arXiv subjects

C. D. Dermer

Publications and source records attributed to C. D. Dermer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Radio and Gamma-Ray Constraints on the Emission Geometry and Birthplace of PSR J2043+2740

We report on the first year of Fermi gamma-ray observations of pulsed high-energy emission from the old PSR J2043+2740. The study of the gamma-ray efficiency of such old pulsars gives us an insight into the evolution of pulsars' ability to emit in gammma rays as they age. The gamma-ray lightcurve of this pulsar above 0.1 GeV is clearly defined by two sharp peaks, 0.353+/-0.035 periods apart. We have combined the gamma-ray profile characteristics of PSR J2043+2740 with the geometrical properties of the pulsar's radio emission, derived from radio polarization data, and constrained the pulsar-beam geometry in the framework of a Two Pole Caustic and an Outer Gap model. The ranges of magnetic inclination and viewing angle were determined to be {alpha,zeta}~{52-57,61-68} for the Two Pole Caustic model, and {alpha,zeta}~{62-73,74-81} and {alpha,zeta}~{72-83,60-75} for the Outer Gap model. Based on this geometry, we assess possible birth locations for this pulsar and derive a likely proper motion, sufficiently high to be measurable with VLBI. At a characteristic age of 1.2 Myr, PSR J2043+2740 is the third oldest of all discovered, non-recycled, gamma-ray pulsars: it is twice as old as the next oldest, PSR J0357+32, and younger only than the recently discovered PSR J1836+5925 and PSR J2055+25, both of which are at least 5 and 10 times less energetic, respectively.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

Constraints on Cosmological Dark Matter Annihilation from the Fermi-LAT Isotropic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Measurement

The first published Fermi large area telescope (Fermi-LAT) measurement of the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray emission is in good agreement with a single power law, and is not showing any signature of a dominant contribution from dark matter sources in the energy range from 20 to 100 GeV. We use the absolute size and spectral shape of this measured flux to derive cross section limits on three types of generic dark matter candidates: annihilating into quarks, charged leptons and monochromatic photons. Predicted gamma-ray fluxes from annihilating dark matter are strongly affected by the underlying distribution of dark matter, and by using different available results of matter structure formation we assess these uncertainties. We also quantify how the dark matter constraints depend on the assumed conventional backgrounds and on the Universe's transparency to high-energy gamma-rays. In reasonable background and dark matter structure scenarios (but not in all scenarios we consider) it is possible to exclude models proposed to explain the excess of electrons and positrons measured by the Fermi-LAT and PAMELA experiments. Derived limits also start to probe cross sections expected from thermally produced relics (e.g. in minimal supersymmetry models) annihilating predominantly into quarks. For the monochromatic gamma-ray signature, the current measurement constrains only dark matter scenarios with very strong signals.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Fermi LAT Search for Photon Lines from 30 to 200 GeV and Dark Matter Implications

Dark matter (DM) particle annihilation or decay can produce monochromatic $γ$-rays readily distinguishable from astrophysical sources. $γ$-ray line limits from 30 GeV to 200 GeV obtained from 11 months of Fermi Large Area Space Telescope data from 20-300 GeV are presented using a selection based on requirements for a $γ$-ray line analysis, and integrated over most of the sky. We obtain $γ$-ray line flux upper limits in the range $0.6-4.5\times 10^{-9}\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-1}$, and give corresponding DM annihilation cross-section and decay lifetime limits. Theoretical implications are briefly discussed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

