4 research outputs found
Multiple synchrotron self-Compton modeling of gamma-ray flares in 3C 279
The correlation often observed in blazars between optical-to-radio outbursts
and gamma-ray flares suggests that the high-energy emission region shall be
co-spatial with the radio knots, several parsecs away from the central engine.
This would prevent the important contribution at high-energies from the Compton
scattering of seed photons from the accretion disk and the broad-line region
that is generally used to model the spectral energy distribution of
low-frequency peaking blazars. While a pure synchrotron self-Compton model has
so far failed to explain the observed gamma-ray emission of a flat spectrum
radio quasar like 3C 279, the inclusion of the effect of multiple
inverse-Compton scattering might solve the apparent paradox. Here, we present
for the first time a physical, self-consistent SSC modeling of a series of
shock-waves in the jet of 3C 279. We show that the analytic description of the
high-energy emission from multiple inverse-Compton scatterings in the
Klein-Nishina limit can fairly well account for the observed gamma-ray spectrum
of 3C 279 in flaring states.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of "Beamed and Unbeamed Gamma-rays
from Galaxies", 11-15 April 2011, Finland. To be published in the Journal of
Physics: Conference Serie
PoGOLite - A High Sensitivity Balloon-Borne Soft Gamma-ray Polarimeter
We describe a new balloon-borne instrument (PoGOLite) capable of detecting
10% polarisation from 200mCrab point-like sources between 25 and 80keV in one 6
hour flight. Polarisation measurements in the soft gamma-ray band are expected
to provide a powerful probe into high-energy emission mechanisms as well as the
distribution of magnetic fields, radiation fields and interstellar matter. At
present, only exploratory polarisation measurements have been carried out in
the soft gamma-ray band. Reduction of the large background produced by
cosmic-ray particles has been the biggest challenge. PoGOLite uses Compton
scattering and photo-absorption in an array of 217 well-type phoswich detector
cells made of plastic and BGO scintillators surrounded by a BGO anticoincidence
shield and a thick polyethylene neutron shield. The narrow FOV (1.25msr)
obtained with well-type phoswich detector technology and the use of thick
background shields enhance the detected S/N ratio. Event selections based on
recorded phototube waveforms and Compton kinematics reduce the background to
that expected for a 40-100mCrab source between 25 and 50keV. A 6 hour
observation on the Crab will differentiate between the Polar Cap/Slot Gap,
Outer Gap, and Caustic models with greater than 5 sigma; and also cleanly
identify the Compton reflection component in the Cygnus X-1 hard state. The
first flight is planned for 2010 and long-duration flights from Sweden to
Northern Canada are foreseen thereafter.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, 2 table
The Deepest Radio Observations of Nearby Type IA Supernovae: Constraining Progenitor Types and Optimizing Future Surveys
We report deep radio observations of nearby Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) with the electronic Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Net-work (e-MERLIN), and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). No detections were made. With standard assumptions for the energy densities of relativistic electrons going into a power-law energy distribution, and the magnetic field strength (epsilon_e = epsilon_B = 0.1), we arrive at the upper limits on mass-loss rate for the progenitor system of SN 2013dy (2016coj, 2018gv, 2018pv, 2019np), to be less than 12 (2.8,1.3, 2.1, 1.7)EE(-8) solar masses per year (for a wind speed of 100 km/s). To SNe 2016coj, 2018gv, 2018pv and 2019np we add radio data for 17 other nearby SNe Ia, and model their non-detections. With the same model as described, all 21 SNe Ia have mass-loss rates less than 4EE(-8) solar masses per year (for a wind speed of 100 km/s). We compare those limits with the expected mass loss rates in different single-degenerate progenitor scenarios. We also discuss how information on epsilon_e and epsilon_B can be obtained from late observations of SNe Ia and the youngest SN Ia remnant detected in radio, G1.9+0.3, as well as stripped-envelope core-collapse SNe. We highlight SN 2011dh, and argue for epsilon_e approximately equal to 0.1 and epsilon_B approximately equal to 0.0033. Finally, we discuss strategies to observe at radio frequencies to maximize the chance of detection, given the time since explosion, the distance to the supernova and the telescope sensitivity