arXiv subjects

Houdun Zeng

Publications and source records attributed to Houdun Zeng.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Gamma-ray Emission from the S147 Region: Indication of Escaping Cosmic Rays Interacting with Molecular Clouds

We present a detailed analysis of $\gamma$-ray emission from the middle-aged supernova remnant (SNR) S147 (G180.0$-$1.7) using approximately 16.5 years of Fermi-LAT data. Spatially, a new extended $\gamma$-ray component distinct from the emission associated with the H$\alpha$ filaments of the SNR shell is identified. This new component exhibits a strong spatial correlation with dense molecular clouds (MCs) identified in CO emission at Local Standard of Rest velocities of $0$--$5\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$. Spectrally, the cloud-associated emission implies an underlying cosmic-ray (CR) proton population described by a hard power-law with an index of $\Gamma \approx 2.1$, compatible with the standard diffusive shock acceleration prediction. We interpret the $\gamma$-ray emission in this region with a hadronic scenario involving two distinct CR populations: trapped CRs reaccelerated within the radiative SNR shell as proposed in previous work, and escaping CRs illuminating the nearby MCs. The derived CR proton intensity in the MC region significantly exceeds the local Galactic background measured by AMS-02, consistent with the interpretation that the cloud is illuminated by particles accelerated by S147. These findings provide observational support for a CR-escape scenario during the earlier evolutionary phases of this middle-aged SNR and highlight the S147 MC component as a potential candidate for detection at TeV energies by LHAASO.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

The Formation Rate and Luminosity Function of Fast X-ray transients from Einstein probe

Following its launch on 2024 January 9, the Einstein Probe (EP) telescope has detected hundreds of fast X-ray transients (FXTs), yet their physical origins remain elusive. Understanding their luminosity function and formation rate is crucial for elucidating their nature. Recently, the EP team has provided the latest catalog of EP-detected FXTs. Based on this catalog, we present a model-independent nonparametric approach to derive the luminosity function and formation rate of FXTs. Our analysis reveals significant cosmological luminosity evolution, characterized by a scaling relationship of $(1+z)^{3.58}$. After accounting for this evolution, we establish that the local luminosity function is best represented by a broken power law, with a break luminosity of $(4.17 \pm 0.34) \times 10^{46}$ erg/s. The formation rate exhibits a broken power law as $\rho(z) \propto (1+z)^{-4.25}$ at $z \lessapprox 0.9$ and $\rho(z) \propto (1+z)^{-0.26}$ at $z \gtrapprox 0.9$, yielding a local rate of approximately $153.8_{-95.1}^{+249.4}$ Gpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$. This rate is higher than that of long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs). Our findings indicate that a component of FXTs is associated with LGRBs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Contribution of Globular Clusters to Diffuse Gamma-ray Emission from Galactic Plane

The diffuse Galactic $\gamma$-ray emission (DGE) provides a valuable probe for investigating the cosmic ray propagation and interactions within our Galactic environment. Recent observations have demonstrated systematic excesses of DGE compared with the conventional cosmic-ray propagation model predictions. While $\gamma$-ray emissions have been detected in a subset of globular clusters, their undetected populations may significantly contribute to the DGE. Motivated by this possibility, we present a comprehensive assessment of potential contributions from unresolved globular clusters to the DGE. In our analysis, a nonparametric method is employed to estimate the luminosity function and spatial distribution function of globular clusters using the Fermi-LAT fourth source catalog (4FGL) combined with a reference globular cluster catalog. Based on these distributions, we calculate the cumulative contribution of unresolved globular cluster populations to the DGE observed by Fermi-LAT and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). Our results reveal that globular clusters account for only $\sim$2\% of the DGE at the TeV range, and smaller than $1\%$ in the GeV regime, which is effectively negligible.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Contribution of Unresolved Sources to Diffuse Gamma-Ray Emission from the Galactic Plane

