scholarly journals On the unusually large spatial extent of the TeV nebula HESS J1825−137: implication from the energy-dependent morphology

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (2) ◽  
pp. 2618-2627
Author(s):  
Ruo-Yu Liu ◽  
Huirong Yan

ABSTRACT Deep observation of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) on the most extended pulsar wind nebula HESS J1825−137 reveals an enhanced energy-dependent morphology, providing useful information on the particle transport mechanism in the nebula. We find that the energy-dependent morphology is consistent with a diffusion-dominated transport of electrons/positrons. It provides an alternative possible interpretation for the unusually large spatial extent (i.e. ${\gtrsim} 100$ pc) of the nebula, which could then be attributed to the diffusion of escaping electrons/positrons from a compact plerion. The influence of various model parameters on the energy-dependent extent of the nebula is studied in the diffusion-dominated scenario. We also show that the energy-dependent morphology of the nebula may also be used to study the spin-down history of the pulsar.

2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A116 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
H. Abdalla ◽  
F. Aharonian ◽  
F. Ait Benkhali ◽  
E. O. Angüner ◽  
...  

Context. We present a detailed view of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) HESS J1825–137. We aim to constrain the mechanisms dominating the particle transport within the nebula, accounting for its anomalously large size and spectral characteristics. Aims. The nebula was studied using a deep exposure from over 12 years of H.E.S.S. I operation, together with data from H.E.S.S. II that improve the low-energy sensitivity. Enhanced energy-dependent morphological and spatially resolved spectral analyses probe the very high energy (VHE, E > 0.1 TeV) γ-ray properties of the nebula. Methods. The nebula emission is revealed to extend out to 1.5° from the pulsar, ~1.5 times farther than previously seen, making HESS J1825–137, with an intrinsic diameter of ~100 pc, potentially the largest γ-ray PWN currently known. Characterising the strongly energy-dependent morphology of the nebula enables us to constrain the particle transport mechanisms. A dependence of the nebula extent with energy of R ∝ Eα with α = −0.29 ± 0.04stat ± 0.05sys disfavours a pure diffusion scenario for particle transport within the nebula. The total γ-ray flux of the nebula above 1 TeV is found to be (1.12 ± 0.03stat ± 0.25sys) × 10−11 cm−2 s−1, corresponding to ~64% of the flux of the Crab nebula. Results. HESS J1825–137 is a PWN with clearly energy-dependent morphology at VHE γ-ray energies. This source is used as a laboratory to investigate particle transport within intermediate-age PWNe. Based on deep observations of this highly spatially extended PWN, we produce a spectral map of the region that provides insights into the spectral variation within the nebula.


2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (2) ◽  
pp. 1911-1919
Author(s):  
Fang-Wu Lu ◽  
Quan-Gui Gao ◽  
Li Zhang

ABSTRACT 3C 58 is a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) that shows an interesting energy-dependent nebula extent and spatial variations of the photon index and surface brightness in the X-ray band. These observations provide useful information with which to study the spatially dependent radiative cooling of electrons and the energy-dependent transport mechanisms within the nebula. In this paper, the energy-dependent nebula extent and spatially resolved spectra of this PWN are investigated in the framework of a spatially dependent particle transport model. The observations of the nebula, including the photon spectral energy distribution, spatial variations of the X-ray spectrum, and measurements of the nebula extent, can be naturally explained in this model. Our results show that the energy-dependent nebula extent favours an advection–diffusion scenario with advection-dominated transport, and the variations of the nebula extent with energy in the X-ray band can be attributed to the cooling losses of high-energy electrons affected by synchrotron burn-off. Particle diffusion plays an important role in modifying the spatial variations of the photon index and surface brightness in the X-ray band. The radial extents of the nebula at radio, GeV and TeV energies are predicted by the model, indicating that the nebula extent of 3C 58 varies with energy in these bands. The analyses show that the dependence of the adiabatic cooling rate and synchrotron radiation on the spectral index of injected particles is important for changing the nebula extent at different energies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-Wu Lu ◽  
Quan-Gui Gao ◽  
Bo-Tao Zhu ◽  
Li Zhang

