arXiv subjects

Nayantara Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to Nayantara Gupta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

TeV-PeV Gamma-ray and Neutrino Emission in the Galactic Plane

We model the LHAASO observation of diffuse TeV--PeV $γ$ rays in the Galactic plane as the sum of unresolved leptonic emission from pulsar wind nebulae and hadronic emission from supernova-injected cosmic-ray (CR) protons. We investigate uncertainties in the radial distribution of the infrared component of the interstellar radiation field (ISRF), using profiles with enhanced photon densities in the inner Galaxy. We quantify their effects on $γγ$ attenuation of the diffuse $γ$-ray emission. The alternative ISRF models affect the LHAASO diffuse fit only modestly, as the analysis excludes the Galactic center direction and applies source masks in the Galactic plane. Using the hadronic normalization inferred from the LHAASO fit for various ISRF models, the associated $pp$ neutrino emission remains consistent with the IceCube all-sky measurement, while the flux from the Galactic Ridge region remains compatible with current ANTARES and KM3NeT constraints. Since the modified infrared profiles differ most strongly toward the inner Galaxy, we also examine their impact on inverse-Compton emission from point sources near the central molecular zone. These same models can noticeably modify the hadronic and inverse-Compton $γ$-ray emission above $\sim\!10$ TeV from sources in the central region. Future KM3NeT observations, combined with $γ$-ray measurements of individual sources, can probe the inner-Galaxy CR population and constrain the radial distribution of the ISRF near the Galactic Center.

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arXiv2025

Unraveling the Nature of HAWC J1844-034 with Fermi-LAT Data Analysis and Multi-wavelength Modeling

The extended ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray source HAWC J1844-034 is closely associated with two other sources, HAWC J1843-032 and HWC J1846-025. Moreover, other gamma-ray observatories like H.E.S.S., LHAASO, and Tibet AS$_γ$ have detected UHE gamma-ray sources whose spatial positions coincide with the position of HAWC J1844-034. The UHE gamma-ray data from several observatories help analyse the spectral features of this source in detail at TeV energies. Of the four pulsars near HAWC J1844-034, PSR J1844-0346 is closest to it and possibly supplies the cosmic-ray leptons to power this source. We have analysed the Fermi-LAT data to explore this source's morphology and identify its spectral feature in the Fermi-LAT energy band. After removing the contribution of the pulsar to the gamma-ray spectral energy distribution by pulsar phased analysis, we have obtained upper limits on the photon flux and identified the GeV counterpart PS J1844.2-0342 in the Fermi-LAT energy band with more than 5$σ$ significance, which may be a pulsar wind nebula (PWN). Finally, the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution is modeled, assuming HAWC J1844-034 is a PWN.

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arXiv2025

Explaining the Origin of TeV Gamma Rays from M87 During High and Low States

The detection of very high-energy gamma-rays from M87 can provide crucial insights into particle acceleration and radiation mechanisms in jets. The recent observations by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) detector extend the energy range of TeV gamma-ray astronomy, and also the variability study to the TeV energy domain. We have modelled the low state and flare state multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions of M87 within a time-dependent framework. In our model, the low state gamma-ray flux results from the emissions from the sub-parsec and the kilo-parsec scale jets of M87, whereas the flare state gamma-ray flux is mainly produced in the sub-parsec scale jet. We have shown that the spectral and temporal features of the TeV gamma-ray spectrum of M87 are consistent with this two-zone model, where the contribution from the sub-parsec scale jet significantly increases during the flare state.

