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G. E. Romero

Publications and source records attributed to G. E. Romero.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

On the multiwavelength spectrum of the microquasar 1E 1740.7-2942

Context. The microquasar 1E 1740.7-2942 is a source located in the direction of the Galactic Center. It has been detected at X-rays, soft gamma-rays, and in the radio band, showing an extended radio component in the form of a double-sided jet. Although no optical counterpart has been found so far for 1E 1740.7-2942, its X-ray activity strongly points to a galactic nature. Aims. We aim to improve our understanding of the hard X-ray and gamma-ray production in the system, exploring whether the jet can emit significantly at high energies under the light of the present knowledge. Methods. We have modeled the source emission, from radio to gamma-rays, with a cold-matter dominated jet model. INTEGRAL data combined with radio and RXTE data, as well as EGRET and HESS upper-limits, are used to compare the computed and the observed spectra. Results. From our modeling, we find out that jet emission cannot explain the high fluxes observed at hard X-rays without violating at the same time the constraints from the radio data, favoring the corona origin of the hard X-rays. Also, 1E 1740.7-2942 might be detected by GLAST or AGILE at GeV energies, and by HESS and HESS-II beyond 100 GeV, with the spectral shape likely affected by photon-photon absorption in the disk and corona photon fields.

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arXiv2006

Spectral and variability properties of LS 5039 from radio to very high-energy gamma-rays

Microquasars are X-ray binaries with relativistic jets. The microquasar LS 5039 turned out to be the first high-energy gamma-ray microquasar candidate due to its likely association with the EGRET source 3EG J1824-1514. Further theoretical studies supported this association, which could be extended to other EGRET sources. Very recently, Aharonian et al. (2005) have communicated the detection of the microquasar LS 5039 at TeV energies. This fact confirms the EGRET source association and leaves no doubt about the gamma-ray emitting nature of this object. The aim of the present work is to show that, applying a cold-matter dominated jet model to LS 5039, we can reproduce many of the spectral and variability features observed in this source. Jet physics is explored, and some physical quantities are estimated as a by-product of the performed modeling. Although at the moment only LS 5039 has been detected on the entire electromagnetic spectrum, it does not seem unlikely that other microquasars will show similar spectral properties. Therefore, an in-depth study of the first gamma-ray microquasar, on theoretical grounds supported by observations, can render a useful knowledge applicable elsewhere.

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arXiv2006

A microquasar model applied to unidentified gamma-ray sources

Among unidentified gamma-ray sources in the galactic plane, there are some that present significant variability and have been proposed to be high-mass microquasars. To deepen the study of the possible association between variable low galactic latitude gamma-ray sources and microquasars, we have applied a leptonic jet model based on the microquasar scenario that reproduces the gamma-ray spectrum of three unidentified gamma-ray sources, 3EG J1735-1500, 3EG J1828+0142 and GRO J1411-64, and is consistent with the observational constraints at lower energies. We conclude that if these sources were generated by microquasars, the particle acceleration processes could not be as efficient as in other objects of this type that present harder gamma-ray spectra. Moreover, the dominant mechanism of high-energy emission should be synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scattering, and the radio jets may only be observed at low frequencies. For each particular case, further predictions of jet physical conditions and variability generation mechanisms have been made in the context of the model. Although there might be other candidates able to explain the emission coming from these sources, microquasars cannot be excluded as counterparts. Observations performed by the next generation of gamma-ray instruments, like GLAST, are required to test the proposed model.

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arXiv2006

Spectral energy distribution of the gamma-ray microquasar LS 5039

The microquasar LS 5039 has recently been detected as a source of very high energy (VHE) $γ$-rays. This detection, that confirms the previously proposed association of LS 5039 with the EGRET source 3EG~J1824$-$1514, makes of LS 5039 a special system with observational data covering nearly all the electromagnetic spectrum. In order to reproduce the observed spectrum of LS 5039, from radio to VHE $γ$-rays, we have applied a cold matter dominated jet model that takes into account accretion variability, the jet magnetic field, particle acceleration, adiabatic and radiative losses, microscopic energy conservation in the jet, and pair creation and absorption due to the external photon fields, as well as the emission from the first generation of secondaries. The radiative processes taken into account are synchrotron, relativistic Bremsstrahlung and inverse Compton (IC). The model is based on a scenario that has been characterized with recent observational results, concerning the orbital parameters, the orbital variability at X-rays and the nature of the compact object. The computed spectral energy distribution (SED) shows a good agreement with the available observational data.

