arXiv subjects

A. Atoyan

Publications and source records attributed to A. Atoyan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2009

Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays from Black Hole Jets of Radio Galaxies

The Auger Collaboration reports that the arrival directions of >60 EeV ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) cluster along the supergalactic plane and correlate with active galactic nuclei (AGN) within ~100 Mpc. The association of several events with the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A supports the paradigm that UHECRs are powered by supermassive black-hole engines and accelerated to ultra-high energies in the shocks formed by variable plasma winds in the inner jets of radio galaxies. The GZK horizon length of 75 EeV UHECR protons is ~100 Mpc, so that the Auger results are consistent with an assumed proton composition of the UHECRs. In this scenario, the sources of UHECRs are FR II radio galaxies and FR I galaxies like Cen A with scattered radiation fields that enhance UHECR neutral-beam production. Radio galaxies with jets pointed away from us can still be observed as UHECR sources due to deflection of UHECRs by magnetic fields in the radio lobes of these galaxies. A broadband ~1 MeV -- 10 EeV radiation component in the spectra of blazar AGN is formed by UHECR-induced cascade radiation in the extragalactic background light (EBL). This emission is too faint to be seen from Cen A, but could be detected from more luminous blazars.

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arXiv2008

Section on Supernova remnants and cosmic rays of the White Paper on the Status and Future of Ground-based Gamma-ray Astronomy

This is a report on the findings of the SNR/cosmic-ray working group for the white paper on the status and future of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. The white paper is an APS commissioned document, and the overall version has also been released and can be found on astro-ph. This detailed section of the white paper discusses the status of past and current attempts to observe shell-type supernova remnants and diffuse emission from cosmic rays at GeV-TeV energies. We concentrate on the potential of future ground-based gamma-ray experiments to study the acceleration of relativistic charged particles which is one of the main unsolved, yet fundamental, problems in modern astrophysics. The acceleration of particles relies on interactions between energetic particles and magnetic turbulence. In the case of SNRs we can perform spatially resolved studies in systems with known geometry, and the plasma physics deduced from these observations will help us to understand other systems where rapid particle acceleration is believed to occur and where observations as detailed as those of SNRs are not possible.

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arXiv2006

A gamma-ray burst remnant in our Galaxy: HESS J1303-631

We present the results of our investigation of the multiwavelength data on HESS J1303-631, an unidentified TeV source serendipitously discovered in the Galactic plane by the HESS collaboration. These results strongly suggest the identification of this particular source as the remnant of a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) that happened some few tens of thousands years ago in our Galaxy at a distance on the order of 10 kpc from us. We show, through detailed calculations of particle diffusion, interaction and radiation processes of relativistic particles in the interstellar medium, that it is possible for a GRB remnant (GRBR) to be a strong TeV emitter with no observable synchrotron emission. We predict spectral and spatial signatures that would unambiguously distinguish GRBRs from ordinary supernova remnants, including: (1) large energy budgets inferred from their TeV emission, but at the same time, (2) suppressed fluxes in the radio through GeV wavebands; (3) extended center-filled emission with an energy-dependent spatial profile; and (4) a possible elongation in the direction of the past pair of GRB jets. While GRBRs can best be detected by ground-based gamma-ray detectors, the future GLAST mission will play a crucial role in confirming the predicted low level of GeV emission.

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arXiv2005

High Energy Cosmic Rays from Local GRBs

We have developed a model that explains cosmic rays with energies E between \~0.3 PeV and the energy of the second knee at E_2 ~ 3*10^{17} eV as originating from a recent Galactic gamma-ray burst (GRB) that occurred ~1 Myr ago within 1 kpc from Earth. Relativistic shocks from GRBs are assumed to inject power-law distributions of cosmic rays (CRs) to the highest energies. Diffusive propagation of CRs from the local GRB explains the CR spectrum near and above the first knee at E_1 ~ 3*10^{15} eV. The first and the second knees are explained as being directly connected with the injection of plasma turbulence in the interstellar medium on a ~1 pc and ~100 pc scales, respectively. Transition to CRs from extragalactic GRBs occurs at E > E_2. The origin of the ankle in the CR spectrum at E ~ 4*10^{18} eV is due to photopair energy losses of UHECRs on cosmological timescales, as also suggested by Berezinsky and collaborators. Any significant excess flux of extremely high energy CRs deviating from the exponential cutoff behavior at E> E_{GZK} = 6*10^{19} eV would imply a significant contribution due to recent GRB activity on timescales t < 10^8 yrs from local extragalactic sources within ~10 Mpc.