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arXiv2025

Cosmogenic Origin of KM3-230213A: Delayed Gamma-Ray Emission from A Cosmic-Ray Transient

The highest-energy cosmic neutrino detected by the ARCA detector of KM3NeT has reignited the quest to pinpoint the sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs; $E\gtrsim 0.1$ EeV). By uncovering the associated multimessenger signals, we investigate the origin of the 220 PeV $ν_μ$ event KM3-230213A from an unknown transient that accelerated cosmic rays to $\sim 10$ EeV. Unlike an astrophysical origin, where the $ν_μ$ is produced inside the source, here we consider UHECR protons that escape the source interact with the cosmic background radiation, producing a PeV-EeV cosmogenic neutrino spectrum. The secondary $e^\pm$ and $γ$-rays initiate an electromagnetic cascade, resulting in a cosmogenic $γ$-ray spectrum. The latter peaks at a delayed time of $\gtrsim 10^4$ years compared to the light travel time from the transient to observer, due to deflection of charged particles in the extragalactic magnetic field (EGMF). Our results shed light on the nature of the UHECR source for the $ν_μ$ event and provide crucial insights into the detection of multi-TeV $γ$-rays of cosmogenic origin from similar past cosmological transients. Using the $γ$-ray sensitivity of currently operating and next-generation imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, the flux and time-delay distribution can constrain the source distance. We further show that the detection of such a $γ$-ray signal above the background depends on the EGMF strength. Together with the non-detection of coincident spatial or temporal photon counterparts at the current epoch, this detection is the first compelling candidate for a sub-EeV cosmogenic neutrino.

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arXiv2025

Cosmic Clues from Amaterasu: Blazar-Driven Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays?

The detection of the Amaterasu event of energy 244 EeV by the Telescope Array, one of the most energetic ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs; $E\gtrsim0.1$ EeV) observed to date, invites scrutiny of its potential source. We investigate whether the nearby blazar PKS~1717+177 at redshift $z=0.137$, located within $2.5^\circ$ of the reconstructed arrival direction, could explain the event under a proton-primary hypothesis. Using a one-zone jet model, we fit the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution of the source, incorporating both leptonic and hadronic cascade emissions from photohadronic interactions inside the jet. Our model supports a cosmic-ray origin of the very-high-energy ($\varepsilon_γ\gtrsim 100$ GeV) $γ$-ray flux and predicts a subdominant neutrino flux, one order of magnitude lower than from TXS~0506+056. Under Lorentz invariance violation, UHECRs escaping the blazar jet above a specific energy can propagate unattenuated over hundreds of Mpc due to an increase in energy loss length for certain parameter choices. In such a scenario, the Amaterasu event can have a plausible origin from this blazar. Our analysis indicates negligible deflection in the Galactic magnetic field, implying a strong extragalactic magnetic field is required. Our findings provide a compelling multimessenger framework linking UHECRs, $γ$-rays, and neutrinos and motivate targeted searches by current and future high-energy neutrino telescopes during increased $γ$-ray or X-ray activity of this blazar.

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arXiv2025

Measuring the Intensity of the Interstellar Radiation Field with Ultra-high Energy $γ$ ray Spectra

Our understanding of the intensity distribution of the interstellar radiation background is based on the observational data from IRAS, COBE-FIRAS and Planck. The intensity of this radiation field increases rapidly towards the Galactic plane and is the highest near the Galactic centre due to the high density of stars and dust. However, a precise determination of the variations of this radiation field with spatial and angular coordinates is not feasible observationally. We explore how future studies of gamma-ray spectra from numerous ultra-high-energy gamma-ray sources can indirectly probe variations in the interstellar radiation field's intensity across different distances from the Galactic centre and across Galactic latitudes and longitudes. This study is crucial for making self-consistent predictions of high energy gamma-ray fluxes from Galactic sources detected by observatories like LHAASO, Tibet AS$_γ$ and the next-generation gamma-ray telescopes.

