arXiv subjects

Stephen P. Reynolds

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen P. Reynolds.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Magnetohydrodynamic Models for the Structure of Pulsar-Wind Nebulae

The Crab Nebula is well-described at optical wavelengths and above by a steady-state magnetohydrodynamic model due to Kennel and Coroniti (1984). Can this class of model describe other pulsar-wind nebulae? I exhibit simple generalizations of KC models,for various values of sigma, the ratio of magnetic to particle flux input at the wind shock. I calculate the evolution of the electron spectrum and synchrotron emissivity in the nebula assuming spherical symmetry, a steady state, and a purely toroidal magnetic field. Emission profiles depend on the initial magnetic field B_0, the electron spectral index s, and the angle of the toroidal axis with the line of sight, phi. I show integrated spectra and radial profiles for various cases, along with predicted variations of photon index Gamma with radius in X-rays. Most models predict much smaller sizes in X-rays, and curves of Gamma(r) which do not resemble observations. Further elaborations of the dynamics of PWNe seem necessary.

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arXiv2003

Near-Infrared Synchrotron Emission from Cas A

High energy observations of Cas A suggested the presence of synchrotron radiation, implying acceleration of cosmic rays by young supernova remnants. We detect synchrotron emission from Cas A in the near-infrared using Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) and Palomar 200 inch PFIRCAM observations. The remnant is detected in J, H, and Ks bands, with Ks band brightest and J faint. In the J and H bands, bright [Fe II] lines (1.24um and 1.64um) are detected spectroscopically. The Palomar observations include Ks continuum, narrow-band 1.64um (centered on [Fe II]) and 2.12um (centered on H2(1-0)) images. While the narrow-band 1.64um image shows filamentary and knotty structures, similar to the optical image, the Ks image shows a relatively smooth, diffuse shell, remarkably similar to the radio image. The broad-band near-infrared fluxes of Cas A are generally consistent with, but a few tens of percent higher than, an extrapolation of the radio fluxes. The hardening to higher frequencies is possibly due to nonlinear shock acceleration and/or spectral index variation across the remnant. We show evidence of spectral index variation. The presence of near-infrared synchrotron radiation requires the roll-off frequency to be higher than 1.5e14 Hz, implying that electrons are accelerated to energies of at least 0.2 TeV. The morphological similarity in diffuse emission between the radio and Ks band images implies that synchrotron losses are not dominant. Our observations show unambiguous evidence that the near-infrared Ks band emission of Cas A is from synchrotron emission by accelerated cosmic-ray electrons.

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arXiv2002

X-Ray Synchrotron Emitting Fe-Rich Ejecta in SNR RCW 86

Supernova remnants may exhibit both thermal and nonthermal X-ray emission. We present Chandra observations of RCW 86. Striking differences in the morphology of X-rays below 1 keV and above 2 keV point to a different physical origin. Hard X-ray emission is correlated fairly well with the edges of regions of radio emission, suggesting that these are the locations of shock waves at which both short-lived X-ray emitting electrons, and longer-lived radio-emitting electrons, are accelerated. Soft X-rays are spatially well-correlated with optical emission from nonradiative shocks, which are almost certainly portions of the outer blast wave. These soft X-rays are well fit with simple thermal plane-shock models. Harder X-rays show Fe K alpha emission and are well described with a similar soft thermal component, but a much stronger synchrotron continuum dominating above 2 keV, and a strong Fe K alpha line. Quantitative analysis of this line and the surrounding continuum shows that it cannot be produced by thermal emission from a cosmic-abundance plasma; the ionization time is too short, as shown both by the low centroid energy (6.4 keV) and the absence of oxygen lines below 1 keV. Instead, a model of a plane shock into Fe-rich ejecta, with a synchrotron continuum, provides a natural explanation. This requires that reverse shocks into ejecta be accelerating electrons to energies of order 50 TeV. We show that maximum energies of this order can be produced by radiation-limited diffusive shock acceleration at the reverse shocks.