Context. Vela X is a middle-aged pulsar wind nebula (PWN) that has been detected in radio, X-ray, and γ-ray bands. The observations indicate that that photon index and flux density of the inner regions of the nebula have obvious changes as the radial distance increases in the X-ray band, and the surface brightness has been discovered to decrease with the increase of radial distance in γ-ray band. Aims. The multi-band photon emission and high energy spatially radiative properties of Vela X are investigated in the framework of a spatially dependent particle transport model. Methods. Electron distribution inside the PWN was described by a spatially dependent particle transport equation and the evolution of the non-thermal photon was described as a photon conservation equation under the assumption of a spherically symmetric system with dynamical evolution. In this model, the dynamical and particle evolution equations were simultaneously solved, and the γ-ray attenuation by the supernova remnant (SNR) photon fields in the PWN were taken into account. Results. The observed spectral energy distributions of Vela X, including X-ray spectra of the inner regions and γ-ray spectra observed at GeV and TeV bands, are well reproduced. The radial variations of the photon index in X-ray band and the surface brightness in the TeV energy range as well as the γ-ray spectra of the inner region and ring extension can also be well reproduced in the framework of our model. The spatial variations of photon indices at GeV and TeV bands are predicted and show that the photon index in GeV band increases with the increase of radial distance while there is only a slight change in the TeV band. Moreover, the modelling results reveal that the γ-ray attenuation by the SNR photon fields is important for modifying very high energy γ-ray spectrum of Vela X.


2022 ◽  
Vol 924 (2) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Lin Nie ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Zejun Jiang ◽  
Xiongfei Geng

Abstract It has been long debated whether the high-energy gamma-ray radiation from the Crab Nebula stems from leptonic or hadronic processes. In this work, we investigate the multiband nonthermal radiation from the Crab pulsar wind nebula with the leptonic and leptonic–hadronic hybrid models, respectively. Then we use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling technology and method of sampling trace to study the stability and reasonability of the model parameters according to the recently observed results and obtain the best-fitting values of parameters. Finally, we calculate different radiative components generated by the electrons and protons in the Crab Nebula. The modeling results indicate that the pure leptonic origin model with the one-zone only can partly agree with some segments of the data from various experiments (including the PeV gamma-ray emission reported by the LHAASO and the other radiation ranging from the radio to very-high-energy gamma-ray wave band), and the contribution of hadronic interaction is hardly constrained. However, we find that the hadronic process may also contribute, especially in the energy range exceeding the PeV. In addition, it can be inferred that the higher energy signals from the Crab Nebula could be observed in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. A76
Author(s):  
G. Principe ◽  
A. M. W. Mitchell ◽  
S. Caroff ◽  
J. A. Hinton ◽  
R. D. Parsons ◽  
...  

Aims. Taking advantage of more than 11 years of Fermi-LAT data, we perform a new and deep analysis of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) HESS J1825-137. Combining this analysis with recent H.E.S.S. results we investigate and constrain the particle transport mechanisms at work inside the source as well as the system evolution. Methods. The PWN is studied using 11.6 years of Fermi-LAT data between 1 GeV and 1 TeV. In particular, we present the results of the spectral analysis and the first energy-resolved morphological study of the PWN HESS J1825-137 at GeV energies, which provide new insights into the γ-ray characteristics of the nebula. Results. An optimised analysis of the source returns an extended emission region larger than 2°, corresponding to an intrinsic size of about 150 pc, making HESS J1825-137 the most extended γ-ray PWN currently known. The nebula presents a strong energy dependent morphology within the GeV range, moving from a radius of ∼1.4° below 10 GeV to a radius of ∼0.8° above 100 GeV, with a shift in the centroid location. Conclusions. Thanks to the large extension and peculiar energy-dependent morphology, it is possible to constrain the particle transport mechanisms inside the PWN HESS J1825-137. Using the variation of the source extension and position, as well as the constraints on the particle transport mechanisms, we present a scheme for the possible evolution of the system. Finally, we provide an estimate of the electron energy density and we discuss its nature in the PWN and TeV halo-like scenario.