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arXiv2005

A broadband leptonic model for gamma-ray emitting microquasars

Observational and theoretical studies point to microquasars (MQs) as possible counterparts of a significant fraction of the unidentified gamma-ray sources detected so far. At present, a proper scenario to explain the emission beyond soft X-rays from these objects is not known, nor what the precise connection is between the radio and the high-energy radiation. We develop a new model where the MQ jet is dynamically dominated by cold protons and radiatively dominated by relativistic leptons. The matter content and power of the jet are both related with the accretion process. The magnetic field is assumed to be close to equipartition, although it is attached to and dominated by the jet matter. For the relativistic particles in the jet, their maximum energy depends on both the acceleration efficiency and the energy losses. The model takes into account the interaction of the relativistic jet particles with the magnetic field and all the photon and matter fields. Such interaction produces significant amounts of radiation from radio to very high energies through synchrotron, relativistic Bremsstrahlung, and inverse Compton (IC) processes. Variability of the emission produced by changes in the accretion process (e.g. via orbital eccentricity) is also expected. The effects of the gamma-ray absorption by the external photon fields on the gamma-ray spectrum have been taken into account, revealing clear spectral features that might be observed. This model is consistent to the accretion scenario, energy conservation laws, and current observational knowledge, and can provide deeper physical information of the source when tested against multiwavelength data.

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arXiv2005

Polarization microvariability of BL Lac objects

We present the results of a systematic observational campaign designed to search for microvariability in the optical polarization of BL Lac objects. We have observed a sample formed by 8 X-ray-selected and 10 radio-selected sources, looking for rapid changes in both the degree of linear polarization and the corresponding polarization angle. The whole campaign was carried out along the last three years, and most of the objects were observed at least on two consecutive nights. The statistical properties of both classes of BL Lac objects are compared, and some general conclusions on the nature of the phenomenon are drawn. In general, radio selected sources seem to display higher duty cycles for polarimetric microvariability and, on average, they have a stronger polarization.

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arXiv2005

G337.2+0.1: a new X-ray supernova remnant?

We present evidence supporting a SNR origin for the radio source G337.2+0.1, which was discovered along the line of sight to the Norma spiral arm in the MOST 843-MHz radio survey. The radio source is spatially superposed to the unidentified ASCA source AX J1635.9-4719. An analysis of this latter source reveals that its X-ray spectrum, extended nature, and non-variable flux are consistent with what is expected for a SNR. In addition, we have used HI-line observations of the region to look for any effect of the presumed remnant on the ISM. We have found a well-defined minimum centered at the position of the radio source in the velocity range of ~ -25 to -19 km/s. This feature appears as a sharp absorption dip in the spectrum that might be produced when the continuum emission from the SNR candidate is absorbed by foreground gas. Hence we have used it to constrain the distance to the source, which seems to be a young (age ~ a few 10^3 yr) and distant (d ~ 14 kpc) SNR. G337.2+0.1 and AX J1635.9-4719 would be the radio/X-ray manifestations of this remnant.

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arXiv2004

High-mass microquasars and low-latitude gamma-ray sources

Population studies of unidentified EGRET sources suggest that there exist at least three different populations of galactic gamma-ray sources. One of these populations is formed by young objects distributed along the galactic plane with a strong concentration toward the inner spiral arms of the Galaxy. Variability, spectral and correlation analysis indicate that this population is not homogeneous. In particular, there is a subgroup of sources that display clear variability in their gamma-ray fluxes on timescales from days to months. Following the proposal by Kaufman Bernadó et al. (2002), we suggest that this group of sources might be high-mass microquasars, i.e. accreting black holes or neutron stars with relativistic jets and early-type stellar companions. We present detailed inhomogeneous models for the gamma-ray emission of these systems that include both external and synchrotron self-Compton interactions. We have included effects of interactions between the jet and all external photon fields to which it is exposed: companion star, accretion disk, and hot corona. We make broadband calculations to predict the spectral energy distribution of these objects from radio up to GeV energies. The results and predictions can be tested by present and future gamma-ray instruments like INTEGRAL, AGILE, and GLAST.

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arXiv2004

Microquasar models for 3EG J1828+0142 and 3EG J1735-1500

Microquasars are promising candidates to emit high-energy gamma-rays. Moreover, statistical studies show that variable EGRET sources at low galactic latitudes could be associated with the inner spiral arms. The variable nature and the location in the Galaxy of the high-mass microquasars, concentrated in the galactic plane and within 55 degrees from the galactic center, give to these objects the status of likely counterparts of the variable low-latitude EGRET sources. We consider in this work the two most variable EGRET sources at low-latitudes: 3EG J1828+0142 and 3EG J1735-1500, proposing a microquasar model to explain the EGRET data in consistency with the observations at lower energies (from radio frequencies to soft gamma-rays) within the EGRET error box.

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arXiv2004

Unidentified gamma-ray sources off the Galactic plane as low-mass microquasars?

