Hard X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission Induced by Ultra-High Energy Protons in Cluster Accretion Shocks

Abstract

All sufficiently massive clusters of galaxies are expected to be surrounded by strong accretion shocks, where protons can be accelerated to $\sim 10^{18}$-$10^{19}$ eV under plausible conditions. Such protons interact with the cosmic microwave background and efficiently produce very high energy electron-positron pairs, which then radiate synchrotron and inverse Compton emission, peaking respectively at hard X-ray and TeV gamma-ray energies. Characterized by hard spectra (photon indices $\sim 1.5$) and spatial distribution tracing the accretion shock, these can dominate over other nonthermal components depending on the shock magnetic field. HESS and other Cerenkov telescopes may detect the TeV emission from nearby clusters, notwithstanding its extended nature. The hard X-rays may be observable by future imaging facilities such as NeXT, and possibly also by ASTRO-E2/HXD. Such detections will not only provide a clear signature of ultra-high energy proton acceleration, but also an important probe of the accretion shock itself as well as magnetic fields in the outermost regions of clusters.