arXiv subjects

H. X. Ren

Publications and source records attributed to H. X. Ren.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Evidence for a spectral steepening of the gamma-ray emission from the Galactic Center ridge

Very-high-energy (VHE) $γ$-ray emission detected from the central molecular zone (CMZ) hints at diffusive propagation of cosmic rays (CRs) injected continuously near the Galactic center (GC). Using H.E.S.S. VHE $γ$-ray observations, we aim to construct a multi-component description of the region in order to derive the spatial and spectral distributions of CRs and discuss their potential origin. We rely on a spectro-morphological analysis, in which spectral and spatial parameters of different components are fit simultaneously, and on a three-dimensional description of the CMZ and CR distributions. The GC ridge emission is well reproduced with the assumed gas distribution model weighted by a $1/r^α$ CR density profile with $α= 1.10 \pm 0.05_{\rm{stat}} \pm 0.10_{\rm{syst}}$. We detect no significant spectral variations across the CMZ, which supports a continuous injection from the GC. We report a significant (> 3 $σ$) curvature in the GC ridge $γ$-ray spectrum, implying a parent proton break (or cutoff energy) of $E_b \sim 15-50$ TeV ($E_{\rm{cut}} \sim 60-160$ TeV). We also derive the best-fit spectral parameters of the other sources in the region and report a significant cutoff at $E \sim 5$ TeV in the spectrum of the pulsar wind nebula G0.9+0.1. Finally we constrain the position of the injection site to be close to the GC (ruling out the Arches and Quintuplet clusters as major contributors to the emission). We discuss possible origins for the GC ridge emission, potential mechanisms for causing the observed curvature, a possible contribution of the gas content to the emission of HESS J1745-290 and derive qualitative constraints on the line-of-sight positions of the clouds shaping the CMZ.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

A precessing jet from a supermassive black hole: multi-wavelength observations of S5 1044+71

The bright gamma-ray blazar S5 1044+71 has been identified as showing very significant quasi-periodic oscillations in the Fermi-LAT data in recent studies, with a periodicity of about 3 years. With the completion of a new gamma-ray cycle, we aim to revisit the periodicity in Fermi-LAT data, and analyze all available multi-wavelength (MWL) data to search for possible correlations and time-lags. These observations will be used to test for the compatibility of the observed periodicity with a precessing jet from the supermassive black hole. We analyze data from Fermi-LAT, NuSTAR, Swift, AstroSat, ASAS-SN, ZTF, Pan-STARRS, and NEOWISE. In addition we present an analysis from historical observations from Palomar and Pulkovo. Single-band spectral variability, MWL correlations, and cross-correlations are computed. We then model the Fermi-LAT light curve with a precessing jet model, providing constraints on the geometry of the system and the evolution of the Doppler factor. The latter is used as a geometrical constraint in the modeling of the spectral energy distributions. We confirm previous claims on the existence of a periodic gamma-ray signal. We detect significant spectral variability in gamma-ray, X-rays, and optical/UV data. We detect significant correlation between low-energy (infrared/optical/ultraviolet) data and gamma-rays, with a correlation index of about 1; the correlation between X-rays and gamma-ray is milder, with a correlation index of about 0.3. We do not detect any significant time-lag between bands. The Fermi-LAT light curve is successfully fit by a precessing jet model. The fit to the spectral energy distributions indicate that S5 1044+71 is a typical blazar, in which the gamma-ray emission is located beyond the broad-line region. All MWL observations we present in this work are consistent with the existence of a precessing relativistic jet from the supermassive black hole.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Gamma-Ray Constraints on Heavy Axion-Like-Particle Decays from Fermi-LAT and H.E.S.S. Blazar Spectra

The propagation of very-high-energy (VHE; $E_γ \geq 100$ GeV) gamma rays from extragalactic sources is affected by interactions with photons of the extragalactic background light (EBL), resulting in pair production that attenuates the intrinsic gamma-ray flux. This interaction renders the Universe increasingly opaque to VHE photons at high energies and redshifts. New physics scenarios involving axion-like particles (ALPs) could modify this expected optical depth. In particular, ALPs with masses $m_a \sim 10$ eV can decay into two photons over cosmological timescales, thereby contributing to the diffuse EBL. If such ALPs constitute a significant fraction of the dark matter density, their decay would enhance the EBL intensity and consequently increase the gamma-ray optical depth. In this study, we investigate this scenario using a large sample of gamma-ray spectra observed with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) and the Fermi Large Area Telescope. We model the contribution of decaying ALPs to the EBL and assess their impact on the spectra of blazars across redshifts. By comparing these observations with standard EBL models, we place constraints on the properties of heavy ALPs, specifically their mass and photon coupling, and evaluate their viability as a dark matter candidate capable of modifying the gamma-ray transparency of the Universe. From the combined analysis, and under the assumption that ALPs constitute the entire dark matter density, we derive 95% confidence exclusion limits on the photon-ALP coupling down to $g_{aγ} \sim 7 \times 10^{-12}$ GeV$^{-1}$ for masses $m_a\sim 15$ eV. These constraints are competitive with existing astrophysical bounds and provide complementary sensitivity to other techniques, closing a previously unconstrained region of parameter space in the $m_a \sim 2.5$-$20$ eV range.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Search for long-term variability of HESS J1745-290

