One-zone Leptonic Model Research Articles

The nature of the γ-ray flare associated with blazar 3C 454.3

We have studied the simultaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the 2009 December flare and those of the quiescent state of blazar 3C 454.3 by constructing a multi-component model. We find that all six SEDs can be explained by a one-zone leptonic model involving synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) plus external Compton emission from an accretion disk (ECD) and that from a broad-line region (ECC). X-ray emission is dominated by the SSC mechanism, and the γ-ray spectrum is well represented by a combination of ECD and ECC processes. Our results indicate that the energy density of the magnetic field and electrons decrease with distance from the central engine, and the Doppler factor increases with the blob moving outward in the development of the 2009 December flare. The increase in the observed flux density is possibly due to the increase in the Doppler factor of the blob. The relation between the Doppler factor δb and the distance from the central black hole suggests the magnetically driven jets span a sub-pc scale, and the relation between the magnetic field B' and the dimension of the emission region R'b is in good agreement with what is required by conservation of magnetic flux. The weak “harder-when-brighter” behavior of the γ-ray spectrum could be a result of the increase in Doppler factor during the outward motion of the blob. The parameters during the quiescent state obviously deviate from those during the flare state. We propose that the flare was likely caused by the ejection of a new blob. The gamma-ray emissions in different states are associated with the evolution of the blob.

NuSTARAND MULTIFREQUENCY STUDY OF THE TWO HIGH-REDSHIFT BLAZARS S5 0836+710 AND PKS 2149–306

The most powerful blazars are the flat spectrum radio quasars whose emission is dominated by a Compton component peaking between a few hundred keV and a few hundred MeV. We selected two bright blazars, PKS 2149-306 at redshift z=2.345 and S5 0836+710 at z=2.172, in order to observe them in the hard X-ray band with the NuSTAR satellite. In this band the Compton component is rapidly rising almost up to the peak of the emission. Simultaneous soft-X-rays and UV-optical observations were performed with the Swift satellite, while near-infrared (NIR) data were obtained with the REM telescope. To study their variability, we repeated these observations for both sources on a timescale of a few months. While no fast variability was detected during a single observation, both sources were found to be variable in the X-ray band, up to 50%, between the two observations, with larger variability at higher energies. No variability was detected in the optical/NIR band. These data together with Fermi-LAT, WISE and other literature data are then used to study the overall spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of these blazars. Although the jet non-thermal emission dominates the SED, it leaves the UV band unhidden, allowing us to detect the thermal emission of the disc and to estimate the mass of the black hole. The non-thermal emission is well reproduced by a one-zone leptonic model. The non-thermal radiative processes are synchrotron, self-Compton and external Compton using seed photons from both the broad-line region (BLR) and the torus. We find that our data are better reproduced if we assume that the location of the dissipation region of the jet, R_diss, is in-between the torus, (at R_torus), and the BLR (R_torus>R_diss>R_BLR). The observed variability is explained by changing a minimum number of model parameters by a very small amount.

Location of gamma-ray flaring region in quasar 4C +21.35

Abstract 4C +21.35 is a flat-spectrum-radio-quasar-type blazar, in which the rapid variability of very high energy (VHE, Eγ ≳ 100 GeV) emission as short as ∼ 10 min was observed by MAGIC Cherenkov telescopes, and the VHE spectrum extends up to at least 400 GeV. In this paper, by using a flat broad-line region (BLR) structure, we study the location and properties of the γ-ray-emitting region of 4C +21.35 under the constraints of multiwavelength data. We fit three quasi-simultaneous spectral energy distributions using a homogeneous one-zone leptonic model, in which a flat BLR with aperture angle α = 25° and a spherically symmetric hot dusty torus with a temperature of Tsub = 1200 K are assumed. The results show that the jet structure of 4C +21.35 is nearly conical with a half-opening angle of θj ≃ 0 $_{.}^{\circ}$29–0 $_{.}^{\circ}$6. Furthermore, the emitting region is located within the BLR clouds and approaches the outer radius of the BLR during the flaring states, while it is well beyond the dusty torus in quiescent state. The quiescent high-energy emission is dominated by the synchrotron self-Compton process, the high-energy emission during the flaring periods is dominated by Compton scattering of BLR and dusty torus photons with a value of the Compton-dominance parameter of about 30. Moreover, the fit to optical/ultraviolet data provides further support that the central black hole mass of 4C +21.35 is 6 × 108 M⊙.