The diffuse gamma-ray emission from the Milky Way serves as a crucial probe for understanding the propagation and interactions of cosmic rays within our galaxy. The Galactic diffuse gamma-ray emission between 10 TeV and 1 PeV has been recently measured by the square kilometer array (KM2A) of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). The flux is higher than predicted for cosmic rays interacting with the interstellar medium. In this work, we utilize a non-parametric method to derive the source count distribution using the published first LHAASO source catalog. Based on this distribution, we calculate the contribution of unresolved sources to the diffuse emission measured by KM2A. When comparing our results to the measured diffuse gamma-ray emission, we demonstrate that for the outer Galactic region, the contributions from unresolved sources and those predicted by models are roughly consistent with experimental observations within the uncertainty. However, for the inner Galactic region, additional components are required to account for the observed data.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Source Count Distribution of Fermi LAT Gamma-Ray Blazars Using Novel Nonparametric Methods

We utilized a sample from the Fermi-LAT 14-year Source Catalog by adjusting the flux detection threshold, enabling us to derive the intrinsic source count distribution $dN/dF_{25}$ of extragalactic blazars using nonparametric, unbinned methods developed by Efron and Petrosian and Lynden-Bell. Subsequently, we evaluated the contribution of blazars to the extragalactic gamma-ray background. Our findings are summarized as follows: (1) There is no significant correlation between flux and spectral index values among blazars and their subclasses FSRQs and BL Lacs. (2) The intrinsic differential distributions of flux values exhibit a broken-power-law form, with parameters that closely match previous findings. The intrinsic photon index distributions are well described by a Gaussian form for FSRQs and BL Lacs individually, while a dual-Gaussian model provides a more appropriate fit for blazars as a whole. (3) Blazars contribute 34.5\% to the extragalactic gamma-ray background and 16.8\% to the extragalactic diffuse gamma-ray background. When examined separately, FSRQs and BL Lacs contribute 19.6\% and 13\% to the extragalactic gamma-ray background, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Prospects for the detection of very-high-energy pulsars with LHAASO and SWGO

Pulsations from the Crab pulsar have been detected by the MAGIC telescopes at energies up to 1.5 TeV, and the pulsed emission from the Vela pulsar was detected by H.E.S.S., reaching tens of TeV. These discoveries, along with the proposed additional emission due to inverse Compton scattering at TeV energies, lead us to consider suitable candidates for detection with current and future extensive air show (EAS) experiments at very-high-energy (VHE; 0.1 $-$ 100 TeV) ranges. Leveraging energy spectrum data from pulsars as observed by Fermi and Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) and considering the sensitivities of both LHAASO and SWGO, this study evaluates their detectability and estimates the time required for their significant detection. Our results indicate that LHAASO could detect the Crab's pulsed signal within six years, while SWGO might detect Vela's signal within one year. Observations of the most energetic Fermi pulsars with EAS experiments will provide insight into the nature of VHE pulsar emissions, helping to clarify the primary characteristics of VHE pulsars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) Collaboration -- Contributions to the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2023)

The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND) is an envisioned observatory of ultra-high-energy particles of cosmic origin, with energies in excess of 100 PeV. GRAND uses large surface arrays of autonomous radio-detection units to look for the radio emission from extensive air showers that are triggered by the interaction of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos in the atmosphere or underground. In particular, for ultra-high-energy neutrinos, the future final phase of GRAND aims to be sensitive enough to discover them in spite of their plausibly tiny flux. Presently, three prototype GRAND radio arrays are in operation: GRANDProto300, in China, GRAND@Auger, in Argentina, and GRAND@Nancay, in France. Their goals are to field-test the design of the radio-detection units, understand the radio background to which they are exposed, and develop tools for diagnostic, data gathering, and data analysis. This list of contributions to the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2023) presents an overview of GRAND, in its present and future incarnations, and a look at the first data collected by GRANDProto13, the first phase of GRANDProto300.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) Science Book (2021 Edition)