The Spectral Energy Distribution of Fermi bright blazars

(Abridged) We have conducted a detailed investigation of the broad-band spectral properties of the γ-ray selected blazars of the Fermi LAT Bright AGN Sample (LBAS). By combining our accurately estimated Fermi gamma-ray spectra with Swift, radio, infra-red, optical and other hard X-ray/gamma-ray data, collected within three months of the LBAS data taking period, we were able to assemble high-quality and quasi-simultaneous Spectral Energy Distributions (SED) for 48 LBAS blazars.The SED of these gamma-ray sources is similar to that of blazars discovered at other wavelengths, clearly showing, in the usual Log $ν$ - Log $ν$ F$_ν$ representation, the typical broad-band spectral signatures normally attributed to a combination of low-energy synchrotron radiation followed by inverse Compton emission of one or more components. We have used these SEDs to characterize the peak intensity of both the low and the high-energy components. The results have been used to derive empirical relationships that estimate the position of the two peaks from the broad-band colors (i.e. the radio to optical and optical to X-ray spectral slopes) and from the gamma-ray spectral index. Our data show that the synchrotron peak frequency $ν_p^S$ is positioned between 10$^{12.5}$ and 10$^{14.5}$ Hz in broad-lined FSRQs and between $10^{13}$ and $10^{17}$ Hz in featureless BL Lacertae objects.We find that the gamma-ray spectral slope is strongly correlated with the synchrotron peak energy and with the X-ray spectral index, as expected at first order in synchrotron - inverse Compton scenarios. However, simple homogeneous, one-zone, Synchrotron Self Compton (SSC) models cannot explain most of our SEDs, especially in the case of FSRQs and low energy peaked (LBL) BL Lacs. (...)

astro-ph.CO↗

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.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

White Paper on Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

A fundamental question that can be answered in the next decade is: WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE HIGHEST ENERGY COSMIC PARTICLES? The discovery of the sources of the highest energy cosmic rays will reveal the workings of the most energetic astrophysical environments in the recent universe. Candidate sources range from the birth of compact objects to explosions related to gamma-ray bursts or generated around supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei. In addition to beginning a new era of high-energy astrophysics, the study of ultra-high energy cosmic rays will constrain the structure of the Galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. The propagation of these particles from source to Earth also probes the cosmic background radiation and gives insight into particle interactions at orders of magnitude higher energy than can be achieved in terrestrial laboratories. Next generation observatories designed to study the highest energy cosmic rays will have unprecedented sensitivity to ultra-high energy photons and neutrinos, which will further illuminate the workings of the universe at the most extreme energies. For this challenge to be met during the 2010-2020 decade, a significant increase in the integrated exposure to cosmic rays above 6 1019 eV will be necessary. The technical capabilities for answering this open question are at hand and the time is ripe for exploring Charged Particle Astronomy.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2006

Time-Dependent Stochastic Particle Acceleration in Astrophysical Plasmas: Exact Solutions Including Momentum-Dependent Escape

Stochastic acceleration of charged particles due to interactions with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasma waves is the dominant process leading to the formation of the high-energy electron and ion distributions in a variety of astrophysical systems. Collisions with the waves influence both the energization and the spatial transport of the particles, and therefore it is important to treat these two aspects of the problem in a self-consistent manner. We solve the representative Fokker-Planck equation to obtain a new, closed-form solution for the time-dependent Green's function describing the acceleration and escape of relativistic ions interacting with Alfven or fast-mode waves characterized by momentum diffusion coefficient $D(p)\propto p^q$ and mean particle escape timescale $t_esc(p) \propto p^{q-2}$, where $p$ is the particle momentum and $q$ is the power-law index of the MHD wave spectrum. In particular, we obtain solutions for the momentum distribution of the ions in the plasma and also for the momentum distribution of the escaping particles, which may form an energetic outflow. The general features of the solutions are illustrated via examples based on either a Kolmogorov or Kraichnan wave spectrum. The new expressions complement the results obtained by Park and Petrosian, who presented exact solutions for the hard-sphere scattering case ($q=2$) in addition to other scenarios in which the escape timescale has a power-law dependence on the momentum. Our results have direct relevance for models of high-energy radiation and cosmic-ray production in astrophysical environments such as $γ$-ray bursts, active galaxies, and magnetized coronae around black holes.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Gamma Ray Emission from Merger Shocks in the Coma Cluster of Galaxies

