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V. A. Dogiel

Publications and source records attributed to V. A. Dogiel.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Particle acceleration and the origin of gamma-ray emission from Fermi Bubbles

Fermi LAT has discovered two extended gamma-ray bubbles above and below the galactic plane. We propose that their origin is due to the energy release in the Galactic center (GC) as a result of quasi-periodic star accretion onto the central black hole. Shocks generated by these processes propagate into the Galactic halo and accelerate particles there. We show that electrons accelerated up to ~10 TeV may be responsible for the observed gamma-ray emission of the bubbles as a result of inverse Compton (IC) scattering on the relic photons. We also suggest that the Bubble could generate the flux of CR protons at energies > 10^15 eV because the shocks in the Bubble have much larger length scales and longer lifetimes in comparison with those in SNRs. This may explain the the CR spectrum above the knee.

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Spatial and Temporal Variations of the Diffuse Iron 6.4 keV Line in the Galactic Center Region

We analyze the diffuse Fe I K-alpha line generated in the diffuse interstellar molecular hydrogen by primary photons or subrelativistic protons injected by Sagittarius (Sgr) A*. We showed that unlike emission from compact molecular clouds, this emission can be permanently observed in the directions of the Galactic center. We conclude that the diffuse emission of 6.4 keV line observed at present is probably due to Fe I K-alpha vacancy production by primary photons if the X-ray luminosity of Sgr A* was about Lx ~ 10^39-10^40 erg/s. In principle these data can also be described in the framework of the model when the 6.4 keV line emission is generated by subrelativistic protons generated by accretion onto the central black hole but in this case extreme parameters of this model are necessary.

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Origin of the Fermi Bubble

Fermi has discovered two giant gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that extend nearly 10kpc in diameter north and south of the galactic center (GC). The existence of the bubbles was first evidenced in X-rays detected by ROSAT and later WMAP detected an excess of radio signals at the location of the gamma-ray bubbles. We propose that periodic star capture processes by the galactic supermassive black hole, Sgr A$^*$, with a capture rate $3\times 10^{-5}$yr$^{-1}$ and energy release $\sim 3\times 10^{52}$erg per capture can produce very hot plasma $\sim 10$keV with a wind velocity $\sim 10^8$cm/s injected into the halo and heat up the halo gas to $\sim 1$keV, which produces thermal X-rays. The periodic injection of hot plasma can produce shocks in the halo and accelerate electrons to $\sim$TeV, which produce radio emission via synchrotron radiation, and gamma-rays via inverse Compton scattering with the relic and the galactic soft photons.

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The Fundamental Plane of Gamma-ray Globular Clusters

We have investigated the properties of a group of $γ$-ray emitting globular clusters (GCs) which have recently been uncovered in our Galaxy. By correlating the observed $γ$-ray luminosities $L_γ$ with various cluster properties, we probe the origin of the high energy photons from these GCs. We report $L_γ$ is positively correlated with the encounter rate $Γ_{c}$ and the metalicity $\left[{\rm Fe/H}\right]$ which place an intimate link between the gamma-ray emission and the millisecond pulsar population. We also find a tendency that $L_γ$ increase with the energy densities of the soft photon at the cluster location. Furthermore, the two-dimensional regression analysis suggests that $L_γ$, soft photon densities, and $Γ_{c}$/$\left[{\rm Fe/H}\right]$ possibly span fundamental planes which potentially provide better predictions for the $γ$-ray properties of GCs.

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A past capture event at Sagittarius A* inferred from the fluorescent X-ray emission of Sagittarius B clouds

The fluorescent X-ray emission from neutral iron in the molecular clouds (Sgr B) indicates that the clouds are being irradiated by an external X-ray source. The source is probably associated with the Galactic central black hole (Sgr A*), which triggered a bright outburst one hundred years ago. We suggest that such an outburst could be due to a partial capture of a star by Sgr A*, during which a jet was generated. By constraining the observed flux and the time variability ($\sim$ 10 years) of the Sgr B's fluorescent emission, we find that the shock produced by the interaction of the jet with the dense interstellar medium represents a plausible candidate for the X-ray source emission.

