87 research outputs found
Gleam: the GLAST Large Area Telescope Simulation Framework
This paper presents the simulation of the GLAST high energy gamma-ray
telescope. The simulation package, written in C++, is based on the Geant4
toolkit, and it is integrated into a general framework used to process events.
A detailed simulation of the electronic signals inside Silicon detectors has
been provided and it is used for the particle tracking, which is handled by a
dedicated software. A unique repository for the geometrical description of the
detector has been realized using the XML language and a C++ library to access
this information has been designed and implemented.Comment: 10 pages, Late
A population of gamma-ray emitting globular clusters seen with the Fermi Large Area Telescope
Globular clusters with their large populations of millisecond pulsars (MSPs)
are believed to be potential emitters of high-energy gamma-ray emission. Our
goal is to constrain the millisecond pulsar populations in globular clusters
from analysis of gamma-ray observations. We use 546 days of continuous
sky-survey observations obtained with the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi
Gamma-ray Space Telescope to study the gamma-ray emission towards 13 globular
clusters. Steady point-like high-energy gamma-ray emission has been
significantly detected towards 8 globular clusters. Five of them (47 Tucanae,
Omega Cen, NGC 6388, Terzan 5, and M 28) show hard spectral power indices and clear evidence for an exponential cut-off in the range
1.0-2.6 GeV, which is the characteristic signature of magnetospheric emission
from MSPs. Three of them (M 62, NGC 6440 and NGC 6652) also show hard spectral
indices , however the presence of an exponential cut-off
can not be unambiguously established. Three of them (Omega Cen, NGC 6388, NGC
6652) have no known radio or X-ray MSPs yet still exhibit MSP spectral
properties. From the observed gamma-ray luminosities, we estimate the total
number of MSPs that is expected to be present in these globular clusters. We
show that our estimates of the MSP population correlate with the stellar
encounter rate and we estimate 2600-4700 MSPs in Galactic globular clusters,
commensurate with previous estimates. The observation of high-energy gamma-ray
emission from a globular cluster thus provides a reliable independent method to
assess their millisecond pulsar populations that can be used to make
constraints on the original neutron star X-ray binary population, essential for
understanding the importance of binary systems in slowing the inevitable core
collapse of globular clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Corresponding authors: J.
Kn\"odlseder, N. Webb, B. Pancraz
Fermi Large Area Telescope Constraints on the Gamma-ray Opacity of the Universe
The Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) includes photons with wavelengths
from ultraviolet to infrared, which are effective at attenuating gamma rays
with energy above ~10 GeV during propagation from sources at cosmological
distances. This results in a redshift- and energy-dependent attenuation of the
gamma-ray flux of extragalactic sources such as blazars and Gamma-Ray Bursts
(GRBs). The Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi detects a sample of gamma-ray
blazars with redshift up to z~3, and GRBs with redshift up to z~4.3. Using
photons above 10 GeV collected by Fermi over more than one year of observations
for these sources, we investigate the effect of gamma-ray flux attenuation by
the EBL. We place upper limits on the gamma-ray opacity of the Universe at
various energies and redshifts, and compare this with predictions from
well-known EBL models. We find that an EBL intensity in the optical-ultraviolet
wavelengths as great as predicted by the "baseline" model of Stecker et al.
(2006) can be ruled out with high confidence.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, accepted version (24 Aug.2010) for publication
in ApJ; Contact authors: A. Bouvier, A. Chen, S. Raino, S. Razzaque, A.
Reimer, L.C. Reye
Detection of High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae with Fermi
Gamma-Ray Pulsar Bonanza
Most of the pulsars we know about were detected through their radio emission; a few are known to pulse gamma rays but were first detected at other wavelengths (see the Perspective by
Halpern
). Using the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope,
Abdo
et al.
(p.
840
, published online 2 July; see the cover) report the detection of 16 previously unknown pulsars based on their gamma-ray emission alone. Thirteen of these coincide with previously unidentified gamma-ray sources, solving the 30-year-old mystery of their identities. Pulsars are fast-rotating neutron stars. With time they slow down and cease to radiate; however, if they are in a binary system, they can have their spin rates increased by mass transfer from their companion stars, starting a new life as millisecond pulsars. In another study,
Abdo
et al.
(p.
845
) report the detection of gamma-ray emission from the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, which is coming from an ensemble of millisecond pulsars in the cluster's core. The data imply that there are up to 60 millisecond pulsars in 47 Tucanae, twice as many as predicted by radio observations. In a further companion study,
Abdo
et al.
(p.
