A multiwavelength study of the supernova remnant G296.8-0.3

We report XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic supernova remnant G296.8-0.3, together with complementary radio and infrared data. The spatial and spectral properties of the X-ray emission, detected towards G296.8-0.3, was investigated in order to explore the possible evolutionary scenarios and the physical connexion with its unusual morphology detected at radio frequencies. G296.8-0.3 displays diffuse X-ray emission correlated with the peculiar radio morphology detected in the interior of the remnant and with the shell-like radio structure observed to the northwest side of the object. The X-ray emission peaks in the soft/medium energy range (0.5-3.0 keV). The X-ray spectral analysis confirms that the column density is high (NH \sim 0.64 x 10^{22} cm^{-2}) which supports a distant location (d>9 kpc) for the SNR. Its X-ray spectrum can be well represented by a thermal (PSHOCK) model, with kT \sim 0.86 keV, an ionization timescale of 6.1 x 10^{10} cm^{-3} s, and low abundance (0.12 Z_sun). The 24 microns observations show shell-like emission correlated with part of the northwest and southeast boundaries of the SNR. In addition a point-like X-ray source is also detected close to the geometrical center of the radio SNR. The object presents some characteristics of the so-called compact central objects (CCO). Its X-ray spectrum is consistent with those found at other CCOs and the value of NH is consistent with that of G296.8-0.3, which suggests a physical connexion with the SNR.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Black Hole Astrophysics in AdS Braneworlds

We consider astrophysics of large black holes localized on the brane in the infinite Randall-Sundrum model. Using their description in terms of a conformal field theory (CFT) coupled to gravity, deduced in Ref. [1], we show that they undergo a period of rapid decay via Hawking radiation of CFT modes. For example, a black hole of mass ${\rm few} \times M_\odot$ would shed most of its mass in $\sim 10^4 - 10^5$ years if the AdS radius is $L \sim 10^{-1}$ mm, currently the upper bound from table-top experiments. Since this is within the mass range of X-ray binary systems containing a black hole, the evaporation enhanced by the hidden sector CFT modes could cause the disappearance of X-ray sources on the sky. This would be a striking signature of RS2 with a large AdS radius. Alternatively, for shorter AdS radii, the evaporation would be slower. In such cases, the persistence of X-ray binaries with black holes already implies an upper bound on the AdS radius of L \la 10^{-2} mm, an order of magnitude better than the bounds from table-top experiments. The observation of primordial black holes with a mass in the MACHO range $M \sim 0.1 - 0.5 M_\odot$ and an age comparable to the age of the universe would further strengthen the bound on the AdS radius to L \la {\rm few} \times 10^{-6} mm.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figures v2: added reference

Towards a population of HMXB/NS microquasars as counterparts of low-latitude unidentified EGRET sources

The discovery of the microquasar LS 5039 well within the 95% conficence contour of the Unidentified EGRET Source (UES) 3EG J1824-1514 was a major step towards the possible association between microquasars (MQs) and UESs. The recent discovery of precessing relativistic radio jets in LS I +61 303, a source associated for long time with 2CG 135+01 and with the UES 3EG J0241+6103, has given further support to this idea. Finally, the very recently proposed association between the microquasar candidate AX J1639.0-4642 and the UES 3EG J1639-4702 points towards a population of High Mass X-ray Binary (HMXB)/Neutron Star (NS) microquasars as counterparts of low-latitude unidentified EGRET sources.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Proceedings of the Conference "The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-ray Sources", to appear in the journal Astrophysics and Space Scienc

A lower bound on the local extragalactic magnetic field

Assuming that the hard gamma-ray emission of Cen A is a result of synchrotron radiation of ultra-relativistic electrons, we derive a lower bound on the local extragalactic magnetic field, $B> 10^{-8}$ G. This result is consistent with (and close to) upper bounds on magnetic fields derived from consideration of cosmic microwave background distortions and Faraday rotation measurements.Comment: Includes extensive discussion of particle acceleration above 10^20 eV in the hot spot-like region of Cen

Associations of Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Sources Discovered by H.E.S.S. with Pulsar Wind Nebulae

The H.E.S.S. array of imaging Cherenkov telescopes has discovered a number of previously unknown gamma-ray sources in the very high energy (VHE) domain above 100 GeV. The good angular resolution of H.E.S.S. (~0.1 degree per event), as well as its sensitivity (a few percent of the Crab Nebula flux) and wide 5-degree field of view, allow a much better constrained search for counterparts in comparison to previous instruments. In several cases, the association of the VHE sources revealed by H.E.S.S. with pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) is supported by a combination of positional and morphological evidence, multi-wavelength observations, and plausible PWN model parameters. These include the plerions in the composite supernova remnants G 0.9+0.1 and MSH 15-52, the recently discovered Vela X nebula, two new sources in the Kookaburra complex, and the association of HESS J1825-137 with PSR B1823-13. The properties of these better-established associations are reviewed. A number of other sources discovered by H.E.S.S. are located near high spin-down power pulsars, but the evidence for association is less complete. These possible associations are also discussed, in the context of the available multi-wavelength data and plausible PWN scenarios.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Science (proceedings of "The Multi-Messenger Approach to High-Energy Gamma-Ray Sources"

The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources

As the highest-energy photons, gamma rays have an inherent interest to astrophysicists and particle physicists studying high-energy, nonthermal processes. Gamma-ray telescopes complement those at other wavelengths, especially radio, optical, and X-ray, providing the broad, mutiwavelength coverage that has become such a powerful aspect of modern astrophysics. Multiwavelength techniques of various types have been developed to help identify and explore unidentified gamma-ray sources. This overview summarizes the ideas behind several of these methods.Comment: Proceedings of the Conference "The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Sources", to appear in the journal Astrophysics and Space Scienc

