arXiv subjects

Masaaki Kusunose

Publications and source records attributed to Masaaki Kusunose.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

A Photo-Hadronic Model of the Large Scale Jets of 3C 273 and PKS 1136-135

X-ray bright knots of kpc-scale jets of several radio loud quasars have been an actively discussed issue. Among various models to explain observations, synchrotron radiation from the electron population different from radio to IR emitting electrons is promising. However, the origin of this electron population has been debated. Recently, we proposed that this electron population is produced by proton-photon collisions (mainly, Bethe-Heitler process), and we applied this model to PKS 0637-752. We found that this model works if the proton power is by an order of magnitude larger than the Eddington power. In this paper we apply this model to the X-ray emission in the knots of 3C 273 and PKS 1136-135. The target photons for electron-positron pair production are supplied by synchrotron radiation at radio-IR by primary electrons and by the active galactic nucleus (AGN) core as well as cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. The effects of the AGN photons are included for the first time in the hadronic model. Though the observed X-ray flux is obtained with the contribution of the AGN photons, the required proton power turns out to be highly super-Eddington. However, we find that our model works for a nearly Eddington proton power, if the photon density of the AGN is enhanced. This can occur if the AGN photons are more beamed toward the X-ray knots than toward our line of sight and the AGN photon frequency is shifted by the Doppler effect.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

A Photo-Hadronic Model of the Large Scale Jet of PKS 0637-752

Strong X-ray emission from large scale jets of radio loud quasars still remains an open problem. Models based on inverse Compton scattering off CMB photons by relativistically beamed jets have recently been ruled out, since Fermi LAT observations for 3C 273 and PKS 0637-752 give the upper limit far below the model prediction. Synchrotron emission from a separate electron population with multi-hundred TeV energies remains a possibility although its origin is not well known. We examine a photo-hadronic origin of such high energy electrons/positrons, assuming that protons are accelerated up to $10^{19}$ eV and produce electrons/positrons through Bethe-Heitler process and photo-pion production. These secondary electrons/positrons are injected at sufficiently high energies and produce X-rays and $γ$-rays by synchrotron radiation without conflicting with the Fermi LAT upper limits. We find that the resultant spectrum well reproduces the X-ray observations from PKS 0637-752, if the proton power is at least $10^{49} \text{erg} \, \text{s}^{-1}$, which is highly super-Eddington. It is noted that the X-ray emission originates primarily from leptons through Bethe-Heitler process, while leptons from photo-pion origin lose energy directly through synchrotron emission of multi-TeV photons rather than cascading. To avoid the overproduction of the optical flux, optical emission is primarily due to synchrotron emission of secondary leptons rather than primary electrons, or a mild degree of beaming of the jet is needed, if it is owing to the primary electrons. Proton synchrotron luminosity is a few orders of magnitude smaller.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Synchrotron Self-Compton Emission by Relativistic Electrons under Stochastic Acceleration: Application to Mrk 421 and Mrk 501

We examine the applicability of the stochastic electron acceleration to two high synchrotron peaked blazars, Mrk 421 and Mrk 501, assuming synchrotron self-Compton emission of gamma-rays. Our model considers an emitting region moving at relativistic speed, where non-thermal electrons are accelerated and attain a steady-state energy spectrum together with the photons they emit. The kinetic equations of the electrons and photons are solved numerically, given a stationary wave number spectrum of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) disturbances, which are responsible for the electron acceleration and escape. Our simple formulation appears to reproduce the two well-sampled, long-term averaged photon spectra. In order to fit the model to the emission component from the radio to the X-ray bands, we need both a steeper wave spectral index than the Kolmogorov spectrum and efficient particle escape. Although the model provides a natural explanation for the high-energy cutoff of the electron energy distribution, the derived physical parameters raise a problem with an energy budget if the MHD waves with the Alfv{é}n velocity are assumed to be the acceleration agent.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Time-Dependent Models for Blazar Emissions with the Second-Order Fermi Acceleration