1984 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 599-602
Author(s):  
T.V. Johnson ◽  
G.E. Morfill ◽  
E. Grun

A number of lines of evidence suggest that the particles making up the E-ring are small, on the order of a few microns or less in size (Terrile and Tokunaga, 1980, BAAS; Pang et al., 1982 Saturn meeting; Tucson, AZ). This suggests that a variety of electromagnetic and plasma affects may be important in considering the history of such particles. We have shown (Morfill et al., 1982, J. Geophys. Res., in press) that plasma drags forces from the corotating plasma will rapidly evolve E-ring particle orbits to increasing distance from Saturn until a point is reached where radiation drag forces acting to decrease orbital radius balance this outward acceleration. This occurs at approximately Rhea's orbit, although the exact value is subject to many uncertainties. The time scale for plasma drag to move particles from Enceladus' orbit to the outer E-ring is ~104yr. A variety of effects also act to remove particles, primarily sputtering by both high energy charged particles (Cheng et al., 1982, J. Geophys. Res., in press) and corotating plasma (Morfill et al., 1982). The time scale for sputtering away one micron particles is also short, 102 - 10 yrs. Thus the detailed particle density profile in the E-ring is set by a competition between orbit evolution and particle removal. The high density region near Enceladus' orbit may result from the sputtering yeild of corotating ions being less than unity at this radius (e.g. Eviatar et al., 1982, Saturn meeting). In any case, an active source of E-ring material is required if the feature is not very ephemeral - Enceladus itself, with its geologically recent surface, appears still to be the best candidate for the ultimate source of E-ring material.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
S. B. Kraemer ◽  
T. J. Turner ◽  
D. M. Crenshaw ◽  
H. R. Schmitt ◽  
M. Revalski ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have analyzed Chandra/High Energy Transmission Grating spectra of the X-ray emission line gas in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151. The zeroth-order spectral images show extended H- and He-like O and Ne, up to a distance r ˜ 200 pc from the nucleus. Using the 1st-order spectra, we measure an average line velocity ˜230 km s–1, suggesting significant outflow of X-ray gas. We generated Cloudy photoionization models to fit the 1st-order spectra; the fit required three distinct emission-line components. To estimate the total mass of ionized gas (M) and the mass outflow rates, we applied the model parameters to fit the zeroth-order emission-line profiles of Ne IX and Ne X. We determined an M ≍ 5.4 × 105Mʘ. Assuming the same kinematic profile as that for the [O III] gas, derived from our analysis of Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph spectra, the peak X-ray mass outflow rate is approximately 1.8 Mʘ yr–1, at r ˜ 150 pc. The total mass and mass outflow rates are similar to those determined using [O III], implying that the X-ray gas is a major outflow component. However, unlike the optical outflows, the X-ray emitting mass outflow rate does not drop off at r > 100pc, which suggests that it may have a greater impact on the host galaxy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (3) ◽  
pp. 4357-4370
Author(s):  
B Olmi ◽  
D F Torres

ABSTRACT Identification and characterization of a rapidly increasing number of pulsar wind nebulae is, and will continue to be, a challenge of high-energy gamma-ray astrophysics. Given that such systems constitute -by far- the most numerous expected population in the TeV regime, such characterization is important not only to learn about the sources per se from an individual and population perspective, but also to be able to connect them with observations at other frequencies, especially in radio and X-rays. Also, we need to remove the emission from nebulae in highly confused regions of the sky for revealing other underlying emitters. In this paper, we present a new approach for theoretical modelling of pulsar wind nebulae: a hybrid hydrodynamic-radiative model able to reproduce morphological features and spectra of the sources, with relatively limited numerical cost.


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