THEγ-RAY DETECTED NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 GALAXY 1H 0323+342:SWIFTMONITORING ANDSUZAKUSPECTROSCOPY

As a radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy (NLS1) detected by Fermi/LAT in GeV γ-rays, 1H 0323+342 is a remarkable active galactic nucleus showing properties characteristic of both NLS1s and blazars. Here we present results of simultaneous X-ray and UV/optical monitoring observations on 1H 0323+342 taken with the UV/Optical Telescope and X-ray Telescope onboard the Swift satellite over six years from 2006. Overall, the object showed statistically correlated variations in both the UV and X-ray bands on timescales of years as well as on timescales of days. A deep Suzaku observation reveals X-ray variability on timescales as short as a few tens of thousand seconds, and an X-ray spectrum typical of Seyfert galaxies. The broadband spectral energy distribution, for which the data of UV and X-ray observations taken on 2009 July 26–27 were used, can be well modeled with a simple one-zone leptonic jet model plus accretion disk/corona emission. The latter is predominantly responsible for the UV/optical and X-ray (0.3–10 keV) emission and their observed variations. The correlated UV–X-ray variability on the timescale of days is consistent with reprocessing of the X-ray radiation by the accretion disk. The shortest timescale and large normalized excess variance of the X-ray variability detected with Suzaku suggest a relatively small black hole mass of the order of , consistent with the estimation based on the broad Hβ line in the optical.

MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF 3C 279 DURING THE EXTREMELY BRIGHT GAMMA-RAY FLARE IN 2014 MARCH–APRIL

The well studied blazar 3C 279 underwent a giant $\gamma$-ray outburst in 2014 March-April. The measured $\gamma$-ray flux (1.21 $\pm$ 0.10 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ ph cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in 0.1-300 GeV energy range) is the highest detected from 3C 279 by Fermi Large Area Telescope. Hour scale $\gamma$-ray flux variability are observed, with a flux doubling time as short as 1.19 $\pm$ 0.36 hours detected during one flare. The $\gamma$-ray spectrum is found to be curved at peak of the flare suggesting low probability of detecting very high energy (VHE; E $>$ 100 GeV) emission, which is further confirmed by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System observations. The $\gamma$-ray flux increased by more than an order in comparison to low activity state and the flare consists of multiple sub-structures having fast rise and slow decay profile. The flux enhancement is seen in all the wavebands though at a lesser extent compared to $\gamma$-rays. During the flare, a considerable amount of the kinetic jet power gets converted to $\gamma$-rays and the jet becomes radiatively efficient. A one zone leptonic emission model is used to reproduce the flare and we find increase in the bulk Lorentz factor as a major cause of the outburst. From the observed fast variability, lack of VHE detection, and the curved $\gamma$-ray spectrum, we conclude that the location of the emission region cannot be far out from the broad line region (BLR) and contributions from both BLR and torus photons are required to explain the observed $\gamma$-ray spectrum.

