attributable to the bremsstrahlung of accelerated electrons and heated plasma electrons, respectively. Since the nonthermal and thermal hard X-ray emission spectra partially overlap, their proper interpretation directly depends on the accuracy of the kinetic models describing the propagation of thermal and nonthermal runaway electrons in the solar atmosphere. The evolution of the distribution function for the latter, i.e., the electrons accelerated in the magnetic reconnection region, is accurately described in the approximation of present-day thick-target models with a reverse current. Here we consider a model for the thermal runaway of electrons and find an analytical solution of the corresponding kinetic equation in which the Coulomb collisions are taken into account. The degree of polarization of the emission has been estimated to be no greater than ∼5%. The derived distribution function can also be used to calculate the thermal X-ray emission spectrum and, as a consequence, to interpret the observations of the thermal component in the X-ray spectrum of a solar flare.

A search for new sources below 100 MeV in the Fermi-LAT data

The Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) has discovered more than 3000 sources between 100 MeV and 300 GeV (3FGL), including over 200 $$\gamma $$-ray pulsars. The majority of these pulsars have their spectral energy peaks (in $$\nu F_{\nu }$$) above 1 GeV. There exists another population of very energetic, young rotation-powered pulsars having non-thermal hard X-ray emission with spectral energy distributions (SEDs) peaking around 1 MeV, but having no detected emission by Fermi LAT above 100 MeV. Previous analyses of point sources in the gamma ray range were done only below 30 MeV (COMPTEL) or above 100 MeV (Fermi-LAT). Below 30 MeV, the imaging Compton telescope (COMPTEL) detected 26 steady sources in the energy range from 0.75 to 30 MeV. Since the Fermi LAT detects gamma rays down to 20 MeV, we create a list of sources detected in the energy range between 30 MeV and 100 MeV, using PGWave, a background-independent tool that makes use of a wavelet transform. This closes a gap of point source analysis between the COMPTEL catalog and the Fermi-LAT catalog and provides information and constraint for this missing MeV pulsar population.

A close encounter of the massive kind

We have used (a) HST ACS imaging and STIS spectroscopy, (b) ground-based PIONIER/VLT long-baseline interferometry, and (c) ground-based spectroscopy from different instruments to study the orbit of the extreme multiple system HD 93 129 Aa,Ab, which is composed of (at least) two very massive stars in a long-period orbit with e>0.92 that will pass through periastron in 2017/2018. In several ways, the system is an eta Car precursor. Around the time of periastron passage the two very strong winds will collide and generate an outburst of non-thermal hard X-ray emission without precedent in an O+O binary since astronomers have been able to observe above Earth's atmosphere. A coordinated multiwavelength monitoring in the next two years will enable a breakthrough understanding of the wind interactions in such extreme close encounters. Furthermore, we have found evidence that HD 93 129 Aa may be a binary system itself. In that case, we could witness a three-body interaction that may yield a runaway star or a stellar collision close to or shortly after the periastron passage. Either of those outcomes would be unprecedented, as they are predicted to be low-frequency events in the Milky Way.

OBSERVATION OF A QUASIPERIODIC PULSATION IN HARD X-RAY, RADIO, AND EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET WAVELENGTHS

ABSTRACT We present a multiwavelength analysis of a quasiperiodic pulsation (QPP) observed in the hard X-ray (HXR), radio, and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) channels during an M1.9 flare that occurred on 2011 September 23–24. The nonthermal HXR emission in 25–50 keV observed by RHESSI shows five distinct impulsive peaks of decaying amplitude with a period of about 3 minutes. A similar QPP was observed in the microwave emission recorded by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph and Polarimeter in the 2, 3.75, 9.4, and 17 GHz channels. Interestingly, the 3-minute QPP was also observed in the metric and decimetric radio frequencies (25–180, 245, 610 MHz) as repetitive type III bursts. Multiwavelength observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Image Assembly, Hinode/SOT, and Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory/SECCHI suggest a fan-spine topology at the eruption site, associated with the formation of a quasi-circular ribbon during the flare. A small filament was observed below the fan loops before the flare onset. The filament rose slowly and interacted with the ambient field. This behavior was followed by an untwisting motion of the filament. Two different structures of the filament showed an approximately 3-minute periodic alternate rotation in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The 3-minute QPP was found to highly correlate with 3-minute oscillations in a nearby sunspot. We suggest that the periodic reconnection (modulated either by a sunspot slow-mode wave or by an untwisting filament) at a magnetic null point most likely causes the repetitive particle acceleration, generating the QPP observed in HXR, microwave, and type III radio bursts.