A subset of the unidentified EGRET gamma-ray sources with no active galactic nucleus or other conspicuous counterpart appears to be concentrated at medium latitudes. Their long-term variability and their spatial distribution indicate that they are distinct from the more persistent sources associated with the nearby Gould Belt. They exhibit a large scale height of 1.3 +/- 0.6 kpc above the Galactic plane. Potential counterparts for these sources include microquasars accreting from a low-mass star and spewing a continuous jet. Detailed calculations have been performed of the jet inverse Compton emission in the radiation fields from the star, the accretion disc, and a hot corona. Different jet Lorentz factors, powers, and aspect angles have been explored. The up-scattered emission from the corona predominates below 100 MeV whereas the disc and stellar contributions are preponderant at higher energies for moderate (~15 deg) and small (~1 deg) aspect angles, respectively. Yet, unlike in the high-mass, brighter versions of these systems, the external Compton emission largely fails to produce the luminosities required for 5 to 10 kpc distant EGRET sources. Synchrotron-self-Compton emission appears as a promising alternative.

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arXiv2004

Identifying variable gamma-ray sources through radio observations

We present preliminary results of a campaign undertaken with different radio interferometers to observe a sample of the most variable unidentified EGRET sources. We expect to detect which of the possible counterparts of the gamma-ray sources (any of the radio emitters in the field) varies in time with similar timescales as the gamma-ray variation. If the gamma-rays are produced in a jet-like source, as we have modelled theoretically, synchrotron emission is also expected at radio wavelengths. Such radio emission should appear variable in time and correlated with the gamma-ray variability.

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arXiv2004

Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources and Microquasars

Some phenomenological properties of the unidentified EGRET detections suggest that there are two distinct groups of galactic gamma-ray sources that might be associated with compact objects endowed with relativistic jets. We discuss different models for gamma-ray production in both microquasars with low- and high-mass stellar companions. We conclude that the parent population of low-latitude and halo variable sources might be formed by yet undetected microquasars and microblazars.

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arXiv2004

Unidentified EGRET Sources

A brief summary of the main properties of the unidentified gamma-ray sources detected by EGRET is presented, with particular emphasis on the different populations and their phenomenological characteristics.

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arXiv2003

The binary black hole scenario for the BL Lacertae object AO 0235+16

Recent analysis of the long term radio lightcurve of the extremely variable BL Lacertae object AO 0235+16 by Raiteri et al. (2001) have revealed the presence of recurrent outbursts in this source with a period of ~ 5.7 +/- 0.5 yr. Periodicity analysis of the optical lightcurve also show evidence for a shorter period. Here we discuss whether such a behavior can be explained by a binary black hole model where the accretion disk of one of the supermassive black holes is precessing due to the tidal effects of the companion. We estimate the mass of the accreting hole and analyze under what constraints onto the secondary mass and the orbital parameters of the system it is possible to provide a viable interpretation of the available multiwavelength data.

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arXiv2003

Microvariability in the optical polarization of 3C279

We present results of a microvariability polarization study in the violently variable quasar 3C279. We have resolved the polarization curves in the V band for this object down to timescales of minutes. We found two main components in the evolution of the degree of linear polarization, one consisting of a flicker with timescales of several tens of minutes and other component with far more significant variations on timescales of a few days. The linear polarization descended from $\sim 17$ % down to $\sim 8$ % in three nights. The polarization angle underwent a sudden change of more that 10 degrees in a few hours, perhaps indicating the injection of a new shock in the jet. The amplitude of the intranight flickering in the degree of polarization is at the level of $\sim 1$%. These are probably the best sampled polarization data ever obtained for this object. We also performed IR observations and we provide a follow-up of the evolution of this source at such energies after the main polarization outburst.

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arXiv2003

High-Mass Microblazars Associated with Variable Gamma-Ray Sources?

A model to explain variable gamma-ray sources with high-mass microblazars is described. Inverse Compton interactions between the jet of a microquasar and the UV-photon field of the stellar companion can produce high-energy gamma-rays. The interaction with photons from the disk and the corona is also taken into account. The long-term variability presented by some sources is related to the precession of the jet, which is induced by the gravitational effect of the companion upon the accretion disk. Observations of repeated soft gamma-ray outbursts from Cyg X-1 can be consistently interpreted under this model.

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arXiv2003

Discovery of a new radio galaxy within the error box of the unidentified gamma-ray source 3EG J1735-1500

We report the discovery of a new radio galaxy within the location error box of the gamma-ray source 3EG J1735-1500. The galaxy is a double-sided jet source forming a large angle with the line of sight. Optical observations reveal a V ~ 18 magnitude galaxy at the position of the radio core. Although the association with the EGRET source is not confirmed at the present stage, because there is a competing, alternative gamma-ray candidate within the location error contours which is also studied here, the case deserves further attention. The new radio galaxy can be used to test the recently proposed possibility of gamma-ray emitting radio galaxies beyond the already known case of Centaurus A.

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