Ph Cm-2 Research Articles

Probing the cosmic-ray content of galaxy clusters by stackingFermi-LAT count maps

Observations in radio have shown that galaxy clusters are giant reservoirs of cosmic rays (CR). Although a gamma- ray signal from the cluster volume is expected to arise through interactions of CR protons with the ambient plasma, a confirming observation is still missing. We search for a cumulative gamma-ray emission in direction of galaxy clusters by analysing a collection of stacked Fermi-LAT count maps. Additionally, we investigate possible systematic differences in the emission between cool-core and non-cool core cluster populations. Making use of a sample of 53 clusters selected from the HIFLUGCS catalog, we do not detect a significant signal from the stacked sample. The upper limit on the average flux per cluster derived for the total stacked sample is at the level of a few 1e-11 ph cm-2 s-1 at 95% confidence level in the 1-300 GeV band, assuming power-law spectra with photon indices 2.0, 2.4, 2.8 and 3.2. Separate stacking of the cool core and non-cool core clusters in the sample lead to similar values of around 5e-11 ph cm-2 s-1 and 2e-11 ph cm-2 s-1, respectively. Under the assumption that decaying pi0, produced in collisions between CRs and the ambient thermal gas, are responsible for the gamma-ray emission, we set upper limits on the average CR content in galaxy clusters. For the entire cluster population, our upper limit on the gamma-ray flux translates into an upper limit on the average CR-to-thermal energy ratio of 4.6% for a photon index of 2.4, although it is possible for individual systems to exceed this limit. Our 95% upper limits are at the level expected from numerical simulations, which likely suggests that the injection of CR at cosmological shocks is less efficient than previously assumed.

Discovery of very high energyγ-ray emission from the BL Lacertae object PKS 0301−243 with H.E.S.S.

The active galactic nucleus PKS 0301-243 (z=0.266) is a high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac object that is detected at high energies (HE, 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) by Fermi/LAT. This paper reports on the discovery of PKS 0301-243 at very high energies (E>100 GeV) by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) from observations between September 2009 and December 2011 for a total live time of 34.9 hours. Gamma rays above 200 GeV are detected at a significance of 9.4{\sigma}. A hint of variability at the 2.5{\sigma} level is found. An integral flux I(E > 200 GeV) = (3.3 +/- 1.1_stat +/- 0.7_syst)e-12 ph cm^-2s^-1 and a photon index {\Gamma} = 4.6 +/- 0.7_stat +/- 0.2_syst are measured. Multi-wavelength light curves in HE, X-ray and optical bands show strong variability, and a minimal variability timescale of eight days is estimated from the optical light curve. A single-zone leptonic synchrotron self-Compton scenario satisfactorily reproduces the multi-wavelength data. In this model, the emitting region is out of equipartition and the jet is particle dominated. Because of its high redshift compared to other sources observed at TeV energies, the very high energy emission from PKS 0301-243 is attenuated by the extragalactic background light (EBL) and the measured spectrum is used to derive an upper limit on the opacity of the EBL.

HESS observations of the Carina nebula and its enigmatic colliding wind binary Eta Carinae

The massive binary system Eta Carinae and the surrounding HII complex, the Carina Nebula, are potential particle acceleration sites from which very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) \gamma-ray emission could be expected. This paper presents data collected during VHE \gamma-ray observations with the H.E.S.S. telescope array from 2004 to 2010, which cover a full orbit of Eta Carinae. In the 33.1-hour data set no hint of significant \gamma-ray emission from Eta Carinae has been found and an upper limit on the \gamma-ray flux of 7.7 x 10-13 ph cm-2 s-1 (99% confidence level) is derived above the energy threshold of 470 GeV. Together with the detection of high-energy (HE; 0.1 GeV > E > 100 GeV) \gamma-ray emission by the Fermi-LAT up to 100 GeV, and assuming a continuation of the average HE spectral index into the VHE domain, these results imply a cut-off in the \gamma-ray spectrum between the HE and VHE \gamma-ray range. This could be caused either by a cut-off in the accelerated particle distribution or by severe \gamma-\gamma\ absorption losses in the wind collision region. Furthermore, the search for extended \gamma-ray emission from the Carina Nebula resulted in an upper limit on the \gamma-ray flux of 4.2 x 10-12 ph cm-2 s-1 (99% confidence level). The derived upper limit of ~23 on the cosmic-ray enhancement factor is compared with results found for the old-age mixed-morphology supernova remnant W 28.

