Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-10-18
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
3 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the workshop proceedings "Clumping in Hot Star Winds", eds. W.-R. Hamann, A. Feldmeier and L.
Scientific paper
The H.E.S.S. collaboration recently reported the discovery of VHE gamma-ray emission coincident with the young stellar cluster Westerlund 2. This system is known to host a population of hot, massive stars, and, most particularly, the WR binary WR20a. Particle acceleration to TeV energies in Westerlund 2 can be accomplished in several alternative scenarios, therefore we only discuss energetic constraints based on the total available kinetic energy in the system, the actual mass loss rates of respective cluster members, and implied gamma-ray production from processes such as inverse Compton scattering or neutral pion decay. From the inferred gamma-ray luminosity of the order of 10^35 erg/s, implications for the efficiency of converting available kinetic energy into non-thermal radiation associated with stellar winds in the Westerlund 2 cluster are discussed under consideration of either the presence or absence of wind clumping.
Aharonian Felix
Hinton Jim
Hofmann Werner
Hoppe S.
Raue Martin
No associations
LandOfFree
VHE gamma-rays from Westerlund 2 and implications for the inferred energetics 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 VHE gamma-rays from Westerlund 2 and implications for the inferred energetics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and VHE gamma-rays from Westerlund 2 and implications for the inferred energetics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-460629