CONSTRAINTS ON THE MINIMUM ELECTRON LORENTZ FACTOR AND MATTER CONTENT OF JETS FOR A SAMPLE OF BRIGHT FERMI BLAZARS

We fit the (quasi-)simultaneous multi-waveband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for a sample of low-synchrotron-peaked (LSP) blazars with a one-zone leptonic model. The seed photons that predominantly come from broad line region (BLR) and infrared (IR) molecular torus are considered respectively in external Compton process. We find that the modeling with IR seed photons is systematically better than that with BLR photons based on a $\chi^2$ test, which suggest that $\gamma$-ray emitting region most possibly stay outside the BLR. The minimum electron Lorentz factor, $\gamma_{\rm min}$, is constrained from the modeling for these LSP blazars with good soft X-ray data (ranges from 5 to 160 with a median value of 55), which plays a key role in jet power estimation. Assuming one-to-one ratio of proton and electron, we find that the jet power for LSP blazars is systematically higher than that of FR II radio galaxies at given 151 MHz radio luminosity, $L_{\rm 151MHz}$, even though FR IIs are regarded as same as LSP blazars in unification scheme except the jet viewing angle. The possible reason is that there are some $e^{\pm}$ pairs in the jet of these blazars. If this is the case, we find the number density of $e^{\pm}$ pairs should be several times higher than that of $e^{-}-p$ pairs by assuming the jet power is the same for LSP blazars and FR IIs at given $L_{\rm 151MHz}$.

Very high energy neutrino expectation from Fanaroff-Riley I sources

AbstractFanaroff-Riley I radiogalaxies have been observed in TeV gamma-rays during the last decades. The origin of the emission processes related with this energy band is still under debate. Here we consider the case of the two closest Fanaroff-Riley I objects: Centaurus A and M87. Their entire broadband spectral energy distributions and variability fluxes show evidences that leptonic models are not sufficient to explain their fluxes above 100 GeV. Indeed, both objects have been imaged by LAT instrument aboard of Fermi telescope with measured spectra well connected with one-zone leptonic models. However, to explain the TeV spectra obtained with campaigns by H.E.S.S., for Centaurus A, and by VERITAS, MAGIC and H.E.S.S. for M87, different emission processes must be introduced. In this work we introduce hadronic scenarios to describe the TeV gamma-ray fluxes observed and to obtain the expected neutrino counterparts for each considered TeV campaign. With the obtained neutrino spectra we calculate, through Monte Carlo simulations, the expected neutrino event rate in a hypothetical Km3 neutrino telescope and we compare the results with what has been observed by IceCube experiment up to now.

EXPLORING THE BLAZAR ZONE IN HIGH-ENERGY FLARES OF FSRQs

The gamma-ray emission offers a powerful diagnostic tool to probe jets and their surroundings in flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQ). In particular, sources emitting at high energies (>10 GeV) give us the strongest constraints. This motivates us to start a systematic study of flares with bright emission above 10 GeV, examining archival data of Fermi-LAT gamma-ray telescope. At the same time, we began to trigger Target of Opportunity observations to the Swift observatory at the occurrence of high-energy flares, obtaining a wide coverage of the spectral energy distributions for several FSRQs during flares. Among the others we investigate the SED of a peculiar flare of 3C 454.3, showing a remarkable hard gamma-ray spectrum, quite different from the brightest flares of this source, and a bright flare of CTA 102. We modeled the SED in the framework of the one--zone leptonic model, using also archival optical spectroscopic data to derive the luminosity of the broad lines and thus estimate the disk luminosity, from which the structural parameters of the FSRQ nucleus can be inferred. The model allowed us to evaluate the magnetic field intensity in the blazar zone, and to locate the emitting region of gamma rays in the particular case in which gamma-ray spectra show neither absorption from the BLR, nor the Klein-Nishina curvature expected in leptonic models assuming the BLR as source of seed photons for the External Compton. For FSRQs bright above 10 GeV, we where able to identify short periods lasting less than 1 day characterized by high rate of high energy gamma rays, and hard gamma-ray spectra. We discussed the observed spectra and variability timescales in terms of injection and cooling of energetic particles, arguing that these flares could be triggered by magnetic reconnections events or turbulence in the flow.