SOLAR RADIO BURSTS WITH SPECTRAL FINE STRUCTURES IN PREFLARES

A good observation of preflare activities is important for us to understand the origin and triggering mechanism of solar flares, and to predict the occurrence of solar flares. This work presents the characteristics of microwave spectral fine structures as preflare activities of four solar flares observed by Ond\v{r}ejov radio spectrograph in the frequency range of 0.8--2.0 GHz. We found that these microwave bursts which occurred 1--4 minutes before the onset of flares have spectral fine structures with relatively weak intensities and very short timescales. They include microwave quasi-periodic pulsations (QPP) with very short period of 0.1-0.3 s and dot bursts with millisecond timescales and narrow frequency bandwidths. Accompanying these microwave bursts, there are filament motions, plasma ejection or loop brightening on the EUV imaging observations and non-thermal hard X-ray emission enhancements observed by RHESSI. These facts may reveal certain independent non-thermal energy releasing processes and particle acceleration before the onset of solar flares. They may be conducive to understand the nature of solar flares and predict their occurrence.

Estimates of relativistic electron and proton energy densities in starburst galactic nuclei from radio measurements

The energy density of energetic protons, U_p, in several nearby starburst nuclei (SBNs) has been directly deduced from gamma-ray measurements of the radiative decay of neutral pions produced in interactions with ambient protons. Lack of sufficient sensitivity and spatial resolution makes this direct deduction unrealistic in the foreseeable future for even moderately distant SBNs. A more viable indirect method for determining U_p in star-forming galaxies is to use its theoretically based scaling to the energy density of energetic electrons, U_e, which can be directly deduced from radio synchrotron and possibly also nonthermal hard X-ray emission. In order to improve the quantitative basis and diagnostic power of this leptonic method we reformulate and clarify its main aspects. Doing so we obtain a basic expression for the ratio U_p/U_e in terms of the proton and electron masses and the power-law indices that characterize the particle spectral distributions in regions where the total particle energy density is at equipartition with that of the mean magnetic field. We also express the field strength and the particle energy density in the equipartition region in terms of the region's size, mean gas density, IR and radio fluxes, and distance from the observer, and determine values of U_p in a sample of nine nearby and local SBNs.

Investigating the hard X-ray emission from the hottest Abell cluster A2163 withSuzaku

We present the results from Suzaku observations of the hottest Abell galaxy cluster A2163 at $z=0.2$. To study the physics of gas heating in cluster mergers, we investigated hard X-ray emission from the merging cluster A2163, which hosts the brightest synchrotron radio halo. We analyzed hard X-ray spectra accumulated from two-pointed Suzaku observations. Non-thermal hard X-ray emission should result from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of relativistic electrons by the CMB photons. To measure this emission, the dominant thermal emission in the hard X-ray band must be modeled in detail. To this end, we analyzed the combined broad-band X-ray data of A2163 collected by Suzaku and XMM-Newton, assuming single- and multi-temperature models for thermal emission and the power-law model for non-thermal emission. From the Suzaku data, we detected significant hard X-ray emission from A2163 in the 12-60 keV band at the $28\sigma$ level (or at the $5.5\sigma$ level if a systematic error is considered). The Suzaku HXD spectrum alone is consistent with the single-T thermal model of gas temperature $kT=14$ keV. From the XMM data, we constructed a multi-T model including a very hot ($kT=18$ keV) component in the NE region. Incorporating the multi-T and the power-law models into a two-component model with a radio-band photon index, the 12-60 keV energy flux of non-thermal emission is constrained within $5.3 \pm 0.9 (\pm 3.8)\times 10^{-12}~{\rm erg\, s^{-1} cm^{-2}}$. The 90% upper limit of detected IC emission is marginal ($< 1.2\times 10^{-11}~{\rm erg\, s^{-1} cm^{-2}}$ in the 12-60 keV). The estimated magnetic field in A2163 is $B > 0.098~{\rm \mu G}$. While the present results represent a three-fold increase in the accuracy of the broad band spectral model of A2163, more sensitive hard X-ray observations are needed to decisively test for the presence of hard X-ray emission due to IC emission.

The Peculiar Binary System AE Aquarii from its Characteristic Multi-wavelength Emission

The multi-wavelength properties of the novalike variable system AE Aquarii are discussed in terms of the interaction between the accretion inflow from a late-type main sequence star and the magnetosphere of a fast rotating white dwarf. This results in an efficient magnetospheric propeller process and particle acceleration. The spin-down of the white dwarf at a period rate of 5.64×10 −14 s s −1 results in a huge spin-down luminosity of L s−d ≃ 6 10× 33 erg s −1 . Hence, the observed non-thermal hard X-ray emission and VHE and TeV gamma-ray emission may suggest that AE Aquarii can be placed in the category of spin-powered pulsars. Besides, observed hard X-ray luminosity of L X,hard ≤ 5 × 10 30 erg s −1 constitutes 0.1 % of the total spin-down luminosity of the white dwarf. This paper will discuss some recent theoretical studies and data analysis of the system.