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arXiv2024

Multiple Emission Regions in Jets of Low Luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus in NGC 4278

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has detected very high energy gamma rays from the LINER galaxy NGC 4278, which has a low luminosity active galactic nucleus, and symmetric mildly relativistic S-shaped twin jets detected by radio observations. Few low-luminosity active galactic nuclei are detected in gamma rays due to their faintness. Earlier, several radio-emitting components were detected in the jets of NGC 4278. We model their radio emission with synchrotron emission of ultra-relativistic electrons to estimate the strength of the magnetic field inside these components within a time-dependent framework after including the ages of the different components. We show that the synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton emission by these components cannot explain the Swift X-ray data and the LHAASO gamma-ray data from NGC 4278. We suggest that a separate component in one of the jets is responsible for the high energy emission whose age, size, magnetic field and the spectrum of the ultra-relativistic electrons inside it have been estimated after fitting the multi-wavelength data of NGC 4278 with the sum of the spectral energy distributions from the radio components and the high energy component. We note that the radio components of NGC 4278 are larger than the high-energy component which has also been observed in several high-luminosity active galactic nuclei.

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arXiv2023

Dissecting the broadband emission from γ-ray blazar PKS 0735+178 in search of neutrinos

The origin of the diffuse flux of TeV-PeV astrophysical neutrinos is still unknown. The $γ$-ray blazar PKS 0735+178, located outside the 90\% localization region at 2.2 deg from the best-fit IC-211208A event, was found to be flaring across all wavebands. In addition to leptonic synchrotron (SYN) and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission, we invoke photohadronic ($pγ$) interactions inside the jet to model the spectral energy distribution (SED) and neutrino emission. We analyze the 100 days $γ$-ray and X-ray data and 10 days around the neutrino event is chosen to generate the broadband SED. The temporal light curve indicates that the source was in a high state in optical, UV, $γ$-ray, and X-ray frequencies during the neutrino detection epoch. In the one-zone lepto-hadronic model, the SSC photons do not provide enough seed photons for $pγ$ interactions to explain the neutrino event. However, including an external photon field yields a neutrino event rate of 0.12 in 100 days, for the IceCube detector, using physically motivated values of the magnetic field, an external photon field peaking at optical wavelength, and other jet parameters. The radiation from secondary electrons at X-ray energies severely constrains the neutrino flux to a lower value than found in previous studies. Moreover, the flux of high-energy $γ$-rays at GeV energies from the decay of neutral pions is subdominant at the high-energy peak of the SED, suggesting a higher correlation of neutrinos flux with X-ray flux is plausible.

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arXiv2023

HESS J1809-193: Gamma-Ray Emission by Cosmic Rays from Past Explosion

The very high energy gamma-ray source HESS J1809-193 has been detected by the LHAASO and HAWC observatory beyond 100 TeV energy. It is an interesting candidate for exploring the underlying mechanisms of gamma-ray production due to the presence of supernova remnants, pulsar and molecular clouds close to it. We have considered the injection of the energetic cosmic rays from a past explosion, whose reminiscent may be SNR G011.0-00.0, which is located within the extended gamma-ray source HESS J1809-193. We explain the multi-wavelength data from the region of HESS J1809-193 with synchrotron, inverse Compton, bremsstrahlung emission of cosmic ray electrons and secondary gamma-ray production in interactions of cosmic ray protons with the cold protons in the local molecular clouds within a time-dependent framework including the diffusion loss of cosmic rays. The observational data has been modelled with the secondary photons produced by the time-evolved cosmic ray spectrum, assuming the age of the explosion is 4500 years.

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arXiv2023

Unraveling the Emission Mechanism of the HBL Source Mrk 180 with Multi-Wavelength Data

Markarian (Mrk) 180 is a High frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object or HBL object, located at a redshift of 0.045 and a potential candidate for high-energy cosmic ray acceleration. In this work, we have done a temporal and spectral study using Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) $γ$-ray data, collected over 12.8 years. In the case of the temporal study, the 12.8 years long, 30-day binned, Fermi-LAT $γ$-ray light curve does not show any significant enhancement of the flux. To understand the underlying physical mechanism, we focused our study on multi-wavelength spectral analysis. We constructed multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution (MWSED) using Swift X-ray, ultraviolet & optical, and X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) data, which have been analysed thoroughly. The SED has been modelled with three different models: (i) pure leptonic scenario and lepto-hadronic scenario where we considered two types of lepto-hadronic interactions (ii) line-of-sight interactions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR; $E\gtrsim 10^{17}$ eV) with the cosmic background radiation and (iii) interaction between relativistic protons with the cold proton within the blazar jet. In this literature, we have done a detailed comparative study between all these three models. In an earlier study, Mrk 180 was associated with the Telescope Array (TA) hotspot of UHECRs at $E>57$ EeV which motivates us to check whether Mrk 180 can be a source of UHECRs, contributing to the TA hotspot. From our study, we find, for conservative strengths of the extragalactic magnetic field, Mrk 180 is unlikely to be a source of UHECR events.