THE PECULIAR RADIO-LOUD NARROW LINE SEYFERT 1 GALAXY 1H 0323+342

We present a multi-wavelength study of the radio-loud narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy (NLSy1), 1H 0323+342, detected by Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. Multi-band light curves show many orphan X-ray and optical flares having no corresponding {\gamma}-ray counterparts. Such anomalous variability behavior can be due to different locations of the emission region from the central source. During a large flare, {\gamma}-ray flux doubling time scale as small as $\sim$ 3 hours is noticed. We built spectral energy distribution (SED) during different activity states and modeled them using an one-zone leptonic model. The shape of the optical/UV component of the SEDs is dominated by accretion disk emission in all the activity states. In the X-ray band, significant thermal emission from the hot corona is inferred during quiescent and first flaring states, however, during subsequent flares, non-thermal jet component dominates. The {\gamma}-ray emission in all the states can be well explained by inverse-Compton scattering of accretion disk photons reprocessed by the broad line region. The source showed violent intra-night optical variability, coinciding with one of the high {\gamma}-ray activity states. An analysis of the overall X-ray spectrum fitted with an absorbed power-law plus relativistic reflection component hints for the presence of Fe K-{\alpha} line and returns a high black hole spin value of a=0.96 $\pm$ 0.14. We argue that 1H 0323+342 possesses dual characteristics, akin to flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) as well as radio-quiet NLSy1s, though at a low jet power regime compared to powerful FSRQs.

HESS J1818–154, a new composite supernova remnant discovered in TeV gamma rays and X-rays

Composite supernova remnants (SNRs) constitute a small subclass of the remnants of massive stellar explosions where non-thermal radiation is observed from both the expanding shell-like shock front and from a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) located inside of the SNR. These systems represent a unique evolutionary phase of SNRs where observations in the radio, X-ray, and $\gamma$-ray regimes allow the study of the co-evolution of both these energetic phenomena. In this article, we report results from observations of the shell-type SNR G15.4+0.1 performed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) and XMM-Newton. A compact TeV $\gamma$-ray source, HESSJ1818-154, located in the center and contained within the shell of G15.4+0.1 is detected by H.E.S.S. and featurs a spectrum best represented by a power-law model with a spectral index of $-2.3 \pm 0.3_{stat} \pm 0.2_{sys}$ and an integral flux of F$(>$0.42$\,\mathrm{TeV}$)=($0.9 \pm 0.3_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.2_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-12}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. Furthermore, a recent observation with XMM-Newton reveals extended X-ray emission strongly peaked in the center of G15.4+0.1. The X-ray source shows indications of an energy-dependent morphology featuring a compact core at energies above 4 keV and more extended emission that fills the entire region within the SNR at lower energies. Together, the X-ray and VHE $\gamma$-ray emission provide strong evidence of a PWN located inside the shell of G15.4+0.1, and this SNR can therefore be classified as a \emph{composite} based on these observations. The radio, X-ray, and $\gamma$-ray emission from the PWN is compatible with a one-zone leptonic model that requires a low average magnetic field inside the emission region. An unambiguous counterpart to the putative pulsar, which is thought to power the PWN, has been detected neither in radio nor in X-ray observations of G15.4+0.1.

LONG TERM OBSERVATIONS OF B2 1215+30 WITH VERITAS

We report on VERITAS observations of the BL Lac object B2 1215+30 between 2008 and 2012. During this period, the source was detected at very high energies (VHE; E > 100 GeV) by VERITAS with a significance of $8.9\sigma$ and showed clear variability on time scales larger than months. In 2011, the source was found to be in a relatively bright state and a power-law fit to the differential photon spectrum yields a spectral index of $3.6 \pm 0.4_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 0.3_{\mathrm{syst}}$ with an integral flux above 200 GeV of $(8.0 \pm 0.9_{\mathrm{stat}} \pm 3.2_{\mathrm{syst}}) \times 10^{-12}\, \mathrm{cm}^{-2} \mathrm{s}^{-1}$. No short term variability could be detected during the bright state in 2011. Multi-wavelength data were obtained contemporaneous with the VERITAS observations in 2011 and cover optical (Super-LOTIS, MDM, Swift-UVOT), X-ray (Swift-XRT), and gamma-ray (Fermi-LAT) frequencies. These were used to construct the spectral energy distribution (SED) of B2 1215+30. A one-zone leptonic model is used to model the blazar emission and the results are compared to those of MAGIC from early 2011 and other VERITAS-detected blazars. The SED can be well reproduced with model parameters typical for VHE-detected BL Lacs.