On the origin and evolution of the material in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

International audiencePrimitive objects like comets hold important information on the material that formed our solar system. Several comets have been visited by spacecraft and many more have been observed through Earth- and space-based telescopes. Still our understanding remains limited. Molecular abundances in comets have been shown to be similar to interstellar ices and thus indicate that common processes and conditions were involved in their formation. The samples returned by the Stardust mission to comet Wild 2 showed that the bulk refractory material was processed by high temperatures in the vicinity of the early sun. The recent Rosetta mission acquired a wealth of new data on the composition of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (hereafter 67P/C-G) and complemented earlier observations of other comets. The isotopic, elemental, and molecular abundances of the volatile, semi-volatile, and refractory phases brought many new insights into the origin and processing of the incorporated material. The emerging picture after Rosetta is that at least part of the volatile material was formed before the solar system and that cometary nuclei agglomerated over a wide range of heliocentric distances, different from where they are found today. Deviations from bulk solar system abundances indicate that the material was not fully homogenized at the location of comet formation, despite the radial mixing implied by the Stardust results. Post-formation evolution of the material might play an important role, which further complicates the picture. This paper discusses these major findings of the Rosetta mission with respect to the origin of the material and puts them in the context of what we know from other comets and solar system objects

Un estudio de la radiación continua a 1435 MHz de la región de Scorpio-Centauro

Se realizó un estudio de la distribución de la radiación continua en 1435 Mhz de la región de Scorpius-Centaurus, utilizándose para ello el radiotelescopio de 30 m del IAR, con una resolución angular de 30'. En esta región un intenso y estrecho arco continuo parece emerger del plano galáctico corriendo a lo largo de la declinación -22° aproximadamente. A pesar de la apariencia que este arco tiene emergiendo del centro galáctico, esta estructura probablemente sea de origen local. Nuestras observaciones se comparan con los mapas de distribución de HI (hidrógeno neutro) de Mc Gee et al. (1963), y Heiles (1975), como así también con las observaciones de CO (Monóxido de Carbono) de Cohén (1983), y las de Haslam (1982) a la frecuencia de 408 MHz.Asociación Argentina de Astronomí

Evolution of eccentric high-mass X-ray binaries. The case of GX 301-2

The formation of neutron stars is associated with powerful astrophysical transients such as supernovae. In many cases, asymmetries in the supernova explosions are thought to be responsible for the large observed velocities of neutron stars. We aim to study the complete evolutionary history of one particular eccentric high-mass X-ray binary containing a neutron star, GX 301-2, and characterize the natal kick at the time of neutron star formation. We used the publicly available stellar-evolution code MESA to evolve binaries from their initial stages until the core-collapse scenario. We incorporated a natal kick distribution based on observations to continue the evolution during the X-ray binary phase and search for candidates matching current observations of GX 301-2. We find that the range of initial masses is constrained to be less than around $30$ M$_\odot$ depending on the initial mass ratio, as higher initial masses will most likely end up producing a black hole. In the completely conservative mass-transfer scenario under study, only is an interaction between the stars when the donor is still burning Hydrogen in its core, the so-called Case A of mass transfer, able to produce progenitors for GX 301-2. The natal kick study favours kicks of variable strength, which in turn increases the tilt angle between the orbital angular momentum and the spin of the neutron star. We conclude that only a narrow initial progenitor parameter space is able to produce a binary such as GX 301-2. Additionally, the strength of the natal kick can span a wide range of values, but it can be constrained when considering new data concerning the systemic velocity of the binary. Finally, we derive the fraction of the expected number of binaries such as GX 301-2 in the Galaxy to be $\sim 6 \times 10^{-5}$, implying a really low chance of finding a binary similar to GX 301-2

Evolution of eccentric high-mass X-ray binaries. The case of GX 301-2

The formation of neutron stars is associated with powerful astrophysical transients such as supernovae. In many cases, asymmetries in the supernova explosions are thought to be responsible for the large observed velocities of neutron stars. We aim to study the complete evolutionary history of one particular eccentric high-mass X-ray binary containing a neutron star, GX 301-2, and characterize the natal kick at the time of neutron star formation. We used the publicly available stellar-evolution code MESA to evolve binaries from their initial stages until the core-collapse scenario. We incorporated a natal kick distribution based on observations to continue the evolution during the X-ray binary phase and search for candidates matching current observations of GX 301-2. We find that the range of initial masses is constrained to be less than around $30$ M$_\odot$ depending on the initial mass ratio, as higher initial masses will most likely end up producing a black hole. In the completely conservative mass-transfer scenario under study, only is an interaction between the stars when the donor is still burning Hydrogen in its core, the so-called Case A of mass transfer, able to produce progenitors for GX 301-2. The natal kick study favours kicks of variable strength, which in turn increases the tilt angle between the orbital angular momentum and the spin of the neutron star. We conclude that only a narrow initial progenitor parameter space is able to produce a binary such as GX 301-2. Additionally, the strength of the natal kick can span a wide range of values, but it can be constrained when considering new data concerning the systemic velocity of the binary. Finally, we derive the fraction of the expected number of binaries such as GX 301-2 in the Galaxy to be $\sim 6 \times 10^{-5}$, implying a really low chance of finding a binary similar to GX 301-2