The second-order Fermi acceleration (Fermi-II) driven by turbulence may be responsible for the electron acceleration in blazar jets. We test this model with time-dependent simulations. The hard electron spectrum predicted by the Fermi-II process agrees with the hard photon spectrum of 1ES 1101-232. For other blazars that show softer spectra, the Fermi-II model requires radial evolution of the electron injection rate and/or diffusion coefficient in the outflow. Such evolutions can yield a curved electron spectrum, which can reproduce the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 421 from the radio to the X-ray regime.The photon spectrum in the GeV energy range of Mrk 421 is hard to fit with a synchrotron self-Compton model. However, if we introduce an external radio photon field with a luminosity of $4.9 \times 10^{38}~\mbox{erg}~\mbox{s}^{-1}$, GeV photons are successfully produced via inverse Compton scattering. The temporal variability of the diffusion coefficient or injection rate causes flare emission. The observed synchronicity of X-ray and TeV flares implies a decrease of the magnetic field in the flaring source region.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

A Leptonic Model of Steady High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from Sgr A$^*$

Recent observations of Sgr A$^*$ by Fermi and HESS have detected steady gamma-ray emission in the GeV and TeV bands. We present a new model to explain the GeV gamma-ray emission by inverse Compton scattering by nonthermal electrons supplied by the NIR/X-ray flares of Sgr A$^*$. The escaping electrons from the flare regions accumulate in a region with a size of $\sim 10^{18}$ cm and magnetic fields of $\lesssim 10^{-4}$ G. Those electrons produce gamma-rays by inverse Compton scattering off soft photons emitted by stars and dust around the central black hole. By fitting the GeV spectrum, we find constraints on the magnetic field and the energy density of optical-UV radiation in the central 1 pc region around the supermassive black hole. While the GeV spectrum is well fitted by our model, the TeV $γ$-rays, whose spectral index is different from that of the GeV emission, may be from different sources such as pulsar wind nebulae.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Synchrotron Blob Model of Infrared and X-ray Flares from Sagittarius A$^*$

Sagittarius A$^*$ in the Galactic center harbors a supermassive black hole and exhibits various active phenomena. Besides quiescent emission in radio and submillimeter radiation, flares in the near infrared (NIR) and X-ray bands are observed to occur frequently. We study a time-dependent model of the flares, assuming that the emission is from a blob ejected from the central object. Electrons obeying a power law with the exponential cutoff are assumed to be injected in the blob for a limited time interval. The flare data of 2007 April 4 were used to determine the values of model parameters. The spectral energy distribution of flare emission is explained by nonthermal synchrotron radiation in the NIR and X-ray bands. The model light curves suggest that electron acceleration is still underway during the rising phase of the flares. GeV gamma-rays are also emitted by synchrotron self-Compton scattering, although its luminosity is not strictly constrained by the current model. If the GeV emission is faint, the plasma blob is dominated by the magnetic energy density over the electron kinetic energy density. Observations in the GeV band will clarify the origin of the blob.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2006

A Structured Leptonic Jet Model of the "Orphan" TeV Gamma-Ray Flares in TeV Blazars

The emission spectra of TeV blazars extend up to tens of TeV and the emission mechanism of the TeV $γ$-rays is explained by synchrotron self-Compton scattering in leptonic models. In these models the time variabilities of X-rays and TeV $γ$-rays are correlated. However, recent observations of 1ES 1959+650 and Mrk 421 have found the ``orphan'' TeV $γ$-ray flares, i.e., TeV $γ$-ray flares without simultaneous X-ray flares. In this paper we propose a model for the ``orphan'' TeV $γ$-ray flares, employing an inhomogeneous leptonic jet model. After a primary flare that accompanies flare-up both in X-rays and TeV $γ$-rays, radiation propagates in various directions in the comoving frame of the jet. When a dense region in the jet receives the radiation, X-rays are scattered by relativistic electrons/positrons to become TeV $γ$-rays. These $γ$-ray photons are observed as an ``orphan'' TeV $γ$-ray flare. The observed delay time between the primary and ``orphan'' flares is about two weeks and this is accounted for in our model for parameters such as $Γ= 20$, $d = 4 \times 10^{17}$cm, $α= 3$, and $η= 1$, where $Γ$ is the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet, $d$ is the distance between the central black hole and the primary flare site, $α/Γ$ is the angle between the jet axis and the direction of the motion of the dense region that scatters incoming X-rays produced by the primary flare, and $η/Γ$ is the angle between the jet axis and the line of sight.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Constraining the Emission Properties of TeV Blazar H1426+428 by the Synchrotron-Self-Compton Model