A numerical simulation model of the injection and cooling of nonthermal particles energized by shocks formed in merging clusters of galaxies is used to fit radio and X-ray data observed from the Coma cluster of galaxies. The results are consistent with a primary merger-shock origin for both the diffuse radio halo emission and the hard X-ray excess measured with {\it Beppo-SAX} and {\it RXTE}. For equal (1%) efficiency of power injected in nonthermal protons and electrons, we predict that the Coma cluster of galaxies will be significantly detected with the space-based observatory {\it GLAST}, and marginally detectable with the ground-based $γ$-ray observatories {\it VERITAS} and {\it HESS}. Significant TeV detections are possible if the nonthermal proton intensity is greater due to a larger efficiency of nonthermal hadron acceleration, or to past merger events. The nonthermal hadronic content in Coma is also revealed by a weak, hard secondary emission component at $\sim 10$ -- 100 GHz. The spectral softening of the radio emission at large radii from the Coma cluster core derives in this scenario from the decreasing shock speed away from cluster center for an on-axis merger event. We discuss differences between merger and delayed turbulence models.

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arXiv2005

Photon-Photon Absorption of Very High Energy Gamma-Rays from Microquasars: Application to LS 5039

Very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays have recently been detected from the Galactic black-hole candidate and microquasar LS 5039. A plausible site for the production of these VHE gamma-rays is the region close to the mildly relativistic outflow. However, at distances comparable to the binary separation, the intense photon field of the stellar companion will lead to substantial gamma-gamma absorption of VHE gamma-rays. If the system is viewed at a substantial inclination (i > 0), this absorption feature will be modulated on the orbital period of the binary as a result of a phase-dependent stellar-radiation intensity and pair-production threshold. We apply our results to LS 5039 and find that (1) gamma-gamma absorption effects will be substantial if the photon production site is located at a distance from the central compact object of the order of the binary separation (~ 2.5e12 cm) or less; (2) the gamma-gamma absorption depth will be largest at a few hundred GeV, leading to a characteristic absorption trough; (3) the gamma-gamma absorption feature will be strongly modulated on the orbital period of the binary, characterized by a spectral hardening accompanying periodic dips of the VHE gamma-ray flux; and (4) gamma rays can escape virtually unabsorbed, even from within ~ 10^{12} cm, when the star is located behind the production site as seen by the observer.

astro-ph↗

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

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

Computer Simulations of Nonthermal Particles in Clusters of Galaxies: Application to the Coma Cluster

We have developed a numerical model for the temporal evolution of particle and photon spectra resulting from nonthermal processes at the shock fronts formed in merging clusters of galaxies. Fermi acceleration is approximated by injecting power-law distributions of particles during a merger event, subject to constraints on maximum particle energies. We consider synchrotron, bremsstrahlung, Compton, and Coulomb processes for the electrons, nuclear, photomeson, and Coulomb processes for the protons, and knock-on electron production during the merging process. The broadband radio through $γ$-ray emission radiated by nonthermal protons and primary and secondary electrons is calculated both during and after the merger event. To test the ability of the computer model to accurately calculate the nonthermal emission expected from a cluster merger event, we apply the model to the Coma cluster of galaxies, and show that the centrally located radio emission and the Hard X-ray excess observed at 40-80$\kev$ is well fit by our model. If our model is correct, then the Coma cluster will be significantly detected with GLAST and ground-based air Cherenkov telescopes.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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

Blazar Flaring Rates Measured with GLAST

We derive the minimum observing time scales to detect a blazar at a given flux level with the LAT on GLAST in the scanning and pointing modes. Based upon Phase 1 observations with EGRET, we predict the GLAST detection rate of blazar flares at different flux levels. With some uncertainty given the poor statistics of bright blazars, we predict that a blazar flare with integral flux >~ 200e-8 ph(> 100 MeV) cm^{-2} s^{-1}, which are the best candidates for Target of Opportunity pointings and extensive temporal and spectral studies, should occur every few days.

astro-ph↗

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.

astro-ph↗

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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