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arXiv2004

Fourier transform method for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

We propose Fourier transform (FT) method for processing images of extensive air showers (EAS) detected by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACT) used in the very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy. The method is based on the discrete Fourier transforms (DFT) on compact Lie groups, and the use of continuous extension of the inverse discrete transforms to approximate the discrete EAS images by continuous EAS brightness distribution functions. Here we describe the FT-method in case of SU(3) group. It allows practical realization of the DFT technique for functions sampled on hexagonal symmetry grids. The proposed method can also be implemented in case of IACT cameras with grids of rectangular symmetry by using the DFT on the SU(2)xSU(2) group. The proposed FT-method is applied to the Monte-Carlo simulated bank of TeV proton and gamma-ray EAS images for a stand-alone telescope. Comparing between the FT-method and the currently used standard method shows that the FT technique allows a better and systematic enhancement of the gamma-ray signal. The relative difference between these two methods becomes more profound especially for `photon poor' images. It suggests that the EAS detection thresholds of IACTs could be effectively reduced with the use of FT technique. This prediction is further supported by a significant noise suppression capability of the method using simple low-pass filters in the image frequency domain. The FT-method allows very deep `tail' (and `height') image cuts, differentiation of images, operations in the image frequency domain, etc., that can be used for development of new effective parameters for the EAS image processing.

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arXiv2004

Synchrotron vs Compton Interpretations for Extended X-ray Jets

A widely discussed explanation for the origin of the X-ray emission observed from knots in extended quasar jets with the Chandra X-ray Obseratory is Compton-scattered CMBR by electrons with Lorentz factors $γ^\prime \sim 10^2$. This model faces difficulties in terms of total energy requirements, and in explaining the spatial profiles of the radio, optical, and X-ray knots in sources such as PKS 0637-752, 3C 273, or PKS 1127-145. These difficulties can be resolved in the framework of one- and two-component synchrotron models. We propose a model where the broad band radio to X-ray synchrotron emission in quasar jets is powered by collimated beams of ultra-high energy neutrons and gamma-rays formed in the sub-parsec scale jets. The decay of the neutral beam in the intergalactic medium drives relativistic shocks to accelerate nonthermal electrons out of the ambient medium. A second synchrotron component arises from the injection of leptons with Lorentz factors $\gg 10^7$ that appear in the extended jet in the process of decay of ultra-high energy gamma rays. This approach could account for qualitative differences in the extended X-ray jets of FR1 and FR2 galaxies. Detection of high-energy neutrinos from blazars and core-dominated quasars will provide strong evidence for this model.

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arXiv2004

Neutral beam model for the anomalous gamma-ray emission component in GRB 941017

González et al. (2003) have reported the discovery of an anomalous radiation component from ~ 1 -- 200 MeV in GRB 941017. This component varies independently of and contains > 3 times the energy found in the prompt ~ 50 keV -- 1 MeV radiation component that is well described by the relativistic synchrotron-shock model. Acceleration of hadrons to very high energies can give rise to two additional emission components, one produced inside the GRB blast wave and one associated with an escaping beam of ultra-high energy (UHE; > 10^{14} eV) neutrons, gamma rays, and neutrinos. The first component extending to ~ 100 MeV is from a pair-photon cascade induced by photomeson processes with the internal synchrotron photons coincident with the prompt radiation. The outflowing UHE neutral beam can undergo further interactions with external photons from the backscattered photon field to produce a beam of hyper-relativistic electrons that lose most of their energy during a fraction of a gyroperiod in the assumed Gauss-strength magnetic fields of the circumburst medium. The synchrotron radiation of these electrons has a spectrum with vF_v index equal to +1 that can explain the anomalous component in GRB 941017. This interpretation of the spectrum of GRB 941017 requires a high baryon load of the accelerated particles in GRB blast waves. It implies that most of the radiation associated with the anomalous component is released at > 500 MeV, suitable for observations with GLAST, and with a comparable energy fluence in ~100 TeV neutrinos that could be detected with a km-scale neutrino telescope like IceCube.