SUZAKUOBSERVATIONS OF THE DIFFUSE X-RAY EMISSION ACROSS THE FERMI BUBBLES' EDGES

We present Suzaku X-ray observations along two edge regions of the Fermi Bubbles, with eight ~20 ksec pointings across the northern part of the North Polar Spur (NPS) surrounding the north bubble and six across the southernmost edge of the south bubble. After removing compact X-ray features, diffuse X-ray emission is clearly detected and is well reproduced by a three-component spectral model consisting of unabsorbed thermal emission (temperature kT ~0.1 keV from the Local Bubble (LB), absorbed kT ~0.3 keV thermal emission related to the NPS and/or Galactic Halo (GH), and a power-law component at a level consistent with the cosmic X-ray background. The emission measure (EM) of the 0.3 keV plasma decreases by ~50% toward the inner regions of the north-east bubble, with no accompanying temperature change. However, such a jump in the EM is not clearly seen in the south bubble data. While it is unclear if the NPS originates from a nearby supernova remnant or is related to previous activity within/around the Galactic Center, our Suzaku observations provide evidence suggestive of the latter scenario. In the latter framework, the presence of a large amount of neutral matter absorbing the X-ray emission as well as the existence of the kT ~ 0.3 keV gas can be naturally interpreted as a weak shock driven by the bubbles' expansion in the surrounding medium, with velocity v_exp ~300 km/s (corresponding to shock Mach number M ~1.5), compressing the GH gas to form the NPS feature. We also derived an upper limit for any non-thermal X-ray emission component associated with the bubbles and demonstrate, that in agreement with the findings above, the non-thermal pressure and energy estimated from a one-zone leptonic model of its broad-band spectrum, are in rough equilibrium with that of the surrounding thermal plasma.

On the location of the γ-ray emission region for 21 flat spectrum radio quasars with quasi-simultaneous observations

We try to infer the location of the GeV emission region for 21 flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) with quasi-simultaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs), in which the SEDs of 21 FSRQs are reproduced by the one-zone leptonic model including the synchrotron-self Compton (SSC) and external Compton (EC) processes. We suggest that the X-ray emission could be produced by the SSC process and the GeV emission could come from the EC process. The EC emission could originate from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of photons from the broad line region (BLR) and accretion disk or dust torus by the same electron population, which mainly depend on the location of the $\gamma$-ray emission region. We propose a method to constrain the location of the GeV emission region based on the spectral shapes. When the GeV emission is located within the BLR, the IC scattering could occur at the Klein-Nishina regime and produce a broken/steep spectrum in the GeV energy band. When the GeV emission is produced outside the BLR, the IC scattering could take place at the Thomson regime and the GeV spectrum would have the same spectral index as the optical-infrared spectrum. We infer that the location of the GeV emission region is inside the BLR for 5 FSRQs and beyond the BLR for 16 FSRQs. Our results show that the ratio of the magnetic field and electron energy density is close to equipartition condition for 21 FSRQs.

High energy emission processes in OJ 287 during 2009 flare

The broadband spectrum of a BL Lac object, OJ 287, from radio to $\gamma$-rays obtained during a major $\gamma$-ray flare detected by \emph{Fermi} in 2009 are studied to understand the high energy emission mechanism during this episode. Using a simple one-zone leptonic model, incorporating synchrotron and inverse Compton emission processes, we show that the explanation of high energy emission from X-rays to $\gamma$-rays, by considering a single emission mechanism, namely, synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) or external Compton (EC) requires unlikely physical conditions. However, a combination of both SSC and EC mechanisms can reproduce the observed high energy spectrum satisfactorily. Using these emission mechanisms we extract the physical parameters governing the source and its environment. Our study suggests that the emission region of OJ 287 is surrounded by a warm infrared (IR) emitting region of $\sim 250 \, K$. Assuming this region as a spherical cloud illuminated by an accretion disk, we obtain the location of the emission region to be $\sim 9 pc$. This supports the claim that the $\gamma$-ray emission from OJ 287 during the 2009 flare arises from a location far away from the central engine as deduced from millimeter-gamma ray correlation study and very long baseline array images.