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arXiv2023

X-ray flares in the long-term light curve of low-luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus M81*

Most active galactic nuclei at the center of the nearby galaxies have super-massive black holes accreting at sub-Eddington rates through hot accretion flows or radiatively inefficient accretion flows, which efficiently produce jets. The association of radio and X-ray flares with the knot ejection from M81* inspires us to model its multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) during these flares to constrain the physical parameters of the jet. Moreover, we construct a long-term light curve in X-rays to identify the flares in the available data and constrain the jet parameters during those periods. The jet activity may vary on short and long time scales, which may produce flares in different frequency bands. The SEDs from radio to X-ray during the quiescent as well as flaring states are found to be satisfactorily explained by synchrotron emission of relativistic electrons from a single zone. The variation in the values of the jet parameters during the different states is shown and compared with high-synchrotron peaked blazars.

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arXiv2023

Exploring the Emission Mechanisms of Mrk 180 with long term X-ray and $γ$-ray data

Markarian (Mrk) 180 is a BL Lacertae (BL Lac) object located at a redshift of 0.045 and a potential candidate for high-energy cosmic ray acceleration. We have analyzed the Fermi Large Area Telescope (\textit{Fermi}-LAT) $γ$-ray data of Mrk 180 collected over a period of 12.8 years and found no significant enhancement in the flux from the long-term $γ$-ray light curve. We have also analyzed Swift X-ray, ultraviolet \& optical, and X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) data to construct the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution (SED). The SED has been modeled with one-zone pure leptonic and lepto-hadronic scenarios to explain the underlying physics of multi-wavelength emission. The pure leptonic model and the two lepto-hadronic models, viz., (i) line-of-sight interactions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR; $E\gtrsim 10^{17}$ eV) with the cosmic background radiation and (ii) the interactions of relativistic protons with the cold protons in the jet, have been compared in our work. Moreover, an earlier study has associated Mrk 180 with the Telescope Array (TA) hotspot of UHECRs at $E>57$ EeV. This speculation motivates us to check whether ultrahigh energy protons and iron nuclei can reach the earth from Mrk 180. After comparing the results of our simulation with the current observational data, we find that Mrk 180 is unlikely to be a source of the UHECR events contributing to the TA hotspot for conservative strengths of extragalactic magnetic fields.

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arXiv2022

Implications of multiwavelength spectrum on cosmic-ray acceleration in blazar TXS 0506+056

MAGIC collaboration has recently analyzed data from a long-term multiwavelength campaign of the $γ$-ray blazar TXS 0506+056. In December 2018, it was flaring in the very-high-energy (VHE; $E>100$ GeV) $γ$-ray band, but no simultaneous neutrino event was detected. We model the observed spectral energy distribution (SED), using a one-zone leptohadronic emission. We estimate the neutrino flux through the restriction from observed X-ray flux on the secondary radiation due to hadronic cascade, initiated by protons with energy $E_p \lesssim 0.1$ EeV. We assume ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs; $E\gtrsim0.1$ EeV), with the same slope and normalization as the low-energy spectrum, are accelerated in the jet but escape efficiently. We propagate the UHE protons in a random, turbulent extragalactic magnetic field (EGMF). The leptonic emission from the jet dominates the GeV range, whereas the cascade emission from CR interactions in the jet contributes substantially to the X-ray and VHE range. The line-of-sight cosmogenic $γ$ rays from UHECRs produce a hardening in the VHE spectrum. Our model prediction for neutrinos from the jet is consistent with the 7.5-year flux limit by IceCube and shows no variability during the MAGIC campaign. Therefore, we infer that the correlation between GeV-TeV $γ$-rays and neutrino flare is minimal. The luminosity in CRs limits the cosmogenic $γ$-ray flux, which, in turn, bounds the RMS value of the EGMF to $\gtrsim 10^{-5}$ nG. The cosmogenic neutrino flux is lower than the IceCube-Gen2 detection potential for 10 yrs of observation. VHE $γ$-ray variability should arise from increased activity inside the jet; thus, detecting steady flux at multi-TeV energies may indicate UHECR acceleration. Upcoming $γ$-ray imaging telescopes such as the CTA will be able to constrain the cosmogenic $γ$-ray component in the SED of TXS 0506+056.

