arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Paredes.
I review here some of the main observational features in microquasars and AGNs as sources of high-energy gamma-rays as well as some of the current models that try to explain the emission in the gamma-ray domain.
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.
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.
Microquasars (MQs) are potential candidates to produce a non-negligible fraction of the observed galactic cosmic rays. The protons accelerated at the jet termination shock interact with the interstellar medium and may produce extended emission detectable at different energy bands through several processes: neutral pion-decay produce high-energy and very high-energy gamma-rays, secondary electrons produced by charged pion-decay generate synchrotron and bremsstrahlung emission. In addition, the jets of MQs themselves are likely sources of gamma-rays. We discuss about the association between the intrinsic and the indirect emission coming from these objects.
Microquasars (MQs) present emission over the whole spectrum, from radio wavelengths to gamma-rays. The microquasar spectral energy distribution is very complex, being a signature of the different physical processes that generate the radiation emitted by these objects. In this work, we estimate the amount of broad-band emission produced by relativistic protons, released from the jet of a MQ, interacting with high density regions of the ISM. We show that a two components source, the microquasar itself and the region of interaction between the jets and the ISM, could be unveiled by the new instruments at high-energy and very high-energy gamma-rays.
Microquasars are sources of very high-energy gamma-rays and, very probably, high-energy gamma-ray emitters. We propose a model for a jet that can allow to give accurate observational predictions for jet emission at different energies and provide with physical information of the object using multiwavelength data.
To confirm, or rule out, the possible hot spot nature of two previously detected radio sources in the vicinity of the Cygnus X-3 microquasar. We present the results of a radio and near infrared exploration of the several arc-minute field around the well known galactic relativistic jet source Cygnus X-3 using the Very Large Array and the Calar Alto 3.5~m telescope. The data this paper is based on do not presently support the hot spot hypothesis. Instead, our new observations suggest that these sources are most likely background or foreground objects. Actually, none of them appears to be even barely extended as would be expected if they were part of a bow shock structure. Our near infrared observations also include a search for extended emission in the Bracket $γ$ (2.166 $μ$m) and $H_{2}$ (2.122 $μ$m) lines as possible tracers of shocked gas in the Cygnus X-3 surroundings. The results were similarly negative and the corresponding upper limits are reported.
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.
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.
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.
The population of high energy and very high energy gamma-ray sources, detected with EGRET and the new generation of ground-based Cherenkov telescopes, conforms a reduced but physically important sample. Most of these sources are extragalactic (e.g., blazars), while among the galactic ones there are pulsars and SN remnants. The microquasar LS 5039, previously proposed to be associated with an EGRET source by Paredes et al. (2000), has recently been detected at TeV energies, confirming that microquasars should be regarded as a class of high energy gamma-ray sources. To model and understand how the energetic photons are produced and escape from LS 5039 it is crucial to unveil the nature of the compact object, which remains unknown. Here we present new intermediate-dispersion spectroscopy of this source which, combined with values reported in the literature, provides an orbital period of 3.90603+/-0.00017 d, a mass function f(M)=0.0053+/-0.0009 M_sun, and an eccentricity e=0.35+/-0.04. Atmosphere model fitting to the spectrum of the optical companion, together with our new distance estimate of d=2.5+/-0.1 kpc, yields R_opt=9.3+0.7-0.6 R_sun, log (L_opt/L_sun)=5.26+/-0.06, and M_opt=22.9+3.4-2.9 M_sun. These, combined with our dynamical solution and the assumption of pseudo-synchronization, yield an inclination i=24.9+/-2.8 degree and a compact object mass M_X=3.7+1.3-1.0 M_sun. This is above neutron star masses for most of the standard equations of state and, therefore, we propose that the compact object in LS 5039 is a black hole. We finally discuss about the implications of our orbital solution and new parameters of the binary system on the CNO products, the accretion/ejection energetic balance, the SN explosion scenario, and the behaviour of the TeV emission with the new orbital period.
Microquasars (MQs) are galactic objects with relativistic jets that constitute a source population which can be responsible for production of a non-negligible fraction of the observed galactic cosmic rays. These relativistic protons, associated with the termination of the jet, interact with the interstellar medium and, at certain surrounding conditions, may lead to production of detectable fluxes of high-energy and very high-energy gamma-rays. This radiation is accompanied by the broad-band emission of secondary electrons from decays of $π^\pm$-mesons produced through synchrotron, bremstrahlung and inverse Compton process. The features of broad-band emission initiated by proton-proton (pp) interactions in such a scenario is discussed in the context of the strategy of search for counterparts of high-energy and very high-energy gamma-ray sources in the galactic plane.
