Gamma-ray astronomy

Abstract:

With the publicly available astrophysical simulation framework for propagating extraterrestrial UHE particles, CRPropa 3, it is now possible to study realistic UHECR source scenarios including deflections in Galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields in an efficient way. Here we discuss three recent studies that have already been done in that direction. The first one investigates what can be expected in the case of maximum allowed intergalactic magnetic fields. Here is shown that, even if voids contain strong magnetic fields, deflections of protons with energies ≳60 EeV from nearby sources might be small enough to allow for UHECR astronomy. The second study looks into several scenarios with a smaller magnetization focusing on large-scale anisotropies. Here is shown that the local source distribution can have a more significant effect on the large-scale anisotropy than the EGMF model. A significant dipole component could, for instance, be explained by a dominant source within 5 Mpc distance. The third study looks into whether UHECRs can come from local radio galaxies. If this is the case it is difficult to reproduce the observed low level of anisotropy. Therefore is concluded that the magnetic field strength in voids in the EGMF model used here is too low and/or there are additional sources of UHECRs that were not taken into account in these simulations.

Abstract:

We present Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) high-band data over the frequency range 115–189 MHz for the X-ray binary SS 433, obtained in an observing campaign from 2013 February to 2014 May. Our results include a deep, wide-field map, allowing a detailed view of the surrounding supernova remnant W 50 at low radio frequencies, as well as a light curve for SS 433 determined from shorter monitoring runs. The complex morphology of W 50 is in excellent agreement with previously published higher frequency maps; we find additional evidence for a spectral turnover in the eastern wing, potentially due to foreground free–free absorption. Furthermore, SS 433 is tentatively variable at 150 MHz, with both a debiased modulation index of 11 per cent and a χ2 probability of a flat light curve of 8.2 × 10−3. By comparing the LOFAR flux densities with contemporaneous observations carried out at 4800 MHz with the RATAN-600 telescope, we suggest that an observed ∼0.5–1 Jy rise in the 150-MHz flux density may correspond to sustained flaring activity over a period of approximately 6 months at 4800 MHz. However, the increase is too large to be explained with a standard synchrotron bubble model. We also detect a wealth of structure along the nearby Galactic plane, including the most complete detection to date of the radio shell of the candidate supernova remnant G 38.7−1.4. This further demonstrates the potential of supernova remnant studies with the current generation of low-frequency radio telescopes.