SEARCH FOR GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM X-RAY-SELECTED SEYFERT GALAXIES WITHFERMI-LAT

We report on a systematic investigation of the gamma-ray properties of 120 hard X-ray-selected Seyfert galaxies classified as `radio-quiet' objects, utilizing the three-year accumulation of Fermi-LAT data. Our sample of Seyfert galaxies is selected using the Swift-BAT 58-month catalog, restricting the analysis to the bright sources with average hard X-ray fluxes F(14-195 keV) > 2.5x10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 at high Galactic latitudes (|b|>10 deg). In order to remove `radio-loud' objects from the sample, we use the `hard X-ray radio loudness parameter', Rrx, defined as the ratio of the total 1.4 GHz radio to 14-195 keV hard X-ray energy fluxes. Among 120 X-ray bright Seyfert galaxies with Rrx <10-4, we did not find a statistically significant gamma-ray excess (TS>25) positionally coincident with any target Seyferts, with possible exceptions of ESO 323-G077 and NGC 6814. The mean value of the 95 % confidence level gamma-ray upper limit for the integrated photon flux above 100 MeV from the analyzed Seyferts is ~ 4 x 10-9 ph cm-2 s-1 and the upper limits derived for several objects reach ~ 1 x 10-9 ph cm-2 s-1. Our results indicate that no prominent gamma-ray emission component related to active galactic nucleus activity is present in the spectra of Seyferts around GeV energies. The Fermi-LAT upper limits derived for our sample probe the ratio of gamma-ray to X-ray luminosities Lg/LX < 0.1, and even <0.01 in some cases. The obtained results impose novel constraints on the models for high energy radiation of `radio-quiet' Seyfert galaxies.

MULTIWAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF THE VERY HIGH ENERGY BLAZAR 1ES 2344+514

Multiwavelength observations of the high-frequency-peaked blazar 1ES2344+514 were performed from 2007 October to 2008 January. The campaign represents the first contemporaneous data on the object at very high energy (VHE, E >100 GeV) {\gamma}-ray, X-ray, and UV energies. Observations with VERITAS in VHE {\gamma}-rays yield a strong detection of 20 {\sigma} with 633 excess events in a total exposure of 18.1 hours live-time. A strong VHE {\gamma}-ray flare on 2007 December 7 is measured at F(>300 GeV) = (6.76 \pm 0.62) \times 10-11 ph cm-2 s-1, corresponding to 48% of the Crab Nebula flux. Excluding this flaring episode, nightly variability at lower fluxes is observed with a time-averaged mean of F(>300 GeV) = (1.06 \pm 0.09) \times 10-11 ph cm-2 s-1 (7.6% of the Crab Nebula flux). The differential photon spectrum between 390 GeV and 8.3 TeV for the time-averaged observations excluding 2007 December 7 is well described by a power law with a photon index of {\Gamma} = 2.78 \pm 0.09stat \pm 0.15syst. Over the full period of VERITAS observations contemporaneous X-ray and UV data were taken with Swift and RXTE. The measured 2-10 keV flux ranged by a factor of ~7 during the campaign. On 2007 December 8 the highest ever observed X-ray flux from 1ES 2344+514 was measured by Swift XRT at a flux of F(2-10 keV) = (6.28 \pm 0.31) \times 10-11 erg cm-2 s-1. Evidence for a correlation between the X-ray flux and VHE {\gamma}-ray flux on nightly time-scales is indicated with a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = 0.60 \pm 0.11. Contemporaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 1ES 2344+514 are presented for two distinct flux states. A one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model describes both SEDs using parameters consistent with previous SSC modeling of 1ES 2344+514 from non-contemporaneous observations.