The properties of the orbit and the donor star in the high mass X-ray binary microquasar LS 5039 indicate that accretion processes should mainly occur via a radiatively driven wind. In such a scenario, significant X-ray variability would be expected due to the eccentricity of the orbit. The source has been observed at X-rays by several missions, although with a poor coverage that prevents to reach any conclusion about orbital variability. Therefore, we conducted RossiXTE observations of the microquasar system LS 5039 covering a full orbital period of 4 days. Individual observations are well fitted with an absorbed power-law plus a Gaussian at 6.7 keV, to account for iron line emission that is probably a diffuse background feature. In addition, we have taken into account that the continuum is also affected by significant diffuse background contamination. Our results show moderate power-law flux variations on timescales of days, as well as the presence of miniflares on shorter timescales. The new orbital ephemeris of the system recently obtained by Casares et al. have allowed us to show, for the first time, that an increase of emission is seen close to the periastron passage, as expected in an accretion scenario. Moreover, the detected orbital variability is a factor of ~4 smaller than the one expected by using a simple wind accretion model, and we suggest that an accretion disk around the compact object could be responsible for this discrepancy. On the other hand, significant changes in the photon index are also observed clearly anti-correlated with the flux variations. We interpret the overall X-ray spectral characteristics of LS 5039 in the context of X-ray radiation produced by inverse Compton and/or synchrotron processes in the jet of this microquasar.
We present the results of a deep search for associated radio features in the vicinity of the microquasar Cygnus X-3. The motivation behind is to find out evidence for interaction between its relativistic jets and the surrounding interstellar medium, which could eventually allow us to perform calorimetry of the total energy released by this microquasar during its flaring lifetime. Remarkably, two radio sources with mJy emission level at centimeter wavelengths have been detected in excellent alignment with the position angle of the inner radio jets. We propose that these objects could be the hot spots where the relativitic outflow collides with the ambient gas in analogy with Fanaroff-Riley II radio galaxies. These candidate hot spots are within a few arc-minutes of Cygnus X-3 and, if physically related, the full linear extent of the jet would reach tens of parsecs. We discuss here the evidence currently available to support this hypothesis based on both archival data and our own observations.
New optical spectroscopy of the HMXB microquasar LSI +61 303 is presented. Eccentric orbital fits to our radial velocity measurements yield updated orbital parameters in good agreement with previous work. Our orbital solution indicates that the periastron passage occurs at radio phase 0.23 and the X-ray/radio outbursts are triggered 2.5--4 days after the compact star passage. The spectrum of the optical star is consistent with a B0 V spectral type and contributes ~65 percent of the total light, the remaining due to emission by a circumstellar disc. We also measure the projected rotational velocity to be v sin i = 113 km/s.
Microquasars are potential candidates to produce a non-negligible fraction of the observed galactic cosmic rays. The protons accelerated at the jet termination shock interact with the interstellar medium and may produce detectable fluxes of extended emission at different energy bands: high-energy and very high-energy gamma-rays produced by neutral pion-decay, synchrotron and bremsstrahlung emission in a wide energy range generated by the secondary electrons produced by charged pion-decay. We discuss the association between this scenario and some of the unidentified EGRET sources in the galactic plane.
LS I +61 303 is one of the most studied X-ray binary systems because of its two peculiarities: On the one hand being the probable counterpart of the variable gamma ray source 2CG 135+01 (Gregory and Taylor 1978; Tavani et al. 1998) and on the other hand being a periodic radio source (Taylor and Gregory 1982). The recent discovery of a radio emitting jet extending ca. 200 AU at both sides of a central core (Massi et al. 2004) in all evidence has shown the occurrence of accretion/ejection processes in this system. However, the radio outbursts do not occur at periastron passage, where the accretion is at its maximum, but several days later. In addition, when the gamma-ray emission of 2CG 135+01 is examined along the orbital phase of LS I +61 303 one sees that this emission seems to peak at periastron passage (Massi 2004). Here in detail we analyse the trend of the gamma-ray data versus orbital phase and discuss the delay between peaks at gamma-rays and in the radio band within the framework of a two-peak accretion/ejection model proposed by Taylor et al. (1992) and further developed by Marti' and Paredes (1995).
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.