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arXiv2004

Neutrinos and gamma-rays of hadronic origin from AGN jets

We discuss the fluxes of high energy neutrinos and gamma-rays expected from AGNs if hadrons can be effectively accelerated to ultra-high energies by their relativistic jets, as currently believed. Fluxes of multi-TeV neutrinos detectable by $km$-scale detectors like IceCube could be expected from powerful blazars where strong accretion-disk radiation is present in the AGN cores. Gamma-ray fluxes of hadronic origin can be important for flares in the compact jets of these sources up to GeV energies, but they will be insignificant for BL Lac objects. Production of UHE neutral beams composed of neutrons and gamma-rays can drive straight collimated jets in the intergalactic medium on multi-kpc scales, which could be resolved by the Chandra X-ray observatory. While we do not expect any significant neutrino flux from these large-scale jets, we predict gamma-rays of synchrotron origin in the energy range from sub-GeV up to TeV energies, which would be detectable by GLAST and ground-based gamma-ray telescopes.

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arXiv2003

Cosmic Rays and High-Energy Neutrinos from Gamma-Ray Bursts

Several lines of evidence point to a relationship between gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and the high mass stars that explode as supernovae. Arguments that GRB sources accelerate cosmic rays (CRs) are summarized. High-energy neutrino detection from individual GRBs would mean that they are hadronically dominated, that is, that the amount of energy deposited in the form of nonthermal hadrons in GRB blast waves greatly exceeds the radiated energy inferred from their photon emission spectra. Such a detection would make GRBs the favored candidate sources of ultra-high energy and super-GZK CRs. Cascade radiation induced by high-energy hadrons could be detected from GRBs with gamma-ray telescopes.

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arXiv2003

Neutrinos and Gamma Rays from Photomeson Processes in Gamma Ray Bursts

Acceleration of high-energy hadrons in GRB blast waves will be established if high-energy neutrinos are detected from GRBs. Recent calculations of photomeson neutrino production are reviewed, and new calculations of high-energy neutrinos and the accompanying hadronic cascade radiation are presented. If hadrons are injected in GRB blast waves with an energy corresponding to the measured hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray emission, then only the most powerful bursts at fluence levels >~ 3e-4 erg cm^{-2} offer a realistic prospect for detection of muon neutrinos. Detection of high-energy neutrinos are likely if GRB blast waves have large baryon loads and Doppler factors <~ 200. Significant limitations on the hadronic baryon loading and the number of expected neutrinos are imposed by the fluxes from pair-photon cascades initiated in the same processes that produce neutrinos.

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arXiv2003

On Hadronic Models for the Anomalous $γ$-ray Emission Component in GRB 941017

González et al. (2003) have reported the discovery of an anomalous radiation component from ~ 1 -- 200 MeV in GRB 941017. This component varies independently of and contains >~ 3 times the energy found in the prompt ~ 50 keV -- 1 MeV radiation component that is well described by the relativistic synchrotron-shock model. Acceleration of hadrons to very high energies by GRBs could give rise to a separate emission component. Two models, both involving acceleration of ultra-high energy cosmic rays with subsequent photomeson interactions, are considered. The first involves a pair-photon cascade initiated by photohadronic processes in the GRB blast wave. Calculations indicate that the cascade produces a spectrum that is too soft to explain the observations. A second model is proposed where photopion interactions in the GRB blast-wave shell give rise to an escaping collimated neutron beam. The outflowing neutrons undergo further photopion interactions to produce a beam of hyper-relativistic electrons that can lose most of their energy during a fraction of a gyroperiod in the Gauss-strength magnetic fields found in the circumburst medium. This secondary electron beam produces a hard synchrotron radiation spectrum that could explain the anomalous component in GRB 941017.