Since the science white paper of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) published on arXiv in 2019 [e-Print: 1905.02773 (astro-ph.HE)], LHAASO has completed the transition from a project to an operational gamma-ray astronomical observatory LHAASO is a new generation multi-component facility located in Daocheng, Sichuan province of China, at an altitude of 4410 meters. It aims at measuring with unprecedented sensitivity the spectrum, composition, and anisotropy of cosmic rays in the energy range between 10$^{12}$ and 10$^{18}$~eV, and acting simultaneously as a wide aperture (one stereoradiant) continuously operating gamma-ray telescope in the energy range between 10$^{11}$ and $10^{15}$~eV with the designed sensitivity of 1.3\% of the Crab Unit (CU) above 100 TeV. LHAASO's capability of measuring simultaneously different shower components (electrons, muons, and Cherenkov/fluorescence light), will allow it to investigate the origin, acceleration, and propagation of CR through measurement of the energy spectrum, elemental composition, and anisotropy with unprecedented resolution. The remarkable sensitivity of LHAASO will play a key role in CR physics and gamma-ray astronomy for a general and comprehensive exploration of the high energy universe and will allow important studies of fundamental physics (such as indirect dark matter search, Lorentz invariance violation, quantum gravity) and solar and heliospheric physics. The LHAASO Collaboration organized an editorial working group and finished all editorial work of this science book, to summarize the instrumental features and outline the prospects of scientific researches with the LHAASO experiment.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

A Three-component Model for Cosmic-ray Spectrum and Dipole Anisotropy

Using a three-component, multi-scale diffusion model, we show that the cosmic-ray (CR) proton and helium spectra and the dipole anisotropy can be explained with reasonable parameters. The model includes a nearby source associated with the supernova remnant (SNR) that gave rise to the Geminga pulsar, a source at the Galactic center, and a component associated with the Galactic disk. The CR flux below TeV is dominated by the disk component. The center source with a continuous injection of CRs starting about 18 Myr ago is needed to explain the anisotropy above 100 TeV. With the assumption of universal CR spectra injected by all SNRs, the nearby source can produce a TeV spectral bump observed at Earth via slow diffusion across the interstellar magnetic field, which needs to have an angle $ θ\approx 5^{\circ} $ between the field line and the line of sight toward the source, and have weak magnetic turbulence with the Alfvén Mach number $ M_{\text{A}}\approx 0.1 $. Considering the modulation of the Galactic-scale anisotropy by this magnetic field, in a quasi-local approach the field may be directed at a right ascension about $ -90^{\circ} $ and a declination about $ -7.4^{\circ} $ in the equatorial coordinate system.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

A Possible Hadronic Origin of TeV Photon Emission from SNR G106.3+2.7

In our model, the acceleration and propagation of particles from the Bohm-like diffusion region inside the SNR to the Galactic diffusion region outside the SNR are described through nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration (NLDSA). The main content of our NLDSA model is to solve the hydrodynamic equations numerically for gas density, gas velocity, gas pressure as well as the equation for the quasi-isotropic particle momentum distribution. The consequent multi-band non-thermal emission is from two different regions, namely the acceleration region and the escaping region. Our model is capable of explaining the multi-band photon emission via the dominant synchrotron radiation of the electrons accelerated inside the SNR; and the photons with energy of $\gtrsim$ GeV are naturally produced by the protons inside and outside the SNR. Moreover, the photons in the energy range of $\sim 1 - \sim 100$ TeV are due to the interaction of escaped protons with dense molecular clouds. For the photons with energy of $E_γ\gtrsim $ 1 GeV from SNR G106.3+2.7, our results here favor a hadronic origin, where the photons in the energy range of $\sim 1$ GeV to $\sim 1$ TeV are produced inside the SNR through proton-proton interaction, while the photons with $E_γ\gtrsim 1$ TeV originate from the interaction of escaped protons with a dense molecular cloud.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Cosmological Evolution of Fermi-LAT Gamma-ray Blazars Using Novel Nonparametric Methods

