1,758 research outputs found
A new nearby pulsar wind nebula overlapping the RX J0852.0-4622 supernova remnant
Energetic pulsars can be embedded in a nebula of relativistic leptons which
is powered by the dissipation of the rotational energy of the pulsar. The
object PSR J0855-4644 is an energetic and fast-spinning pulsar (Edot =
1.1x10^36 erg/s, P=65 ms) discovered near the South-East rim of the supernova
remnant (SNR) RX J0852.0-4622 (aka Vela Jr) by the Parkes multibeam survey. The
position of the pulsar is in spatial coincidence with an enhancement in X-rays
and TeV gamma-rays, which could be due to its putative pulsar wind nebula
(PWN).
The purpose of this study is to search for diffuse non-thermal X-ray emission
around PSR J0855-4644 to test for the presence of a PWN and to estimate the
distance to the pulsar. An X-ray observation was carried out with the
XMM-Newton satellite to constrain the properties of the pulsar and its nebula.
The absorption column density derived in X-rays from the pulsar and from
different regions of the rim of the SNR was compared with the absorption
derived from the atomic (HI) and molecular (12CO) gas distribution along the
corresponding lines of sight to estimate the distance of the pulsar and of the
SNR.
The observation has revealed the X-ray counterpart of the pulsar together
with surrounding extended emission thus confirming the existence of a PWN. The
comparison of column densities provided an upper limit to the distance of the
pulsar PSR J0855-4644 and the SNR RX J0852.0-4622 (d<900 pc). Although both
objects are at compatible distances, we rule out that the pulsar and the SNR
are associated. With this revised distance, PSR J0855-4644 is the second most
energetic pulsar, after the Vela pulsar, within a radius of 1 kpc and could
therefore contribute to the local cosmic-ray e-/e+ spectrum.Comment: 10 pages, 9 Figures. Accepted for publication in A&
Detection of TeV emission from the intriguing composite SNR G327.1-1.1
The shock wave of supernova remnants (SNRs) and the wind termination shock in
pulsar wind nebula (PWNe) are considered as prime candidates to accelerate the
bulk of Galactic cosmic ray (CR) ions and electrons. The SNRs hosting a PWN
(known as composite SNRs) provide excellent laboratories to test these
hypotheses. The SNR G327.1-1.1 belongs to this category and exhibits a shell
and a bright central PWN, both seen in radio and X-rays. Interestingly, the
radio observations of the PWN show an extended blob of emission and a curious
narrow finger structure pointing towards the offset compact X-ray source
indicating a possible fast moving pulsar in the SNR and/or an asymmetric
passage of the reverse shock. We report here on the observations, for a total
of 45 hours, of the SNR G327.1-1.1 with the H.E.S.S. telescope array which
resulted in the detection of TeV gamma-ray emission in spatial coincidence with
the PWN.Comment: Proceeding of the 32nd ICRC, August 11-18 2011, Beijing, Chin
The First Fermi-LAT SNR Catalog SNR and Cosmic Ray Implications
Galactic cosmic ray (CRs) sources, classically proposed to be Supernova
Remnants (SNRs), must meet the energetic particle content required by direct
measurements of high energy CRs. Indirect gamma-ray measurements of SNRs with
the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) have now shown directly that at least
three SNRs accelerate protons. With the first Fermi LAT SNR Catalog, we have
systematically characterized the GeV gamma-rays emitted by 279 SNRs known
primarily from radio surveys. We present these sources in a multiwavelength
context, including studies of correlations between GeV and radio size, flux,
and index, TeV index, and age and environment tracers, in order to better
understand effects of evolution and environment on the GeV emission. We show
that previously sufficient models of SNRs' GeV emission no longer adequately
describe the data. To address the question of CR origins, we also examine the
SNRs' maximal CR contribution assuming the GeV emission arises solely from
proton interactions. Improved breadth and quality of multiwavelength data,
including distances and local densities, and more, higher resolution gamma-ray
data with correspondingly improved Galactic diffuse models will strengthen this
constraint.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures; in Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic
Ray Conference (ICRC 2015), The Hague (The Netherlands
H.E.S.S. deeper observations on SNR RX J0852.0-4622
Supernova Remnants (SNRs) are believed to be acceleration sites of Galactic
cosmic rays. Therefore, deep studies of these objects are instrumental for an
understanding of the high energy processes in our Galaxy. RX J0852.0-4622, also
known as Vela Junior, is one of the few (4) shell-type SNRs resolved at Very
High Energies (VHE; E > 100 GeV). It is one of the largest known VHE sources (~
1.0 deg radius) and its flux level is comparable to the flux level of the Crab
Nebula in the same energy band. These characteristics allow for a detailed
analysis, shedding further light on the high-energy processes taking place in
the remnant. In this document we present further details on the spatial and
spectral morphology derived with an extended data set. The analysis of the
spectral morphology of the remnant is compatible with a constant power-law
photon index of 2.11 +/- 0.05_stat +/- 0.20_syst from the whole SNR in the
energy range from 0.5 TeV to 7 TeV. The analysis of the spatial morphology
shows an enhanced emission towards the direction of the pulsar PSR J0855-4644,
however as the pulsar is lying on the rim of the SNR, it is difficult to
disentangle both contributions. Therefore, assuming a point source, the upper
limit on the flux of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) between 1 TeV and 10 TeV, is
estimated to be ~ 2% of the Crab Nebula flux in the same energy range
Tourist landings in Antarctica and the environemental impact assessment process according to the Madrid Protocol: The case of Halfmoon (media luna) Island
Although tourism is one of the most intensive activities in the area of the
Antarctic Treaty, it is mostly carried out without previous environmental impact
assessments. The few assessmentss made sofar do not comply with the basic
requirements of Annex I of the Protocol on Environmental Protection. On the basis
of four seasons of systematic observations at one of the most frequently visited
sites, Halfmoon Island in the South Shetlands, it was found that the numbers of
ships and tourists were considerably high. Moreover, tourist distribution on the
small island was irregular both in time and numbers, brought by a number of
operators of different nationalities, often on ships flying flags of third parties. In
these conditions the mooring and landing areas, and the sites visited on land,
become areas especially exposed to the environmental impacts of commercial
tourism. In order to apply the EIA process according to Annex I of the Protocol to
tourist activities such as those observed, some relevant practical requirements are
found to be necessary. Such conditions are: coordination between operators and
parties, the need for the timely collection of all logistic information, the need for
scientific information on the local environment, the special consideration of the
spatial aspects of tourism and of its impacts, the need for special consideration to
be given also to its temporal and quantitative aspects, the consideration of
possible cumulative and second-order effects, and the likely need for monitoring
the local environmental conditions in the future. These basic requirements, at
least, need to be considered by tourist operators and by the Parties if tourism in the
Antarctic is to be effectively evaluated for its environmental consequences
according to the Treaty's provisions
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