ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution

Details ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution

2002-02-22

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0202414v1

Astrophys.J. 571 (2002) 866

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

14 pages, 8 figures, emulateapj5, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Scientific paper

10.1086/340121

We perform X-ray studies of the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) gamma-Cygni associated with the brightest EGRET unidentified source 3EG J2020+4017. In addition to the thermal emissions with characteristic temperature of kT = 0.5-0.9 keV, we found an extremely hard X-ray component from several clumps localized in the northern part of the remnant. This component is described by a power-law with a photon index of 0.8-1.5. Both the absolute flux and the spectral shape of the nonthermal X-rays cannot be explained by the synchrotron or inverse-Compton mechanisms. We argue that the unusually hard X-ray spectrum can be naturally interpreted in terms of nonthermal bremsstrahlung from Coulomb-loss-flattened electron distribution in dense environs with the gas density about 10 to 100 cm^-3 . For given spectrum of the electron population, the ratio of the bremsstrahlung X- and gamma-ray fluxes depends on the position of the ``Coulomb break'' in the electron spectrum. The bulk of gamma-rays detected by EGRET would come from the radio-bright and X-ray dim cloud at southeast, where very dense gas and strong magnetic field would illuminate the cloud in the radio and gamma-ray bands, but suppress the bremsstrahlung X-ray emission due to the shift of the ``Coulomb break'' in the electron spectrum towards higher energies.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and ASCA View of the Supernova Remnant Gamma Cygni (G78.2+2.1): Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum from Loss-flattened Electron Distribution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-339773