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arXiv2022

Multiwavelength temporal and spectral study of TeV blazar 1ES 1727+502 during 2014 to 2021

One of the most important questions in blazar physics is the origin of broadband emission and fast-flux variation. In this work, we studied the broadband temporal and spectral properties of a TeV blazar 1ES 1727+502 and explore the one-zone synchrotron-self Compton (SSC) model to fit the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED). We collected the long-term (2014-2021) multiband data which includes both the low and high flux states of the source. The entire light curve is divided into three segments of different flux states and the best-fit parameters obtained by broadband SED modeling corresponding to three flux states were then compared. The TeV blazar 1ES 1727+502 has been observed to show the brightest flaring episode in X-ray followed by optical-UV and gamma-ray. The fractional variability estimated during various segments behaves differently in multiple wavebands, suggesting a complex nature of emission in this source. This source has shown a range of variability time from days scale to month scale during this long period of observations between 2014-2021. A "harder-when-brighter" trend is not prominent in X-ray but seen in optical-UV and an opposite trend is observed in gamma-ray. The complex nature of correlation among various bands is observed. The SED modeling suggests that the one-zone SSC emission model can reproduce the broadband spectrum in the energy range from optical-UV to very high energy gamma-ray.

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arXiv2022

Exploring the hadronic origin of LHAASO J1908+0621

Recent observations by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) have paved the way for the observational detection of PeVatrons in the Milky Way Galaxy, thus revolutionizing the field of $γ$-ray astrophysics. In this paper, we study one such detected source, LHAASO J1908+0621, and explore the origin of multi-TeV $γ$-ray emission from this source. A middle-aged radio supernova remnant SNR G40.5-0.5 and a GeV pulsar PSR J1907+0602 are co-spatial with LHAASO J1908+0621. Dense molecular clouds are also found to be associated with SNR G40.5-0.5. We explain the multi-TeV $γ$-ray emission observed from the direction of LHAASO J1908+0621, by the hadronic interaction between accelerated protons that escaped from the SNR shock front and cold protons present inside the dense molecular clouds, and the leptonic emission from the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) associated with the pulsar J1907+0602. Moreover, we explain lower energy $γ$-ray emission by considering the radiative cooling of the electrons that escaped from SNR G40.5-0.5. Finally, the combined lepto-hadronic scenario was used to explain the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) of LHAASO J1908+0621. Although not yet significant, an ICECUBE hotspot of neutrino emission is spatially associated with LHAASO J1908+0621, indicating a possible hadronic contribution. In this paper, we show that if a hadronic component is present in LHAASO J1908+0621, then the second generation ICECUBE observatory will detect neutrino from this source.