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arXiv2000

Detecting X-ray Synchrotron Emission in Supernova Remnants: Implications for Abundances and Cosmic Rays

The 10^51 ergs released in a supernova have far reaching consequences in the galaxy, determining elemental abundances, accelerating cosmic rays, and affecting the makeup of the interstellar medium. Recently the spectra of several supernova remnants have been found to be dominated by nonthermal emission. Separating the thermal and nonthermal components is important not only for the understanding of cosmic-ray acceleration and shock microphysics properties but for accurate assessment of the temperatures and line strengths. New models designed to model spatially resolved synchrotron X-rays from type Ia supernovae can contribute to the understanding of both the thermal physics (dynamics, abundances) and nonthermal physics (shock acceleration, magnetic-field amplification) of supernova remnants. I will describe model fits to SN 1006, emphasizing the physical constraints that can be placed on SNRs, abundances, and the cosmic-ray acceleration process.

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arXiv2000

Low Frequency Insights Into Supernova Remnants

Low frequency observations at 330 and 74 MHz can provide new insights into supernova remnants (SNR). We can test theoretical predictions for spectral index variations. Nonlinear models of shock acceleration predict that the spectra from young SNR should be slightly concave rather than power laws -- flattening toward higher energies. However, few SNR are bright and compact enough to be studied at millimeter wavelengths, restricting studies to the small range from 6 to 20 cm (a factor of 1.7 in electron energies). Observations at 330 MHz increase the electron energy baseline to a factor of 4, while providing sensitivity to larger spatial scales that are resolved out by centimeter-wavelength interferometers. Such observations can also separate thermal from nonthermal emission and detect excess free-free absorption associated with cool gas in remnants. Wide field images also provide an efficient census of both thermal and nonthermal sources over a large region.

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arXiv1998

Radio to Gamma-Ray Emission from Shell-type Supernova Remnants: Predictions from Non-linear Shock Acceleration Models

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are widely believed to be the principal source of galactic cosmic rays. Such energetic particles can produce gamma-rays and lower energy photons via interactions with the ambient plasma. In this paper, we present results from a Monte Carlo simulation of non-linear shock structure and acceleration coupled with photon emission in shell-like SNRs. These non-linearities are a by-product of the dynamical influence of the accelerated cosmic rays on the shocked plasma and result in distributions of cosmic rays which deviate from pure power-laws. Such deviations are crucial to acceleration efficiency and spectral considerations, producing GeV/TeV intensity ratios that are quite different from test particle predictions. The Sedov scaling solution for SNR expansions is used to estimate important shock parameters for input into the Monte Carlo simulation. We calculate ion and electron distributions that spawn neutral pion decay, bremsstrahlung, inverse Compton, and synchrotron emission, yielding complete photon spectra from radio frequencies to gamma-ray energies. The cessation of acceleration caused by the spatial and temporal limitations of the expanding SNR shell in moderately dense interstellar regions can yield spectral cutoffs in the TeV energy range; these are consistent with Whipple's TeV upper limits on unidentified EGRET sources. Supernova remnants in lower density environments generate higher energy cosmic rays that produce predominantly inverse Compton emission at super-TeV energies; such sources will generally be gamma-ray dim at GeV energies.

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arXiv1997

Shock Acceleration and Gamma-Ray Emitting Supernova Remnants

Diffusive shock acceleration in the environs of a remnant's expanding shell is a popular candidate for the origin of SNR gamma-rays. In this paper, results from our study of non-linear effects in shock acceleration theory and their impact on the gamma-ray spectra of SNRs are presented. These effects describe the dynamical influence of the accelerated cosmic rays on the shocked plasma at the same time as addressing how the non-uniformities in the fluid flow force the distribution of the cosmic rays to deviate from pure power-laws. Such deviations are crucial to gamma-ray spectral determination. Our self-consistent Monte Carlo approach to shock acceleration is used to predict ion and electron distributions that spawn neutral pion decay, bremsstrahlung and inverse Compton emission components for SNRs. We demonstrate how the spatial and temporal limitations imposed by the expanding SNR shell quench acceleration above critical energies in the 500 GeV - 10 TeV range, thereby spawning gamma-ray spectral cutoffs that are quite consistent with Whipple's TeV upper limits to the EGRET unidentified sources that have SNR associations. We also discuss the role of electron injection in shocks and its impact on the significance of electromagnetic components to GeV--TeV spectral formation.

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