HESS upper limits on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the microquasar GRS 1915+105

Context. High energy particles reside in the relativistic jets of microquasars, making them possible sources of very high energy radiation (VHE, >100 GeV). Detecting this emission would provide a new handle on jet physics. Aims. Observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 with the HESS telescope array were undertaken in 2004-2008 to search for VHE emission. Methods. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. Results. There is no evidence for a VHE gamma-ray signal either from the direction of the microquasar or its vicinity. An upper limit of $6.1\times 10^$ ph cm-2 s-1 (99.9% confidence level) is set on the photon flux above 410 GeV, equivalent to a VHE luminosity of ${\sim} 10^$ erg s-1 at 11 kpc. Conclusions. The VHE to X-ray luminosity ratio in GRS 1915+105 is at least four orders of magnitude lower than the ratio observed in gamma-ray binaries. The VHE radiative efficiency of the compact jet is less than 0.01% based on its estimated total power of 1038 erg s-1. Particle acceleration in GRS 1915+105 is not efficient at high energies and/or the magnetic field is too strong. It is also possible that VHE gamma-rays are produced by GRS 1915+105, but the emission is highly time-dependent.

SPI observations of the diffuse60Fe emission in the Galaxy

Aims. Gamma-ray line emission from radioactive decay of 60 Fe provides constraints on nucleosynthesis in massive stars and supernovae.Methods. spectrometer SPI on board INTEGRAL has accumulated nearly three years of data on gamma-ray emission from the Galactic plane. We have analyzed these data with suitable instrumental-background models and sky distributions to produce high-resolution spectra of Galactic emission.Results. We detect the γ -ray lines from 60 Fe decay at 1173 and 1333 keV, obtaining an improvement over our earlier measurement of both lines with now 4.9σ significance for the combination of the two lines. The average flux per line is (4.4 ± 0.9) 10-5 ph cm-2 s-1 rad-1 for the inner Galaxy region. Deriving the Galactic 26 Al gamma-ray line flux with using the same set of observations and analysis method, we determine the flux ratio of 60 Fe/26 Al gamma-rays as 0.148 ± 0.06.Conclusions. The current theoretical predictions are consistent with our result. We discuss the implications of these results for the widely-held hypothesis that 60 Fe is synthesized in core-collapse supernovae, and also for the closely-related question of the precise origin of 26 Al in massive stars.

Observations of the intense and ultra-long burst GRB 041219a with the Germanium spectrometer on INTEGRAL

Context.GRB 041219a is the brightest burst localised by INTEGRAL. The peak flux of 43 ph cm-2 s-1 ( erg cm-2 s-1, 20 keV–8 MeV, 1 s integration) is greater than that for ~98% of all bursts and the T90 duration of ~186 s (~20 keV–8 MeV) is longer than all but a small number of bursts. The intense burst occurred about ~250 s after the precursor and the long delay enabled optical and near infrared telescopes to observe the prompt emission.

The all-sky distribution of 511 keV electron-positron annihilation emission

We present a map of 511 keV electron-positron annihilation emission, based on data accumulated with the SPI spectrometer aboard ESA's INTEGRAL gamma-ray observatory, that covers approximately ~ of the celestial sphere. Within the exposed sky area, 511 keV line emission is significantly detected towards the galactic bulge region and, at a very low level, from the galactic disk. The bulge emission is highly symmetric and is centred on the galactic centre with an extension of ~ (FWHM). The emission is equally well described by models that represent the stellar bulge or halo populations. The detection significance of the bulge emission is ~, that of the galactic disk is ~. The disk morphology is only weakly constrained by the present data, being compatible with both the distribution of young and old stellar populations. The 511 keV line flux from the bulge and disk components is ph cm-2 s-1 and ph cm-2 s-1 respectively, corresponding to a bulge-to-disk flux ratio in the range . Assuming a positronium fraction of this translates into annihilation rates of s-1and s-1, respectively. The ratio of the bulge luminosity to that of the disk is in the range . We find no evidence for a point-like source in addition to the diffuse emission, down to a typical flux limit of ~10-4 ph cm-2 s-1. We also find no evidence for the positive latitude enhancement that has been reported from OSSE measurements; our upper flux limit for this feature is ph cm-2 s-1. The disk emission can be attributed to the -decay of the radioactive species 26 Al and 44Ti. The bulge emission arises from a different source which has only a weak or no disk component. We suggest that Type Ia supernovae and/or low-mass X-ray binaries are the prime candidates for the source of the galactic bulge positrons. Light dark matter annihilation could also explain the observed 511 keV bulge emission characteristics.