H1426+428 is one of blazars that are observed by $γ$-rays in the TeV region. Because TeV $γ$-rays from distant sources are subject to attenuation by the extragalactic background light (EBL) via electron-positron pair production, the intrinsic spectrum of the TeV $γ$-rays should be inferred by using the models of radiation processes and EBL spectrum. We set constraints on the physical condition of H1426+428 with the synchrotron-self-Compton model applying several EBL models. We find that the emission region of H1426+428 is moving toward us with the bulk Lorentz factor of $\sim 20$ and that its magnetic field strength is $\sim 0.1$ G. These properties are similar to other TeV blazars such as Mrk 421 and Mrk 501. However, the ratio of the energy density of nonthermal electrons to that of the magnetic fields is about 190 and fairly larger than those of Mrk 421 and Mrk 501, which are about 5 -- 20. It is also found that the intensity of EBL in the middle and near infrared wavelengths should be low, i.e., the intensity at 10 $μ$m is about 1 nW m$^{-2}$ sr$^{-1}$ to account for the observed TeV $γ$-ray flux. Because the spectral data of H1426+428 in X-rays and $γ$-rays used in our analysis were not obtained simultaneously, further observations of TeV blazars are necessary to make the constraints on EBL more stringent.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Compton scattering in the Klein-Nishina Regime Revisited

In blazars such as 3C 279, GeV gamma-rays are thought to be produced by inverse Compton scattering of soft photons injected from external sources into the jet. Because of the large bulk Lorentz factor of the jet, the energy of soft photons is Doppler shifted in the comoving frame of the jet, and the scattering is likely to occur in the Klein-Nishina regime. Although the Klein-Nishina effects are well known, the properties of the electron and emission spectra have not been studied in detail in the environment of blazars. We solve the kinetic equation of electrons with the spatial escape term of the electrons to obtain the electron energy spectrum in the jet and calculated the observed emission spectrum. In calculations of the Compton losses in the Klein-Nishina regime, we use the discrete loss formalism to take into account the significant energy loss in a single scattering. Although the scattering cross section decreases because of the Klein-Nishina effects, ample gamma rays are emitted by inverse Compton scattering. When the injection spectrum of electrons obeys a power law, the electron spectrum does not follow a broken power law, as a result of the Klein-Nishina effects, and a large number of high-energy electrons remain in the emitting region.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

The Electron Spectrum in 3C279 and the Observed Emission Spectrum

The emission mechanisms of the blazar 3C 279 are studied by solving the kinetic equations of electrons and photons in a relativistically moving blob. The gamma-ray spectral energy distribution (SED) is fitted by inverse Compton scattering of external photons. The bulk Lorentz factor of the emitting blob is found to be 25, and the magnetic field is found to be 0.3 G. GeV gamma-rays are well explained by inefficiently cooled electrons because of the Klein-Nishina effects. The electron spectrum is not a broken power law with a steeper spectrum above a break energy, which is often used to fit the observed SED. The kinetic energy density of the nonthermal electrons dominates the magnetic energy density; this result is qualitatively the same as that for TeV blazars such as Mrk 421 and Mrk 501. The gamma-ray luminosity of 3C 279 is often observed to increase rapidly. We show that one of the better sampled gamma-ray flares can be explain by the internal shock model.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Energetics of Tev Blazars and Physical Constraints on their Emission Regions