848
, published online 2 July) searched Fermi Large Area Telescope data for pulsations from all known millisecond pulsars outside of stellar clusters, finding gamma-ray pulsations for eight of them. Their properties resemble those of other gamma-ray pulsars, suggesting that they share the same basic emission mechanism. Indeed, both sets of pulsars favor emission models in which the gamma rays are produced in the outer magnetosphere of the neutron star
Gamma-ray and radio properties of six pulsars detected by the fermi large area telescope
We report the detection of pulsed γ-rays for PSRs J0631+1036, J0659+1414, J0742-2822, J1420-6048, J1509-5850, and J1718-3825 using the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly known as GLAST). Although these six pulsars are diverse in terms of their spin parameters, they share an important feature: their γ-ray light curves are (at least given the current count statistics) single peaked. For two pulsars, there are hints for a double-peaked structure in the light curves. The shapes of the observed light curves of this group of pulsars are discussed in the light of models for which the emission originates from high up in the magnetosphere. The observed phases of the γ-ray light curves are, in general, consistent with those predicted by high-altitude models, although we speculate that the γ-ray emission of PSR J0659+1414, possibly featuring the softest spectrum of all Fermi pulsars coupled with a very low efficiency, arises from relatively low down in the magnetosphere. High-quality radio polarization data are available showing that all but one have a high degree of linear polarization. This allows us to place some constraints on the viewing geometry and aids the comparison of the γ-ray light curves with high-energy beam models
Observations of 4U 1626-67 with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer
We present measurements of the polarization of X-rays in the 2-8 keV band
from the pulsar in the ultracompact low mass X-ray binary 4U1626-67 using data
from the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The 7.66 s pulsations were
clearly detected throughout the IXPE observations as well as in the NICER soft
X-ray observations, which we use as the basis for our timing analysis and to
constrain the spectral shape over 0.4-10 keV energy band. Chandra HETGS
high-resolution X-ray spectra were also obtained near the times of the IXPE
observations for firm spectral modeling. We find an upper limit on the
pulse-averaged linear polarization of <4% (at 95% confidence). Similarly, there
was no significant detection of polarized flux in pulse phase intervals when
subdividing the bandpass by energy. However, spectropolarimetric modeling over
the full bandpass in pulse phase intervals provide a marginal detection of
polarization of the power-law spectral component at the 4.8 +/- 2.3% level (90%
confidence). We discuss the implications concerning the accretion geometry onto
the pulsar, favoring two-component models of the pulsed emission.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, 7 tables; accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
X-ray polarimetry reveals the magnetic field topology on sub-parsec scales in Tycho's supernova remnant
Supernova remnants are commonly considered to produce most of the Galactic
cosmic rays via diffusive shock acceleration. However, many questions about the
physical conditions at shock fronts, such as the magnetic-field morphology
close to the particle acceleration sites, remain open. Here we report the
detection of a localized polarization signal from some synchrotron X-ray
emitting regions of Tycho's supernova remnant made by the Imaging X-ray
Polarimetry Explorer. The derived polarization degree of the X-ray synchrotron
emission is 9+/-2% averaged over the whole remnant, and 12+/-2% at the rim,
higher than the 7-8% polarization value observed in the radio band. In the west
region the polarization degree is 23+/-4%. The X-ray polarization degree in
Tycho is higher than for Cassiopeia A, suggesting a more ordered magnetic-field
or a larger maximum turbulence scale. The measured tangential polarization
direction corresponds to a radial magnetic field, and is consistent with that
observed in the radio band. These results are compatible with the expectation
of turbulence produced by an anisotropic cascade of a radial magnetic-field
near the shock, where we derive a magnetic-field amplification factor of
3.4+/-0.3. The fact that this value is significantly smaller than those
expected from acceleration models is indicative of highly anisotropic
magnetic-field turbulence, or that the emitting electrons either favor regions
of lower turbulence, or accumulate close to where the magnetic-field
orientation is preferentially radially oriented due to hydrodynamical
instabilities.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ.
Revised versio
The Polarized Cosmic Hand: IXPE Observations of PSR B1509-58/MSH 15-52
We describe IXPE polarization observations of the Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN)
MSH15-52, the `Cosmic Hand'. We find X-ray polarization across the PWN, with B
field vectors generally aligned with filamentary X-ray structures. High
significance polarization is seen in arcs surrounding the pulsar and toward the
end of the `jet', with polarization degree PD>70%, thus approaching the maximum
allowed synchrotron value. In contrast, the base of the jet has lower
polarization, indicating a complex magnetic field at significant angle to the
jet axis. We also detect significant polarization from PSR B1509-58 itself.
Although only the central pulse-phase bin of the pulse has high individual
significance, flanking bins provide lower significance detections and, in
conjunction with the X-ray image and radio polarization, can be used to
constrain rotating vector model solutions for the pulsar geometry.Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journa
Magnetic structures and turbulence in SN 1006 revealed with imaging X-ray polarimetry
Young supernova remnants (SNRs) strongly modify surrounding magnetic fields,
which in turn play an essential role in accelerating cosmic rays (CRs). X-ray
polarization measurements probe magnetic field morphology and turbulence at the
immediate acceleration site. We report the X-ray polarization distribution in
the northeastern shell of SN1006 from a 1 Ms observation with the Imaging X-ray
Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). We found an average polarization degree of
and an average polarization angle of
(measured on the plane of the sky from north to east). The X-ray polarization
angle distribution reveals that the magnetic fields immediately behind the
shock in the northeastern shell of SN 1006 are nearly parallel to the shock
normal or radially distributed, similar to that in the radio observations, and
consistent with the quasi-parallel CR acceleration scenario. The X-ray emission
is marginally more polarized than that in the radio band. The X-ray
polarization degree of SN 1006 is much larger than that in Cas A and Tycho,
together with the relatively tenuous and smooth ambient medium of the remnant,
favoring that CR-induced instabilities set the turbulence in SN 1006 and CR
acceleration is environment-dependent.Comment: 15 pages, 4 Figures, 2 Tables; accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journa
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