Early SPI/INTEGRAL measurements of 511 keV line emission from the 4th quadrant of the Galaxy

We report the first measurements of the 511 keV line emission from the Galactic Centre (GC) region performed with the spectrometer SPI on the space observatory INTEGRAL (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory). Taking into account the range of spatial distribution models which are consistent with the data, we derive a flux of ph cm-2 s-1 and an intrinsic line width of keV (FWHM). The results are consistent with other high-spectroscopy measurements, though the width is found to be at the upper bound of previously reported values.

Spectral measurements of galactic and extragalactic sources in the hard X-ray region of 20-200 keV using balloon borne telescope

The spectral and temporal measurements in the hard X-ray region between 20-200 keV not only determines the extended behaviour of thermal X-ray spectrum below 10 keV but also provide a unique insight into the non-thermal processes in relativistic astrophysical plasma. From our present understanding of the X-ray sources, a significant fluxin the 20-200 keV band is expected from a variety of astrophysical phenomena, however, the available spectral data on the galactic and extragalactic X-ray source is very limited. This is mainly due to the fact that sensitivity of the detector systems used for earlier measurements was relatively poor. Since 1997, we have been carrying out a programme of hard X-ray observations galactic and extragalactic sources, in the 20-200 keV energy band using a highly sensitive balloon borne experiment. The X-ray telescope consists of three modules of large area scintillation counters specially configured in the back-to-back geometry and have a combined sensitivity of ∼ 10-6 ph cm-2 s-1 keV-1 for an on-source observations of 3 hrs. A total of 30 hours of ceiling data above an altitude of 3 mbar has been collected in 4 successful balloon flights from Hyderabad, India. Almost a dozen galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources were targeted and tracked during these observations. A positive detection was made in each case and in some cases the observed spectra extended right up to 150 keV. A brief account of the observed spectral and temporal features on some of the sources along with accurate measurement of diffuse background spectrum and a weak gamma ray burst will be presented in the paper.

Cosmic Ray Production Rates in Supernova Remnants

Supernova Remnants (SNRs) are the most likely sources of the galactic cosmic rays up to energies of about 1015 eV/nuc. The large scale shock waves of SNRs are almost ideal sites to accelerate particles up to these highly non-thermal energies by a first order Fermi mechanism which operates through scattering of the particles at magnetic irregularities. In order to get an estimate on the total amount of the explosion energy E SNconverted into high energy particles the evolution of a SNR has to be followed up to the final merging with the interstellar medium. This can only be done by numerical simulations since the non-linear modifications of the shock wave due to particle acceleration as well as radiative cooling processes at later SNR stages have to be considered in such investigations. Based on a large sample of numerical evolution calculations performed for different ambient densities n ext, SN explosion energies, magnetic fields etc. we discuss the final ‘yields’ of cosmic rays at the final SNR stage where the Mach number of the shock waves drops below 2. At these times the cosmic rays start to diffuse out of the remnant. In the range of external densities of10-2 ≤ n ext/[cm-3] ≤ 30 we find a the total acceleration efficiency of about 0.15 E SN with an increase up to 0.24 E SN at maximum for an external density of n ext = 10 cm-3. Since for the larger ambient densities radiative cooling can reduce significantly the total thermal energy content of the remnant dissipation of Alfven waves can provide an important heating mechanism for the gas at these later stages. From the collisions of the cosmic rays with the thermal plasma neutral pions are generated which decay subsequently into observable γ-rays above 100 MeV. Hence, we calculate these γ-ray luminosities of SNRs and compare them with current upper limits of ground based γ-raytelescopes. The development of dense shells due to cooling of the thermal plasma increases the γ-ray luminosities and e.g. an external density of n ext = 10 cm-3 with E SN = 1051 erg can lead to a γ-ray flux above 10-6 ph cm-2 s-1 for a remnant located at a distance of 1 kpc.