Multi-wavelength analyses of spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provide useful information on the physical processes in the accretion disk and jets of black holes. This, however, is limited to bright sources and may not represent the population as a whole. Another approach is through the investigation of the cosmological evolution of the luminosity function (LF) that shows varied evolution (luminosity and density) at different wavelengths. These differences and the correlations between luminosities can shed light on the Jet-accretion disk connection. Most such studies use forward fitting parametric methods that involve several functions and many parameters. We use non-parametric, non-binning methods developed by Efron and Petrosian, and Lynden-Bell, for obtaining unbiased description of the evolution of the LF, from data truncated by observational selection effects. We present analysis of the evolution of gamma-ray LF of blazars with main focus on flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). This requires analysis of both gamma-ray and optical data, essential for redshift measurements, and a description of the joint LF. We use a new approach which divides the sample into two sub-samples, each with its own flux limit. We use the Fermi-LAT and GAIA observations, and present results on the gamma-ray LF and its evolution, and determine the intrinsic correlation between the gamma-ray and optical luminosities corrected for the well known false correlation induced by their similar redshift dependence and evolution of the two luminosities. We also present a direct estimation of the contribution of blazars to the spectrum of the extragalactic gamma-ray background.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

TeV cosmic ray nuclei acceleration in shell-type supernova remnants with hard $γ$-ray spectra

The emission mechanism for hard $γ$-ray spectra from supernova remnants (SNRs) is still a matter of debate. Recent multi-wavelength observations of TeV source HESS J1912+101 show that it is associated with an SNR with an age of $\sim 100$ kyrs, making it unlikely produce the TeV $γ$-ray emission via leptonic processes. We analyzed Fermi observations of it and found an extended source with a hard spectrum. HESS J1912+101 may represent a peculiar stage of SNR evolution that dominates the acceleration of TeV cosmic rays. By fitting the multi-wavelength spectra of 13 SNRs with hard GeV $γ$-ray spectra with simple emission models with a density ratio of GeV electrons to protons of $\sim 10^{-2}$, we obtain reasonable mean densities and magnetic fields with a total energy of $\sim 10^{50}$ ergs for relativistic ions in each SNR. Among these sources, only two of them, namely SN 1006 and RCW 86, favor a leptonic origin for the $γ$-ray emission. The magnetic field energy is found to be comparable to that of the accelerated relativistic ions and their ratio has a tendency of increase with the age of SNRs. These results suggest that TeV cosmic rays mainly originate from SNRs with hard $γ$-ray spectra.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Hadronic vs leptonic models for $γ$-ray emission from VER J2227+608

Recent observations of VER J2227+608 reveal a broken power $γ$-ray spectrum with the spectral index increasing from $\sim 1.8$ in the GeV energy range to $\sim 2.3$ in the TeV range. Such a spectral break can be attributed to radiative energy loss of energetic electrons in the leptonic scenario for the $γ$-ray emission, which, in combination with characteristic age of the nearby pulsar, can be used to constrain magnetic field in the emission region. We show that the radio and X-ray observations can also be explained in such a scenario. In the hadronic scenario, the spectral break can be attributed to diffusion of energetic ions in a turbulent medium and detailed spectral measurement can be used to constrain the diffusion coefficient. These two models, however, predict drastically different spectra above 100 TeV, which will be uncovered with future high-resolution observations, such as LHAASO and/or CTA.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Evolution of High-energy Particle Distribution in Supernova Remnants

The spectra fits to a sample of 34 supernova remnants (Zeng et al., 2019) are updated. $γ$-ray spectra of 20 supernova remnants (SNRs) with a soft TeV spectrum are further analyzed. We found that 17 of them can be fitted in the hadronic scenario with a single power-law ion distribution with an index of $\sim$ 2.6, which is significantly softer than the ion distribution inferred from $γ$-ray observations of star-burst galaxies. If Galactic cosmic rays are mostly produced by SNRs, this result suggests that SNRs in star-burst galaxies may never reach the phase with a soft $γ$-ray spectra or escape of high-energy particles from SNRs before they reach this phase with a soft $γ$-ray spectrum dominates the contribution of SNRs to Galactic cosmic rays.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

VER J2227+608: A Hadronic PeVatron Pulsar Wind Nebula?