THE IMPACT OF SUZAKU MEASUREMENTS ON ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS

Results from the &lt;em&gt;Suzaku&lt;/em&gt; X-ray broad-band observations of clusters of galaxies are summarized. Aiming at understanding the physics of gas heating/particle acceleration and the cluster dynamical evolution, we search for non-thermal hard X-ray emission from merging clusters, particularly A2163 and the Bullet Cluster, based on the &lt;em&gt;Suzaku&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;XMM-Newton/Chandra&lt;/em&gt; joint analyses. The observed hard X-ray emission is well represented by single- or multi-temperature thermal models, including super-hot (kT ~ 20 keV) gas. However, no significant non-thermal hard X-ray emission has been detected. Together with the presently available literature, the hard X-ray properties have been studied for about 10 clusters with &lt;em&gt;Suzaku&lt;/em&gt;. The present status on &lt;em&gt;Suzaku&lt;/em&gt; measurements of non-thermal X-ray emission and the cluster magnetic field are summarized and compared with those from the &lt;em&gt;RXTE, BeppoSAX&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;Swift&lt;/em&gt; satellites. The future prospects are briefly mentioned.

CONTRACTING AND ERUPTING COMPONENTS OF SIGMOIDAL ACTIVE REGIONS

It is recently noted that solar eruptions can be associated with the contraction of coronal loops that are not involved in magnetic reconnection processes. In this paper, we investigate five coronal eruptions originating from four sigmoidal active regions, using high-cadence, high-resolution narrowband EUV images obtained by the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO}). The magnitudes of the flares associated with the eruptions range from the GOES-class B to X. Owing to the high-sensitivity and broad temperature coverage of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard SDO, we are able to identify both the contracting and erupting components of the eruptions: the former is observed in cold AIA channels as the contracting coronal loops overlying the elbows of the sigmoid, and the latter is preferentially observed in warm/hot AIA channels as an expanding bubble originating from the center of the sigmoid. The initiation of eruption always precedes the contraction, and in the energetically mild events (B and C flares), it also precedes the increase in GOES soft X-ray fluxes. In the more energetic events, the eruption is simultaneous with the impulsive phase of the nonthermal hard X-ray emission. These observations confirm the loop contraction as an integrated process in eruptions with partially opened arcades. The consequence of contraction is a new equilibrium with reduced magnetic energy, as the contracting loops never regain their original positions. The contracting process is a direct consequence of flare energy release, as evidenced by the strong correlation of the maximal contracting speed, and strong anti-correlation of the time delay of contraction relative to expansion, with the peak soft X-ray flux. This is also implied by the relationship between contraction and expansion, i.e., their timing and speed.

CHANDRAANDXMM-NEWTONSTUDIES OF THE SUPERNOVA REMNANT G292.2-0.5 ASSOCIATED WITH THE PULSAR J1119-6127

We present the first detailed imaging and spatially resolved spectroscopic study of the Galactic supernova remnant G292.2-0.5, associated with the high-magnetic field radio pulsar J1119-6127, using Chandra and XMM-Newton. The high-resolution X-ray images reveal a partially limb-brightened morphology in the west, with diffuse emission concentrated towards the interior of the remnant unlike the complete shell-like morphology observed at radio wavelengths. The spectra of most of the diffuse emission regions within the remnant are best described by a thermal+non-thermal model. The thermal component is described by a plane-parallel, non-equilibrium ionization plasma model with a temperature ranging from 1.3 keV in the western side of the remnant to 2.3 keV in the east, a column density increasing from 1.0e22 cm^-2 in the west to 1.8e22 cm^-2 in the east, and a low ionization timescale ranging from 5.7e9 cm^-3 s in the SNR interior to 3.6e10 cm^-3 s in the western side - suggestive of expansion of a young remnant in a low-density medium. The spatial and spectral differences across the SNR are consistent with the presence of a dark cloud in the eastern part of the SNR, absorbing the soft X-ray emission. The spectra from some of the regions also show slightly enhanced metal abundances from Ne, Mg and Si, hinting at the first evidence for ejecta heated by the reverse shock. Comparing our inferred metal abundances to core-collapse nucleosynthesis models yields, we estimate a high progenitor mass of ~30 solar mass suggesting a type Ib/c supernova. We confirm the presence of non-thermal hard X-ray emission from regions close to the pulsar. We estimate an SNR age range between 4.2 kyr (free expansion phase) and 7.1 kyr (Sedov phase), a factor of a few higher than the measured pulsar's age upper limit of 1.9 kyr.