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arXiv2003

High-Energy Cosmic Rays from Galactic and Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Bursts

A model for high-energy (>10^14 eV) cosmic rays (HECRs) from galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is summarized. Relativistic outflows in GRBs are assumed to inject power-law distributions of CR protons and ions to the highest (>10^20 eV) energies. A diffusive propagation model for HECRs from a single recent GRB within 1 kpc from Earth explains the CR spectrum near and above the knee. The CR spectrum at energies above 10^18 eV is fit with a component from extragalactic GRBs. By normalizing the energy injection rate to that required to produce the CR flux from extragalactic sources observed locally, we determine the amount of energy a typical GRB must release in the form of nonthermal hadrons. Our interpretation of the HECR spectrum requires that GRBs are hadronically dominated, which would be confirmed by the detection of HE neutrinos from GRBs.

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arXiv2003

Properties of continuous Fourier extension of the discrete cosine transform and its multidimensional generalization

A versatile method is described for the practical computation of the discrete Fourier transforms (DFT) of a continuous function $g(t)$ given by its values $g_{j}$ at the points of a uniform grid $F_{N}$ generated by conjugacy classes of elements of finite adjoint order $N$ in the fundamental region $F$ of compact semisimple Lie groups. The present implementation of the method is for the groups SU(2), when $F$ is reduced to a one-dimensional segment, and for $SU(2)\times ... \times SU(2)$ in multidimensional cases. This simplest case turns out to result in a transform known as discrete cosine transform (DCT), which is often considered to be simply a specific type of the standard DFT. Here we show that the DCT is very different from the standard DFT when the properties of the continuous extensions of these two discrete transforms from the discrete grid points $t_j; j=0,1, ... N$ to all points $t \in F$ are considered. (A) Unlike the continuous extension of the DFT, the continuous extension of (the inverse) DCT, called CEDCT, closely approximates $g(t)$ between the grid points $t_j$. (B) For increasing $N$, the derivative of CEDCT converges to the derivative of $g(t)$. And (C), for CEDCT the principle of locality is valid. Finally, we use the continuous extension of 2-dimensional DCT to illustrate its potential for interpolation, as well as for the data compression of 2D images.

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arXiv2001

High-Energy Neutrinos from Photomeson Processes in Blazars

An important radiation field for photomeson neutrino production in blazars is shown to be the radiation field external to the jet. Assuming that protons are accelerated with the same power as electrons and injected with a -2 number spectrum, we predict that km^2 neutrino telescopes will detect about 1-to-several neutrinos per year from flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) such as 3C 279. The escaping high-energy neutron and photon beams transport inner jet energy far from the black-hole engine, and could power synchrotron X-ray jets and FR II hot spots and lobes.

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arXiv2001

High-Energy Neutrino Production through Photopion Processes in Blazars

The measured spectral energy distribution and variability time scale are used to determine the radiation and magnetic-field energy densities in the relativistic plasma that forms the gamma-ray emitting jet in the blazar 3C 279. Assuming that protons are accelerated as efficiently as electrons to a maximum energy determined by the size and magnetic field of the emitting region, we calculate the emissivity of neutrinos produced by protons that interact with the external radiation field intercepted by the jet. The external radiation field provides the most important target photons for photomeson production of high-energy neutrinos in flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). Because of photomeson interactions with this field, km^2 neutrino telescopes are predicted to detect > 0.1-1 neutrinos per year from blazars such as 3C 279. BL Lac objects are weaker neutrino sources if, as widely thought, their gamma-ray emission is due to Compton-scattered synchrotron (SSC) radiation.

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