Constraints on the spin parameters of 1ES 1853-379 from its EGRET observed upper limit: SUN Xue-jun & ZHAO Yong-heng Beijing Astronomical Observatory, CAS, Beijing 100080

he upper limit γ-ray flux in the direction of the newly discovered isolated neutronstar IES 1853-379 was found to be about 5×10-8 ph cm-2 s-1 from the upper limitmap of the second EGRET source catalogue. This gives an upper limit luminosity of7.6×10(D/100pc) J/s on assuming a k beaming fraction and a 1 GeV average photon energy. The derived efficiency of γ-ray production is about two orders of magnitudelower than that predicted by the efficiency-age relation from known γ-ray pulsars in eitherthe polar cap or the outer gap model. mom this we derive constraints on the spin parametersof this object.

Diffuse Gamma‐Ray Emission from Starburst Galaxies and M31

We present a search for high energy gamma-ray emission from 9 nearby starburst galaxies and M31 with the EGRET instrument aboard CGRO. Though the diffuse gamma-ray emission from starburst galaxies was suspected to be detectable, we find no emission from NGC 253, M82 nor from the average of all 9 galaxies. The 2 sigma upper limit for the EGRET flux above 100 MeV for the averaged survey observations is 1.8 x 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1. From a model of the expected radio and gamma-ray emission, we find that the magnetic field in the nuclei of these galaxies is > 25 micro Gauss, and the ratio of proton and electron densities is < 400. The EGRET limits indicate that the rate of massive star formation in the survey galaxies is only about an order of magnitude higher than in the Milky Way. The upper limit to the gamma-ray flux above 100 MeV for M31 is 1.6 x 10-8 ph cm-2 s-1. At the distance of M31, the Milky Way flux would be over twice this value, indicating higher gamma-ray emissivities in our Galaxy. Therefore, since the supernova rate of the Milky Way is higher than in M31, our null detection of M31 supports the theory of the supernova origin of cosmic rays in galaxies.

Time Variability Detected in the Gamma-Ray Emission of 3C 273 by OSSE

We report results of a 3 week observation of the quasar 3C 273 with the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO). During the observation between 1994 August 31 and September 20, 3C 273 exhibited variability on timescales as short as 3-4 days in the 0.05-0.15 MeV energy range. This is the shortest measured variability of 3C 273 in this energy range. The measured flux at 100 keV is 2.40 ± 0.06 (×10-2 ph cm-2 s-1 MeV-1), which is the highest recorded flux for 3C 273 by OSSE in 5 years of monitoring and nearly twice as great as the previously recorded peak flux measured in 1991 June. While the flux varied by a factor of 1.7, no significant gamma-ray spectral evolution in the OSSE band was observed throughout the viewing period. The data for the full viewing period are described better with a broken power law than a single power law, with photon spectral index Γ = 1.62 ± 0.08 below a break at 300 ± 100 keV, and with a spectral index change of ΔΓ = 0.9+ 1.6−0.6. This break energy is significantly lower than the 1 MeV break reported by Johnson et al. in 1991 June.