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The Origin of Gamma-Rays from Globular Clusters

Fermi has detected gamma-ray emission from eight globular clusters. We suggest that the gamma-ray emission from globular clusters may result from the inverse Compton scattering between relativistic electrons/positrons in the pulsar wind of MSPs in the globular clusters and background soft photons including cosmic microwave/relic photons, background star lights in the clusters, the galactic infrared photons and the galactic star lights. We show that the gamma-ray spectrum from 47 Tuc can be explained equally well by upward scattering of either the relic photons, the galactic infrared photons or the galactic star lights whereas the gamma-ray spectra from other seven globular clusters are best fitted by the upward scattering of either the galactic infrared photons or the galactic star lights. We also find that the observed gamma-ray luminosity is correlated better with the combined factor of the encounter rate and the background soft photon energy density. Therefore the inverse Compton scattering may also contribute to the observed gamma-ray emission from globular clusters detected by Fermi in addition to the standard curvature radiation process. Furthermore, we find that the emission region of high energy photons from globular cluster produced by inverse Compton scattering is substantially larger than the core of globular cluster with a radius >10pc. The diffuse radio and X-rays emitted from globular clusters can also be produced by synchrotron radiation and inverse Compton scattering respectively. We suggest that future observations including radio, X-rays, and gamma-rays with energy higher than 10 GeV and better angular resolution can provide better constraints for the models.

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X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Emission from the Galactic Center

We discuss the origin of continuum and line X-ray emission observed in the direction the Galactic Center. We predict a significant flux of de-excitation gamma-ray lines in this direction, which can be produced by subrelativistic protons generated by accretion processes.

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Restrictions on the injection energy of positrons annihilating near the Galactic center

The origin and properties of the source of positrons annihilating in the Galactic Center is still a mystery. One of the criterion, which may discriminate between different mechanisms of positron production there, is the positron energy injection. Beacom and Yueksel (2006) suggested a method to estimate this energy from the ratio of the 511 keV line to the MeV in-flight annihilation fluxes. From the COMPTEL data they derived that the maximum injection energy of positron should be about several MeV that cut down significantly a class of models of positron origin in the GC assuming that positrons lose their energy by Coulomb collisions only. However, observations show that the strength of magnetic field in the GC is much higher than in other parts of the Galaxy, and it may range there from 100 $μ$G to several mG. In these conditions, synchrotron losses of positrons are significant that extends the range of acceptable values of positron injection energy. We show that if positrons injection in the GC is non-stationary and magnetic field is higher than 0.4 mG both radio and gamma-ray restrictions permit their energy to be higher than several GeV.

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Nuclear Interaction Gamma-Ray Lines from the Galactic Center Region

Aims. The accretion of stars onto the central supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way is predicted to generate large fluxes of subrelativistic ions in the Galactic center region. We analyze the intensity, shape and spatial distribution of de-excitation gamma-ray lines produced by nuclear interactions of these energetic particles with the ambient medium. Methods. We first estimate the amount and mean kinetic energy of particles released from the central black hole during star disruption. We then calculate from a kinetic equation the energy and spatial distributions of these particles in the Galactic center region. These particle distributions are then used to derive the characteristics of the main nuclear interaction gamma-ray lines. Results. Because the time period of star capture by the supermassive black hole is expected to be shorter than the lifetime of the ejected fast particles against Coulomb losses, the gamma-ray emission is predicted to be stationary. We find that the nuclear de-excitation lines should be emitted from a region of maximum 5$^\circ$ angular radius. The total gamma-ray line flux below 8 MeV is calculated to be $\approx10^{-4}$ photons cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. The most promising lines for detection are those at 4.44 and $\sim$6.2 MeV, with a predicted flux in each line of $\approx$$10^{-5}$ photons cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that this emission can be detected with the INTEGRAL observatory. But the predicted line intensities appear to be within reach of future gamma-ray space instruments. A future detection of de-excitation gamma-ray lines from the Galactic center region would provide unique information on the high-energy processes induced by the central supermassive black hole and the physical conditions of the emitting region.