Multi-wavelength emission from 3C 66A: clues to its redshift and gamma-ray emission location

The quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength emission of TeV blazar 3C 66A is studied by using a one-zone multi-component leptonic jet model. It is found that the quasi-simultaneous spectral energy distribution of 3C 66A can be well reproduced; in particular, the first three months of its average Fermi-LAT spectrum can be well reproduced by the synchrotron self-Compton component plus external Compton component of the broad line region (BLR). Clues to its redshift and gamma-ray emission location are obtained. The results indicate the following. (i) On the redshift: The theoretical intrinsic TeV spectra can be predicted by extrapolating the reproduced GeV spectra. Through comparing these extrapolated TeV spectra with the corrected observed TeV spectra from extragalactic background light, it is suggested that the redshift of 3C 66A could be between 0.1 and 0.3, with the most likely value being ∼ 0.2. (ii) On the gamma-ray emission location: To well reproduce the GeV emission of 3C 66A under different assumptions on the BLR, the gamma-ray emission region is always required to be beyond the inner zone of the BLR. The BLR absorption effect on gamma-ray emission confirms this point.

HERSCHELPACS AND SPIRE OBSERVATIONS OF BLAZAR PKS 1510–089: A CASE FOR TWO BLAZAR ZONES

We present the results of observations of blazar PKS 1510-089 with the Herschel Space Observatory PACS and SPIRE instruments, together with multiwavelength data from Fermi/LAT, Swift, SMARTS and SMA. The source was found in a quiet state, and its far-infrared spectrum is consistent with a power-law with a spectral index of alpha ~ 0.7. Our Herschel observations were preceded by two 'orphan' gamma-ray flares. The near-infrared data reveal the high-energy cut-off in the main synchrotron component, which cannot be associated with the main gamma-ray component in a one-zone leptonic model. This is because in such a model the luminosity ratio of the External-Compton and synchrotron components is tightly related to the frequency ratio of these components, and in this particular case an unrealistically high energy density of the external radiation would be implied. Therefore, we consider a well-constrained two-zone blazar model to interpret the entire dataset. In this framework, the observed infrared emission is associated with the synchrotron component produced in the hot-dust region at the supra-pc scale, while the gamma-ray emission is associated with the External-Compton component produced in the broad-line region at the sub-pc scale. In addition, the optical/UV emission is associated with the accretion disk thermal emission, with the accretion disk corona likely contributing to the X-ray emission.

DELAYED ONSET OF HIGH-ENERGY EMISSIONS IN LEPTONIC AND HADRONIC MODELS OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

The temporal--spectral evolution of the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is simulated numerically for both leptonic and hadronic models. For weak enough magnetic fields, leptonic models can reproduce the few seconds delay of the onset of GeV photon emission observed by Fermi-LAT, due to the slow growth of the target photon field for inverse Compton scattering. However, even for stronger magnetic fields, the GeV delay can be explained with hadronic models, due to the long acceleration timescale of protons and the continuous photopion production after the end of the particle injection. While the FWHMs of the MeV and GeV lightcurves are almost the same in one-zone leptonic models, the FWHM of the 1--30 GeV lightcurves in hadronic models are significantly wider than those of the 0.1--1 MeV lightcurves. The amount of the GeV delay depends on the importance of the Klein--Nishina effect in both the leptonic and hadronic models. In our examples of hadronic models the energies of the escaped neutrons are comparable to the gamma-ray energy, although their contribution to the ultra high-energy cosmic rays is still subdominant. The resulting neutrino spectra are hard enough to avoid the flux limit constraint from IceCube. The delay of the neutrino emission onset is up to several times longer than the corresponding delay of the GeV photon emission onset. The quantitative differences in the lightcurves for various models may be further tested with future atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes whose effective area is larger than that of Fermi-LAT, such as CTA.