SOLAR ENERGETIC ION AND ELECTRON LIMITS FROM HIREGS OBSERVATIONS

The HIgh-REsolution Gamma-ray and hard X-ray Spectrometer (HIREGS) consists of an actively shielded array of twelve liquid-nitrogen-cooled germanium detectors designed to provide unprecedented spectral resolution and narrow-line sensitivity for solar gamma-ray line observations. Two long-duration, circumpolar balloon flights of HIREGS in Antarctica (10–24 January, 1992 and 31 December, 1992–10 January, 1993) provided 90.9 and 20.4 hours of solar observations, respectively. During the observations, eleven soft X-ray bursts at C levels and above (largest M1.7) occurred, and three small solar hard X-ray bursts were detected by the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. HIREGS detected a significant increase above 30 keV in one. No solar gamma-ray line emission was detected. Limits on the 2.223-MeV line and the hard X-ray emission are used to estimate the relative contribution of protons and electrons to the energy in flares, and to coronal heating. For the 2.223-MeV line, the upper limit fluence is ≲ 0.8 ph cm-2 in the flares, and the upper limit flux is 1.8 × 10-4 ph s-1 cm-2 in the absence of flares. These limits imply that ≲ 6 × 1030 (2σ) protons above 30 MeV were accelerated in the flares, assuming standard photospheric abundances and a thick target model. The total energy contained in the accelerated protons >30 MeV is ≲ 4 × 1026 ergs, but this limit can be more than 1030 ergs if the spectrum extends down to ∽1 MeV. The upper limit on the total energy in accelerated electrons during the observed flares can also exceed 1030 ergs if the spectrum goes down to ∽ 7 keV. Quiet-Sun observations indicate that ≲ 1026erg s-1 are deposited by energetic protons >1 MeV, well below the1027 –1028 erg s-1 required for coronal heating, while <3 × 1027 erg s-1 are deposited by energetic electrons, which does not exclude the possibility of coronal heating by quiet-time accelerated electrons. The quiet-Sun observations also suggest that if protons stored in the corona are to supply the energy for flares, as suggested by Elliot (1964), the proton spectrum must extend down to at least ∽2 MeV. However, collisional losses at typical coronal-loop densities prevent those low-energy protons from being stored for ≳ 104 s. It therefore seems unlikely that the energy for flares could come from energetic protons stored over long periods.

Cyg X-3 not seen at high-energy gamma rays

The ESA satellite COS-B viewed the Cyg-X region 7 times between November 1975 and March 1982. A search for periodic gamma-ray emission (E > 70 MeV) from Cyg X-3 at the characteristic ∼4.8 h period did not reveal the source. Combining all observations, the 2σ upperlimit (E > 70 MeV) on the flux for the phase interval in which X-ray emission has been detected is 1.0 × 10-6 ph cm-2 s-1 and for the phase intervals in which ultra-high-energy (E ≳ 500 GeV) gamma-ray emission has been reported ∼1.0 × 10-7 ph cm-2 s-1. This is about one and two orders of magnitude, repectively, below the flux reported earlier by the SAS-2 team. A comparison of the spatial gamma-ray distribution in the Cyg-X region measured by SAS-2 and COS-B with the total-interstellar-gas distribution leads to the conclusion that in both cases, COS-B and SAS-2, no source has been detected at the position of Cyg X-3 in addition to the diffuse gamma-ray emission expected from the total-gas distribution.

Studies of solar flares using optical, X-ray and radio data

I have studied a number of flares for which good X-ray and optical data were available. An average lag of 5.5 s between hard X-ray (HXR) start and Hα start, and HXR peak and Ha peak was found for 41 flares for which determination was possible. Allowing for time constants the time lag is zero. The peak Hα lasts until 5–6 keV soft X-ray (SXR) peak. The level of Hα intensity is determined by the SXR flux. Multiple spikes in HXR appear to correspond to different occurrences in the flare development. Flares with HXR always have a fast Hα rise. Several flares were observed in the λ 3835 band; such emission appears when the 5.1–6.6 keV flux exceeds 5 × 104 ph cm-2 s-1 at the Earth. Smaller flares produce no λ3835 emission; we conclude that coronal back conduction cannot produce the bright chromospheric network of that wavelength. The nearly simultaneous growth of Hα emission at distant points means an agent travelling faster than 5 × 103 km s-1 is responsible, presumably electrons. In all cases near the limb an elevated Ha source is seen with the same time duration as HXR flux; it is concluded that this Hα source is almost always an elevated cloud which is excited by the fast electrons. A rough calculation is given. Another calculation of Hα emission from compressed coronal material shows it to be inadequate. In several cases homologous flares occur within hours with the same X-ray properties. Radio models fit, more or less, with field strengths on the order of 100G. A number of flares are discussed in detail.