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Theory and Models of the Disc-Halo Connection

We review the evolution of the interstellar medium in disc galaxies, and show, both analytically and by numerical 3D hydrodynamic simulations, that the disc-halo connection is an essential ingredient in understanding the evolution of star forming galaxies. Depending on the star formation rate of the underlying gaseous disc, a galactic fountain is established. If the star formation rate is sufficiently high and/or cosmic rays are well coupled to the thermal plasma, a galactic wind will be formed and lead to a secular mass loss of the galaxy. Such a wind leaves a unique imprint on the soft X-ray spectra in edge-on galaxies, with delayed recombination being one of its distinctive features. We argue that synthetic spectra, obtained from self-consistent dynamical and thermal modelling of a galactic outflow, should be treated on an equal footing as observed spectra. We show that it is thus possible to successfully fit the spectrum of the starburst galaxy NGC 3079.

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An analysis of electron distributions in galaxy clusters by means of the flux ratio of iron lines FeXXV and XXVI

The interpretation of hard X-ray emission from galaxy clusters is still ambiguous and different models proposed can be probed using various observational methods. Here we explore a new method based on Fe line observations. Spectral line emissivities have usually been calculated for a Maxwellian electron distribution. In this paper a generalized approach to calculate the iron line flux for a modified Maxwellian distribution is considered. We have calculated the flux ratio of iron lines for the various possible populations of electrons that have been proposed to account for measurements of hard X-ray excess emission from the clusters A2199 and Coma. We found that the influence of the suprathermal electron population on the flux ratio is more prominent in low temperature clusters (as Abell 2199) than in high temperature clusters (as Coma).

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Diffuse Gamma-ray Emission from the Galactic Center - A Multiple Energy Injection Model

We suggest that the energy source of the observed diffuse gamma-ray emission from the direction of the Galactic center is the Galactic black hole Sgr A*, which becomes active when a star is captured at a rate of $\sim 10^{-5} $ yr^{-1}. Subsequently the star is tidally disrupted and its matter is accreted into the black hole. During the active phase relativistic protons with a characteristic energy $\sim 6\times 10^{52}$ erg per capture are ejected. Over 90% of these relativistic protons disappear due to proton-proton collisions on a timescale $τ_{pp} \sim 10^4$ years in the small central bulge region with radius $\sim 50$ pc within Sgr A*, where the density is $\ge 10^3$ cm^{-3}. The gamma-ray intensity, which results from the decay of neutral pions produced by proton-proton collisions, decreases according to $e^{-t/τ_{pp}}$, where t is the time after last stellar capture. Less than 5% of relativistic protons escaped from the central bulge region can survive and maintain their energy for >10^7 years due to much lower gas density outside, where the gas density can drop to $\sim 1$ cm$^{-3}$. They can diffuse to a $\sim 500$ pc region before disappearing due to proton-proton collisions. The observed diffuse GeV gamma-rays resulting from the decay of neutral pions produced via collision between these escaped protons and the gas in this region is expected to be insensitive to time in the multi-injection model with the characteristic injection rate of 10^{-5} yr^{-1}. Our model calculated GeV and 511 keV gamma-ray intensities are consistent with the observed results of EGRET and INTEGRAL, however, our calculated inflight annihilation rate cannot produce sufficient intensity to explain the COMPTEL data.

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In-situ acceleration of subrelativistic electrons in the Coma halo and the halo's influence on the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect

The stochastic acceleration of subrelativistic electrons from a background plasma is studied in order to find a possible explanation of the hard X-ray (HXR) emission detected from the Coma cluster. We calculate the necessary energy supply as a function of the plasma temperature and of the electron energy. We show that, for the same value of the HXR flux, the energy supply changes gradually from its high value (when emitting particle are non-thermal) to lower values (when the electrons are thermal). The kinetic equations we use include terms describing particle thermalization as well as momentum diffusion due to the Fermi II acceleration. We show that the temporal evolution of the particle distribution function has, at its final stationary stage, a rather specific form: it cannot be described by simple exponential or power-law expressions. A broad transfer region is formed by Coulomb collisions at energies between the Maxwellian and power-law parts of the distribution function. In this region the radiative lifetime of a single electron differs greatly from the lifetime of the distribution function as a whole. For a plasma temperature of 8 keV, the particles emitting bremsstrahlung at 20-80 keV lie in this quasi-thermal regime. We show that the energy supply required by quasi-thermal electrons to produce the observed HXR flux from Coma is one or two orders of magnitude smaller than the value derived from the assumption of a nonthermal origin of the emitting particles. This result may solve the problem of rapid cluster overheating by nonthermal electrons. We finally predict the change in Coma's SZ effect caused by the distortions of the Maxwellian electron spectrum, and we show that evidence for acceleration of subrelativistic electrons can be derived from detailed spectral measurements.