Estimates of Emission-Region Locations of Fermi Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasars

Abstract We have studied the location of emission regions through modeling the quasi-simultaneous multifrequency spectral energy distributions of 21 Fermi flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) in the frame of a multicomponent one-zone leptonic model. In our calculations, we took the detailed broad line region (BLR) structure into account, and discussed the effect of the uncertainty of the BLR structure on constraining the location of the emission regions for each FSRQ; besides, we also included both the internal and the external absorptions. Our results indicate that: (1) the contribution of the external Compton-BLR component to the $ \gamma$-ray emission is important, and the energy density of external target-photon fields depends on the location of the emission region, which can be derived by reproducing the observed $ \gamma$-ray emission; (2) the emission regions of FSRQs with relatively low accretion-disk luminosity lie in the region of (7.9 $ \times$ 10$ ^{16}$ –1.3 $ \times$ 10$ ^{18})$ cm (300–4300 Schwarzschild radii) from central black hole, and for FSRQs with high accretion-disk luminosity, the emission regions are located in a larger region of (2.6 $ \times$ 10$ ^{17}$ –4.2 $ \times$ 10$ ^{18}$ ) cm (300–5600 Schwarzschild radii).

COSMIC-RAY ELECTRON EVOLUTION IN THE SUPERNOVA REMNANT RX J1713.7–3946

A simple formalism to describe nonthermal electron acceleration, evolution, and radiation in supernova remnants (SNRs) is presented. The electron continuity equation is analytically solved assuming that the nonthermal electron injection power is proportional to the rate at which the kinetic energy of matter swept up in an adiabatically expanding SNR shell. We apply this model to \fermi\ and HESS data from the SNR \rxj, and find that a one-zone leptonic model with Compton-scattered cosmic microwave background (CMB) and interstellar infrared photons has difficulty providing a good fit to its spectral energy distribution, provided the source is at a distance $\sim 1\ \kpc$ from the Earth. However, the inclusion of multiple zones, as hinted at by recent {\em Chandra} observations, does provide a good fit, but requires a second zone of compact knots with magnetic fields $B\sim 16\ \mu$G, comparable to shock-compressed fields found in the bulk of the remnant.

Suzaku Observation of the Unidentified Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Source HESS J1702−420

Abstract A deep X-ray observation of the unidentified very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray source HESS J1702 $-$ 420, for the first time, was carried out by Suzaku. No bright sources were detected in the XIS field of view (FOV), except for two faint point-like sources. The two sources, however, are considered not to be related to HESS J1702 $-$ 420, because their fluxes in the 2–10 keV band ( $\sim\ $ 10 $^{-14}\ $ erg s $^{-1}\ $ cm $^{-2}$ ) are $\sim\ $ 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the VHE gamma-ray flux in the 1–10 TeV band ( $F_{\rm TeV}$$=$ 3.1 $\times$ 10 $^{-11}\ $ erg s $^{-1}\ $ cm $^{-2}$ ). We compared the energy spectrum of diffuse emission, extracted from the entire XIS FOV with those from nearby observations. If we consider the systematic error of background subtraction, no significant diffuse emission was detected with an upper limit of $F_{\rm X}$$<$ 2.7 $\times$ 10 $^{-12}\ $ erg s $^{-1}\ $ cm $^{-2}$ in the 2–10 keV band for an assumed power-law spectrum of $\Gamma$$=$ 2.1 and a source size same as that in the VHE band. The upper limit of the X-ray flux is twelve-times as small as the VHE gamma-ray flux. The large flux ratio ( $F_{\rm TeV}/F_{\rm X}$ ) indicates that HESS J1702 $-$ 420 is another example of a “dark” particle accelerator. If we use a simple one-zone leptonic model, in which VHE gamma-rays are produced through inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background and interstellar far-infrared emission, and the X-rays via the synchrotron mechanism, an upper limit of the magnetic field (1.7 $\ \mu$ G) is obtained from the flux ratio. Because the magnetic field is weaker than the typical value in the galactic plane (3–10 $\ \mu$ G), the simple one-zone model may not work for HESS J1702 $-$ 420 and a significant fraction of the VHE gamma-rays may originate from protons.