Using multi-frequency spectra from TeV blazars in quiescent states, we obtain the physical parameters of the emission region of blazars within the framework of the one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model. We numerically calculate the steady-state energy spectra of electrons by self-consistently taking into account the effects of radiative cooling with a proper account of the Klein-Nishina effects. Here electrons are assumed to be injected with a power-law spectrum and to escape on a finite time scale, which naturally leads to the existence of a break energy scale. Although we do not use time variabilities but utilize a model of electron escape to constrain the size of the emission region, the resultant size turns out to be similar to that obtained based on time variabilities. Through detailed comparison of the predicted emission spectra with observations, we find that for Mrk 421, Mrk 501, and PKS 2155--304, the energy density of relativistic electrons is about an order of magnitude larger than that of magnetic fields with an uncertainty within a factor of a few.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Blob Ejection from Advection-dominated Accretion Flow II: the Multiwavelength Properties of Light Curves

It has been argued that blobs ejected from advection-dominated accretion flow through the accretion-ejection instability undergo expansion due to their high internal energy density. The expanding blobs interact with their surroundings and form strong shock, which accelerates a group of electrons to be relativistic. Then flares are formed. This model has advances in two aspects: shock acceleration and self-consistent injection. We derive an analytical formula of the injection function of relativistic electrons based on the Sedov's law. We calculate the time-dependent spectrum of relativistic electrons in such an expanding blob. The light-travel effect, the evolution of the electron spectrum due to energy loss, and the escape of relativistic electrons from the radiating region are considered, as well as the expansion (at sub-relativistic speed) of the coasting blob. A large number of light curves spanning wide spaces of parameters have been given in this paper. Regarding the symmetry, relative amplitude, duration of a flare, and the time lag between peak fluxes, we find four basic kinds of light curves for the non-expanding blob, and seven basic kinds of light curves for the expanding blob. We also calculate the evolution of the photon spectrum from both non-expanding and expanding blobs. Different shapes in the phase of decreasing luminosity are then obtained for different parameter values. The photon index, $α_{\rm ph}$, keeps constant for non-expanding blobs when luminosity decreases, whereas $α_{\rm ph}$ continues to decrease after the luminosity reaches its maximum for expanding blobs. It is expected that we can extract the information of ejected blobs from the observed light curves based on the present model.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Blob ejection from advection-dominated accretion flow: observational consequences

There is increasing evidence for the presence of an optically thin advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) in low luminosity active galactic nuclei and radio-loud quasars. The present paper is devoted to explore the fate of a blob ejected from an ADAF, and to discuss its observational consequences. It is inevitable for the ejected blob to drastically expand into its surroundings. Consequently, it is expected that a group of relativistic electrons should be accelerated, which may lead to nonthermal flares, since a strong shock will be formed by the interaction between the blob and its surroundings. Then the blob cools down efficiently, leading to the appearance of recombination lines about $10^5$s after its ejection from an ADAF. We apply this model to NGC 4258 for some observational prediction, and to PKS 2149--306 for the explanation of observational evidence. Future simultaneous observations of recombination X-ray lines and continuum emission are highly desired to test the present model.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Gamma-rays from Galactic Black Hole Candidates with Stochastic Particle Acceleration

We consider stochastic particle acceleration in plasmas around stellar mass black holes to explain the emissions above 1 MeV from Galactic black hole candidates. We show that for certain parameter regimes, electrons can overcome Coulomb losses and be accelerated beyond the thermal distribution to form a new population, whose distribution is broad and usually not a power law; the peak energy of the distribution is determined by the balance between acceleration and cooling, with particles piling up around it. Radiation by inverse Compton scattering off the thermal (from background) and non-thermal (produced by acceleration) particles can in principle explain the hard X-ray to gamma-ray emissions from black hole candidates. We present model fits of Cyg X-1 and GRO J0422 in 50 keV -- 5 MeV region observed with OSSE and COMPTEL.

astro-ph↗