We report the detection of GeV $γ$-ray emission from the very-high-energy (VHE) $γ$-ray source VER J2227+608 associated with the "tail" region of SNR G106.3+2.7. The GeV $γ$-ray emission is extended and spatially coincident with molecular clouds traced by CO emission. The broadband GeV to TeV emission of VER J2227+608 can be well fitted by a single power-law function with an index of 1.90$\pm$0.04, without obvious indication of spectral cutoff toward high energies. The pure leptonic model for the $γ$-ray emission can be marginally ruled out by the X-ray and TeV data. In the hadronic model, the low energy content of CRs and the hard $γ$-ray spectrum, in combination with the center-bright source structure, suggest that VER J2227+608 may be powered by the PWN instead of shocks of the SNR. And the cutoff energy of the proton distribution needs to be higher than $\sim$ 400 TeV, which makes it an attractive PeVatron candidate. Future observations by the upcoming Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) and the Cherenkov Telescope Array in the north (CTA-North) could distinguish these models and constrain the maximum energy of cosmic rays in supernova remnants.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Gamma-ray luminosity function of BL Lac objects and contribution to the extragalactic gamma-ray background

Using a significantly enlarged \textit{Fermi}-LAT BL Lac objects (BL Lacs) sample, we construct the gamma-ray luminosity function (GLF) of BL Lacs, by the joint use of the space density distribution and source counts distribution. We use three well-studied forms of the GLF, i.e., the forms of pure density evolution (PDE), pure luminosity evolution (PLE) and luminosity-dependent density evolution (LDDE). The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique is used to constrain model parameters. Our results suggest that LDDE model can give the best description for the BL Lac GLF. And the model shows that the BL Lacs with a harder GeV spectrum and a less luminosity evolve as strongly as FSRQs, and the evolution decreases as increasing luminosity. We also model the average photon spectra of BL Lacs with a double power laws model. Using this modeled spectra, BL Lacs contribute $ \sim 20\%$ of the total extragalactic gamma-ray background (EGB) at $E>100$ MeV, $\sim 100\%$ of the EGB at $E>50$ GeV, and the unresolved BL Lacs contribute $\sim 20 \%$ of the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray background (IGRB) at $E>100$ MeV. A prediction of the TeV EGB spectra are given, which may be tested by the future detectors.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Using the Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Background to Constrain the Hubble Constant and Matter Density of the Universe

The attenuation produced by extragalactic background light (EBL) in $γ$-ray spectra of blazars has been used to constrain the Hubble constant ($H_0$) and matter density ($Ω_{\rm m}$) of the Universe. We propose to estimate $H_0$ and $Ω_{\rm m}$ using the well measured $>$10 GeV extragalactic $γ$-ray background (EGB). This suggestion is based on the facts that the $>$10 GeV EGB is totally explained by the emissions from blazars, and an EBL-absorption cutoff occurs at $\sim$50 GeV in the EGB spectrum. We fit the $>$10 GeV EGB data with modeled EGB spectrum. This results in $H_0=64.9^{+4.6}_{-4.3}\rm \ km\ s^{-1}\ Mpc^{-1}$ and $Ω_{\rm m}=0.31^{+0.13}_{-0.14}$. Note that the uncertainties may be underestimated due to the limit of our realization for EBL model. $H_0$ and $Ω_{\rm m}$ are degenerate in our method. Independent determination of $Ω_{\rm m}$ by other methods would improve the constraint on $H_0$.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Evolution of high-energy particle distribution in Supernova Remnants

Supernova remnants (SNRs) have been considered as the dominant contributors to Galactic cosmic rays. However, the relation between high-energy particles trapped in SNRs and cosmic rays observed at the Earth remains obscure. In this paper, we fit the spectral energy distributions of 35 SNRs with a simple one-zone emission model and analyze correlations of model parameters to uncover the evolution of high-energy particle distribution in SNRs. We find that (1) the particle distribution in general can be described by a broken power-law function with a high-energy cutoff for all SNRs; (2) the low-energy spectrum becomes harder and the break energy decreases with aging of SNRs, (3) for most middle-age SNRs, the energy loss timescale of electrons at the high-energy cutoff is approximately equal to the age of the corresponding remnant implying quenching of very high-energy electron acceleration; for young SNRs, this energy loss timescale is shorter than the age of SNRs implying continuous electon acceleration at the cutoff energy; and for a few old age SNRs, the energy loss timescale is longer than the corresponding age which may suggest escaping of higher energy particles from SNRs. Finally, we comment on the implications of these results on the SNR origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

astro-ph.HE↗