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arXiv2022

Galactic molecular clouds as sources of secondary positrons

Secondary positrons produced inside Galactic Molecular Clouds (GMCs) can significantly contribute to the observed positron spectrum on Earth. Multi-wavelength data of GMCs are particularly useful in building this model. A very recent survey implemented the optical/IR dust extinction measurements to trace 567 GMCs within 4 kpc of Earth, residing in the Galactic plane. We use the updated catalog of GMCs reported in recent papers, distributed in the Galactic plane, to find the secondary positrons produced in them in interactions of cosmic rays with molecular hydrogen. Moreover, by analyzing the \textit{Fermi}-LAT data, new GMCs have been discovered near the Galactic plane. We also include some of these GMCs closest to the Earth, where cosmic ray interactions produce secondaries. It has been speculated earlier that cosmic rays may be reaccelerated in some GMCs. We select 7 GMCs out of 567 GMCs recently reported, within 4 kpc of Earth, where reacceleration due to magnetized turbulence is assumed. We include a hardened component of secondary positrons produced from the interaction of reaccelerated CRs in those 7 GMCs. We use publicly available code \texttt{DRAGON} for our simulation setup to study CR propagation in the Galaxy and show that the observed positron spectrum can be well explained in the energy range of 1 to 1000 GeV by our self-consistent model.

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arXiv2022

Possible TeV $γ$-ray binary origin of HESS J1828-099

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) observatory has carried a deep survey of the Galactic plane, in the course of which the existence of a significant number of ($\sim$ 78) TeV $γ$-ray sources was confirmed, many of which remain unidentified. HESS J1828-099 is a point-like (Gaussian stand. dev. $<$ 0.07$^{\circ}$) unidentified source among the 17 confirmed point-like sources in the H.E.S.S. Galactic Plane Survey (HGPS) catalog. This source is also unique because it does not seem to have any apparent association with any object detected at other wavelengths. We investigate the nature and association of HESS J1828-099 with multi-wavelength observational data. A high mass X-Ray binary (HMXB) - comprising of pulsar XTE J1829-098 and a companion Be star - has been observed earlier in the X-ray and infrared bands, 14$'$ away from HESS J1828-099. With 12 years of $\textit{Fermi}$-LAT $γ$-ray data, we explore the possibility of 4FGL J1830.2-1005 being the GeV counterpart of HESS J1828-099. Within the RXTE confidence region, a steep spectrum ($α_{radio}$ = - 0.746 $\pm$ 0.284), plausible counterpart is detected in data from existing radio frequency surveys. In this letter, we probe for the first time using multi-wavelength data, whether HESS J1828-099, 4FGL J1830.2-1005 and the HMXB system have a common origin. Our study indicates that HESS J1828-099 might be a TeV high mass $γ$-ray binary source.

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arXiv2022

Cosmogenic gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes from blazars associated with IceCube events

Blazars constitute the vast majority of extragalactic $γ$-ray sources. They can also contribute a sizable fraction of the diffuse astrophysical neutrinos detected by IceCube. In the past few years, the real-time alert system of IceCube has led to multiwavelength follow-up of very high-energy neutrino events of plausible astrophysical origin. Spatial and temporal coincidences of these neutrino events with the high-activity state of $γ$-ray blazars can provide a unique opportunity to decipher cosmic-ray interactions in the relativistic jets. Assuming that blazars accelerate cosmic rays up to ultrahigh energies ($E>10^{17}$ eV), we calculate the "guaranteed" contribution to the line-of-sight cosmogenic $γ$-ray and neutrino fluxes from four blazars associated with IceCube neutrino events. Detection of these fluxes by upcoming $γ$-ray imaging telescopes like CTA and/or by planned neutrino detectors like IceCube-Gen2 may lead to the first direct signature(s) of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) sources. We find that detection of the cosmogenic neutrino fluxes from the blazars TXS~0506+056, PKS~1502+106 and GB6~J1040+0617 would require UHECR luminosity $\gtrsim 10$ times the inferred neutrino luminosity from the associated IceCube events. Blazars TXS~0506+056, 3HSP~J095507.9+355101 and GB6~J1040+0617 can be detected by CTA if the UHECR luminosity is $\gtrsim 10$ times the neutrino luminosity inferred from the associated IceCube events. Given their relatively low redshifts and hence total energetics, TXS~0506+056 and 3HSP~J095507.9+355101 should be the prime targets for upcoming large neutrino and $γ$-ray telescopes.

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