108 research outputs found
A time-variable, phase-dependent emission line in the X-ray spectrum of the isolated neutron star RXJ0822â4300
RX J0822â4300 is the central compact object associated with the Puppis A supernova remnant. Previous X-ray observations suggested RX J0822â4300 to be a young neutron star with a weak dipole field and a peculiar surface temperature distribution dominated by two antipodal spots with different temperatures and sizes. An emission line at 0.8 keV was also detected. We performed a very deep (130-ks) observation with XMMâNewton, which allowed us to study in detail the phase-resolved properties of RX J0822â4300. Our new data confirm the existence of a narrow spectral feature, best modelled as an emission line, only seen in the âsoftâ-phase interval â when the cooler region is best aligned to the line of sight. Surprisingly, comparison of our recent observations to the older ones yields evidence for a variation in the emission-line component, which can be modelled as a decrease in the central energy from âŒ0.80 keV in 2001 to âŒ0.73 keV in 2009â10. The line could be generated via cyclotron scattering of thermal photons in an optically-thin layer of gas, or, alternatively, it could originate in low-rate accretion by a debris disc. In any case, a variation in energy, pointing to a variation of the magnetic field in the line-emitting region, cannot be easily accounted for
Multifrequency Strategies for the Identification of Gamma-Ray Sources
More than half the sources in the Third EGRET (3EG) catalog have no firmly
established counterparts at other wavelengths and are unidentified. Some of
these unidentified sources have remained a mystery since the first surveys of
the gamma-ray sky with the COS-B satellite. The unidentified sources generally
have large error circles, and finding counterparts has often been a challenging
job. A multiwavelength approach, using X-ray, optical, and radio data, is often
needed to understand the nature of these sources. This chapter reviews the
technique of identification of EGRET sources using multiwavelength studies of
the gamma-ray fields.Comment: 35 pages, 22 figures. Chapter prepared for the book "Cosmic Gamma-ray
Sources", edited by K.S. Cheng and G.E. Romero, to be published by Kluwer
Academic Press, 2004. For complete article and higher resolution figures, go
to: http://www.astro.columbia.edu/~muk/mukherjee_multiwave.pd
Gamma Ray Pulsars: Multiwavelength Observations
High-energy gamma rays are a valuable tool for studying particle acceleration
and radiation in the magnetospheres of energetic pulsars. The seven or more
pulsars seen by instruments on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) show
that: the light curves usually have double-peak structures (suggesting a broad
cone of emission); gamma rays are frequently the dominant component of the
radiated power; and all the spectra show evidence of a high-energy turnover.
For all the known gamma-ray pulsars, multiwavelength observations and
theoretical models based on such observations offer the prospect of gaining a
broad understanding of these rotating neutron stars. The Gamma-ray Large Area
Space Telescope (GLAST), now in planning for a launch in 2007, will provide a
major advance in sensitivity, energy range, and sky coverage.Comment: To appear in Cosmic Gamma Ray Sources, Kluwer ASSL Series, Edited by
K.S. Cheng and G.E. Romer
High-Energy Gamma Rays and the Large-Scale Distribution of Gas and Cosmic Rays
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappe
Search for gamma-ray emission from magnetars with the Fermi Large Area Telescope
We report on the search for 0.1-10 GeV emission from magnetars in 17 months
of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) observations. No significant evidence for
gamma-ray emission from any of the currently-known magnetars is found. The most
stringent upper limits to date on their persistent emission in the Fermi-LAT
energy range are estimated between ~10^{-12}-10^{-10} erg/s/cm2, depending on
the source. We also searched for gamma-ray pulsations and possible outbursts,
also with no significant detection. The upper limits derived support the
presence of a cut-off at an energy below a few MeV in the persistent emission
of magnetars. They also show the likely need for a revision of current models
of outer gap emission from strongly magnetized pulsars, which, in some
realizations, predict detectable GeV emission from magnetars at flux levels
exceeding the upper limits identified here using the Fermi-LAT observations.Comment: ApJ Letters in press; Corresponding authors: Caliandro G. A., Hadasch
D., Rea N., Burnett
Detection of Gamma-Ray Emission from the Starburst Galaxies M82 and NGC 253 with the Large Area Telescope on Fermi
We report the detection of high-energy gamma-ray emission from two starburst
galaxies using data obtained with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi
Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Steady point-like emission above 200 MeV has been
detected at significance levels of 6.8 sigma and 4.8 sigma respectively, from
sources positionally coincident with locations of the starburst galaxies M82
and NGC 253. The total fluxes of the sources are consistent with gamma-ray
emission originating from the interaction of cosmic rays with local
interstellar gas and radiation fields and constitute evidence for a link
between massive star formation and gamma-ray emission in star-forming galaxies.Comment: Submitted to ApJ Letter
Fermi Gamma-ray Imaging of a Radio Galaxy
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the gamma-ray glow emanating
from the giant radio lobes of the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The resolved
gamma-ray image shows the lobes clearly separated from the central active
source. In contrast to all other active galaxies detected so far in high-energy
gamma-rays, the lobe flux constitutes a considerable portion (>1/2) of the
total source emission. The gamma-ray emission from the lobes is interpreted as
inverse Compton scattered relic radiation from the cosmic microwave background
(CMB), with additional contribution at higher energies from the
infrared-to-optical extragalactic background light (EBL). These measurements
provide gamma-ray constraints on the magnetic field and particle energy content
in radio galaxy lobes, and a promising method to probe the cosmic relic photon
fields.Comment: 27 pages, includes Supplementary Online Material; corresponding
authors: C.C. Cheung, Y. Fukazawa, J. Knodlseder, L. Stawar
Gamma-Ray Sources Observed by Cos-B
Wetensch. publicati
Fermi Large Area Telescope observations of PSR J1836+5925
The discovery of the gamma-ray pulsar PSR J1836+5925, powering the formerly
unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1835+5918, was one of the early accomplishments
of the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Sitting 25 degrees off the Galactic
plane, PSR J1836+5925 is a 173 ms pulsar with a characteristic age of 1.8
million years, a spindown luminosity of 1.1 erg s, and a
large off-peak emission component, making it quite unusual among the known
gamma-ray pulsar population. We present an analysis of one year of LAT data,
including an updated timing solution, detailed spectral results and a long-term
light curve showing no indication of variability. No evidence for a surrounding
pulsar wind nebula is seen and the spectral characteristics of the off-peak
emission indicate it is likely magnetospheric. Analysis of recent XMM
observations of the X-ray counterpart yields a detailed characterization of its
spectrum, which, like Geminga, is consistent with that of a neutron star
showing evidence for both magnetospheric and thermal emission.Comment: Accepted to Astrophysical Journa
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