Constraints on the non-thermal emission fromη Carinae’s blast wave of 1843

Non-thermal hard X-ray and high-energy (HE; 1 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission in the direction of Eta Carinae has been recently detected using the INTEGRAL, AGILE and Fermi satellites. This emission has been interpreted either in the framework of particle acceleration in the colliding wind region between the two massive stars or in the very fast moving blast wave which originates in the historical 1843 "Great Eruption". Archival Chandra data has been reanalysed to search for signatures of particle acceleration in Eta Carinae's blast wave. No shell-like structure could be detected in hard X-rays and a limit has been placed on the non-thermal X-ray emission from the shell. The time dependence of the target radiation field of the Homunculus is used to develop a single zone model for the blast wave. Attempting to reconcile the X-ray limit with the HE -ray emission using this model leads to a very hard electron injection spectrum dN/dE ~ E^-Gamma with Gamma < 1.8, harder than the canonical value expected from diffusive shock acceleration.

PARTICLE ACCELERATION IN THE EXPANDING BLAST WAVE OF η CARINA'S GREAT ERUPTION OF 1843

Non-thermal hard X-ray and high-energy (HE; 1 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission in the direction of Eta Carina has been recently detected using the INTEGRAL, AGILE and Fermi satellites. So far this emission has been interpreted in the framework of particle acceleration in the colliding wind region between the two massive stars. However, the existence of a very fast moving blast wave which originates in the historical 1843 "Great Eruption" provides an alternative particle acceleration site in this system. Here we explore an alternate scenario and find that inverse Compton emission from electrons accelerated in the blast wave can naturally explain both the flux and spectral shape of the measured hard X-ray and HE gamma-ray emission. This scenario is further supported by the lack of significant variability in the INTEGRAL and Fermi measured fluxes.

GMRT observations of the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster

VLA observations at 1477 MHz revealed the presence of a radio mini-halo surrounding the faint central point-like radio source in the Ophiuchus cluster of galaxies. In this work we present a study of the radio emission from this cluster of galaxies at lower radio frequencies. We observed the Ophiuchus cluster at 153, 240, and 614 MHz with the GMRT. The mini-halo is clearly detected at 153 and 240 MHz while it is not detected at 610 MHz. The most prominent feature at low frequencies is a patch of diffuse steep spectrum emission located at about 5' south-east from the cluster center. By combining these images with that at 1477 MHz, we derived the spectral index of the mini-halo. Globally, the mini-halo has a low-frequency spectral index of alpha_240^153 ~1.4 +/- 0.3 and an high-frequency spectral index of alpha_1477^240 ~ 1.60 +/- 0.05. Moreover, we measure a systematic increase of the high-frequency spectral index with radius: the azimuthal radial average of alpha_1477^240 increases from about 1.3, at the cluster center, up to about 2.0 in the mini-halo outskirts. The observed radio spectral index is in agreement with that obtained by modeling the non-thermal hard X-ray emission in this cluster of galaxies. We assume that the X-ray component arises from inverse Compton scattering between the photons of the cosmic microwave background and a population of non-thermal electrons which are isotropically distributed and whose energy spectrum is a power law with index p. We derive that the electrons energy spectrum should extend from a minimum Lorentz factor of gamma_min < 700 up to a maximum Lorentz factor of gamma_max =3.8 x 10^4 with an index p=3.8 +/- 0.4. The volume-averaged strength for a completely disordered intra-cluster magnetic field is B_V ~0.3 +/- 0.1 micro-G.

Observations of Double-Periodic X-Ray Emission in Interacting Systems of Solar Flare Loops

We investigate the solar flare of 20 October 2002. The flare was accompanied by quasi-periodic pulsations (QPP) of both thermal and nonthermal hard X-ray emissions (HXR) observed by RHESSI in the 3-50 keV energy range. Analysis of the HXR time profiles in different energy channels made with the Lomb periodogram indicates two statistically significant time periods of about 16 and 36 seconds. The 36-second QPP were observed only in the nonthermal HXR emission in the impulsive phase of the flare. The 16-second QPP were more pronounced in the thermal HXR emission and were observed both in the impulsive and in the decay phases of the flare. Imaging analysis of the flare region, the determined time periods of the QPP and the estimated physical parameters of magnetic loops in the flare region allow us to interpret the observations as follows. 1) In the impulsive phase energy was released and electrons were accelerated by successive acts with the average time period of about 36 seconds in different parts of two spatially separated, but interacting loop systems of the flare region. 2) The 36-second periodicity of energy release could be caused by the action of fast MHD oscillations in the loops connecting these flaring sites. 3) During the first explosive acts of energy release the MHD oscillations (most probably the sausage mode) with time period of 16 seconds were excited in one system of the flare loops. 4) These oscillations were maintained by the subsequent explosive acts of energy release in the impulsive phase and were completely damped in the decay phase of the flare.