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Annihilation Emission from the Galactic Black Hole

Both diffuse high energy gamma-rays and an extended electron-positron annihilation line emission have been observed in the Galactic Center (GC) region. Although X-ray observations indicate that the galactic black hole Sgr A$^*$ is inactive now, we suggest that Sgr A$^*$ can become active when a captured star is tidally disrupted and matter is accreted into the black hole. As a consequence the galactic black hole could be a powerful source of relativistic protons. We are able to explain the current observed diffuse gamma-rays and the very detailed 511 keV annihilation line of secondary positrons by $p-p$ collisions of such protons, with appropriate injection times and energy. Relativistic protons could have been injected into the ambient material if the black hole captured a 50M$_\odot$ star at several tens million years ago. An alternative possibility is that the black hole continues to capture stars with $\sim$1M$_\odot$ every hundred thousand years. Secondary positrons produced by $p-p$ collisions at energies $\ga 30$ MeV are cooled down to thermal energies by Coulomb collisions, and annihilate in the warm neutral and ionized phases of the interstellar medium with temperatures about several eV, because the annihilation cross-section reaches its maximum at these temperatures. It takes about ten million years for the positrons to cool down to thermal temperatures so they can diffuse into a very large extended region around the Galactic center. A much more recent star capture may be also able to account for recent TeV observations within 10 pc of the galactic center as well as for the unidentified GeV gamma-ray sources found by EGRET at GC. The spectral difference between the GeV flux and the TeV flux could be explained naturally in this model as well.

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The gradient of diffuse gamma-ray emission in the Galaxy

We show that the well-known discrepancy between the radial dependence of the Galactic cosmic ray (CR) nucleon distribution, as inferred most recently from EGRET observations of diffuse gamma-rays above 100 MeV, and of the most likely CR source distribution (supernova remnants, pulsars) can be explained purely by PROPAGATION effects. Contrary to previous claims, we demonstrate that this is possible, if the dynamical coupling between the escaping CRs and thermal plasma is taken into account, and thus a self-consistent GALACTIC WIND calculation is carried out. Given a dependence of the CR source distribution on Galactocentric radius, r, our numerical wind solutions show that the CR outflow velocity, V(r,z) depends both on r, and on vertical distance, z, at reference level z_C. The latter is defined as the transition boundary from diffusion to advection dominated CR transport and is therefore also a function of r. In fact, the CR escape time averaged over particle energies decreases with increasing CR source strength. Such an increase is counteracted by a reduced average CR residence time in the gas disk. Therfore pronounced peaks in the radial source distribution result in mild radial gamma-ray gradients at GeV energies, as it has been observed. This effect is enhanced by anisotropic diffusion, assuming different radial and vertical diffusion coefficients. We have calculated 2D analytic solutions of the stationary diffusion-advection equation, including anisotropic diffusion, for a given CR source distribution and a realistic outflow velocity field V(r,z), inferred from self-consistent numerical Galactic Wind simulations. At TeV energies the gamma-rays from the sources are expected to dominate the observed "diffuse" flux from the disk. Its observation should allow an empirical test of the theory presented.

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Nonthermal Hard X-Ray Emission from the Galactic Ridge

We investigate the origin of the nonthermal X-ray emission from the Galactic ridge in the range 10-200 keV. We consider bremsstrahlung of subrelativistic cosmic ray protons and electrons as production processes. From the solution of the kinetic equations describing the processes of particle in-situ acceleration and spatial propagation we derive parameters of the spectra for protons and electrons. For in-situ acceleration the flux of accelerated particles consists mainly of protons since the ratio of the accelerated protons to electrons is large and the flux of nuclei with charges Z>1 is strongly suppressed. Our analysis has shown that the proton bremsstrahlung model is free from the previously discussed problems of the high gamma-ray flux at MeV or at hundreds of MeV energy regions. However, the model with proton bremsstrahlung requires specific restrictions on the proton spectrum.The real problem of the proton bremsstrahlung model is the large pressure of the accelerated protons in the disk. For the electron origin of the ridge flux we do not have the problems of the gamma-ray line and continuous fluxes. On the other hand the electron bremsstrahlung model requires more effective acceleration of background particles.

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