At the center of our Galaxy lies the bright γ-ray point-like source HESS J1745-290, which is compatible in position with Sgr A star, although an association between the two remains uncertain. Using data obtained between 2004 and 2019 with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) on the Galactic center region, we studied the variability of HESS J1745-290 over 353 hours of observations collected over 16 years, representing the largest dataset gathered yet on this region at TeV energies. We performed a 3D maximum-likelihood analysis of the central source and the diffuse γ-ray emission in the Galactic center region. This analysis allowed us to extract the spectral and morphological intrinsic behavior of the two components. By performing this analysis on an annual basis, we derived the light curve of HESS J1745-290 and the diffuse emission over the past 16 years. The 3D maximum-likelihood analysis method allowed us to separate the central source from the overlapping diffuse emission, enabling a recalibration of the former by the latter and alleviating some of the systematic effects. We find no long-term or yearly variability. We also provide an estimate of the sensitivity of H.E.S.S. to variation of this specific source over 16 years. We rule out any yearly gamma-ray flux variation of this source larger than 30 percent, as well as any linear flux variation exceeding 30% over this time period.

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arXiv2025

Constraining the nature of the most extreme Galactic particle accelerator. H.E.S.S. observations of the microquasar V4641 Sgr

Microquasars have emerged as promising candidates to explain the cosmic-ray flux at petaelectronvolt energies. LHAASO observations revealed V4641~Sgr as the most extreme example so far. Using $\approx$100~h of H.E.S.S. data, we performed a spectro-morphological study of the gamma-ray emission around V4641~Sgr. We employed HI and dedicated CO observations of the region to infer the target material for cosmic-ray interactions. We detected multi-TeV emission around V4641~Sgr with a high significance. The emission region is elongated. We found a power-law spectrum with an index $\approx$1.8, and together with results from other gamma-ray instruments, this reveals a spectral energy distribution that peaks at energies of $\approx$100~TeV for the first time. We found indications (3$σ$) of a two-component morphology, with indistinguishable spectral properties. The position of V4641~Sgr is inconsistent with the best-fit position of the single-component model and with the dip between the two components. We found no significant evidence of an energy-dependent morphology. No dense gas was found at any distance towards V4641~Sgr. The peak of the SED at $\approx$100~TeV identifies V4641~Sgr as a candidate cosmic-ray accelerator beyond the so-called knee. The absence of dense target gas places stringent energetic constraints on hadronic interpretations, however. The H.E.S.S. measurement requires an unusually hard ($\approx 1.5$) spectral index for the protons. A leptonic scenario faces fewer obstacles if the particle transport is fast enough to avoid losses and to reproduce the observed energy-independent morphology. The absence of bright \xray emission across the gamma-ray emission region requires a magnetic field strength $\lesssim3$~$μ$G, however. Our findings favour a leptonic origin of the gamma-ray emission. This conclusion does not exclude hadron acceleration in the V4641~Sgr system.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Cosmic rays, gas and dust in the Central Molecular Zone I -- $X_{CO}$ factors, cosmic-ray densities and dust opacities

Our goal is to estimate the total gas mass in the direction of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), quantify the various uncertainties associated, and discuss the implications for the estimates of CR energy densities and dust opacities. The $H_{\rm{I}}$ 21 cm line and the carbon monoxide isotopes ($^{12}\rm{CO}$, $^{13}\rm{CO}$ and $\rm{C}^{18}\rm{O}$) line emission maps are used to derive the total gas column density. The gas in the CMZ is separated from the disk contribution in position and velocity thanks to its different properties in term of velocity dispersion and brightness ratio of CO isotopes. The variations of the $X_{\rm{CO}}$ factors are modelled relying on both theoretical trends from simulations and empirical corrections. We use the new gas column density estimated together with gamma-ray and dust emission measurements to derive the CR energy density and dust opacities, respectively. The $X_{\rm{CO}}$ values in the CMZ range from $(0.32 - 1.37) \ \times$ $10^{20}$ cm$^{-2}$ K$^{-1}$ km$^{-1}$ s, with a distribution that is highly asymmetric and skewed. The median value is $ \rm{\overline{X}_{CO}^{CMZ}} = 0.39 \ \times$ $10^{20}$ cm$^{-2}$ K$^{-1}$ km$^{-1}$ s. The total gas mass in the CMZ is estimated to be $2.3_{-0.3}^{+0.3}\times10^{7} \; \rm{M_{\odot}}$ with $\sim 10 \%$ contribution from the atomic phase. Without removing the disk contamination the total mass is about twice higher, and the atomic gas fraction increases to $\sim30\%$. The cosmic-ray (CR) energy density in the CMZ, assuming a 1/r profile, is higher by a factor of two compared to the previous calculations at TeV energies. Using molecular gas tracers which probes only the densest molecular cores leads to an overestimation of the CR energy density, while ignoring the foreground/background contribution leads to an underestimation of the CR energy density in the CMZ.

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