TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang, Haocheng A1 - Chen, Xuhui A1 - Boettcher, Markus T1 - Synchrotron polarization in blazars JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We present a detailed analysis of time-and energy-dependent synchrotron polarization signatures in a shock-in-jet model for gamma-ray blazars. Our calculations employ a full three-dimensional radiation transfer code, assuming a helical magnetic field throughout the jet. The code considers synchrotron emission from an ordered magnetic field, and takes into account all light-travel-time and other relevant geometric effects, while the relevant synchrotron self-Compton and external Compton effects are handled with the two-dimensional Monte-Carlo/Fokker-Planck (MCFP) code. We consider several possible mechanisms through which a relativistic shock propagating through the jet may affect the jet plasma to produce a synchrotron and high-energy flare. Most plausibly, the shock is expected to lead to a compression of the magnetic field, increasing the toroidal field component and thereby changing the direction of the magnetic field in the region affected by the shock. We find that such a scenario leads to correlated synchrotron + synchrotron-self-Compton flaring, associated with substantial variability in the synchrotron polarization percentage and position angle. Most importantly, this scenario naturally explains large polarization angle rotations by greater than or similar to 180 degrees, as observed in connection with gamma-ray flares in several blazars, without the need for bent or helical jet trajectories or other nonaxisymmetric jet features. KW - galaxies: active KW - galaxies: jets KW - gamma rays: galaxies KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/789/1/66 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 789 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zacharias, Michael A1 - Chen, Xuhui A1 - Wagner, Stefan T1 - Attenuation of TeV gamma-rays by the starlight photon field of the host galaxy JF - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - The absorption of TeV gamma-ray photons produced in relativistic jets by surrounding soft photon fields is a long-standing problem of jet physics. In some cases, the most likely emission site close to the central black hole is ruled out because of the high opacity caused by strong optical and infrared photon sources, such as the broad-line region. Mostly neglected for jet modelling is the absorption of gamma-rays in the starlight photon field of the host galaxy. Analysing the absorption for arbitrary locations and observation angles of the gamma-ray emission site within the host galaxy, we find that the distance to the galaxy centre, the observation angle, and the distribution of starlight in the galaxy are crucial for the amount of absorption. We derive the absorption value for a sample of 20 TeV-detected blazars with a redshift z(r) < 0.2. The absorption value of the gamma-ray emission located in the galaxy centre may be as high as 20 per cent, with an average value of 6 per cent. This is important in order to determine the intrinsic blazar parameters. We see no significant trends in our sample between the degree of absorption and host properties, such as starlight emissivity, galactic size, half-light radius, and redshift. While the uncertainty of the spectral properties of the extragalactic background light exceeds the effect of absorption by stellar light from the host galaxy in distant objects, the latter is a dominant effect in nearby sources. It may also be revealed in a differential comparison of sources with similar redshifts. KW - opacity KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - galaxies: active KW - gamma-rays: galaxies Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw3032 SN - 0035-8711 SN - 1365-2966 VL - 465 IS - 3 SP - 3767 EP - 3774 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Xue, Rui A1 - Liu, Ruo-Yu A1 - Wang, Xiang-Yu A1 - Yan, Huirong A1 - Böttcher, Markus T1 - On the minimum jet power of TeV BL Lac objects in the p-gamma model JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We study the requirement of the jet power in the conventional p-gamma models (photopion production and Bethe-Heitler pair production) for TeV BL Lac objects. We select a sample of TeV BL Lac objects whose spectral energy distributions are difficult to explain by the one-zone leptonic model. Based on the relation between the p-gamma interaction efficiency and the opacity of gamma gamma absorption, we find that the detection of TeV emission poses upper limits on the p-gamma interaction efficiencies in these sources and hence minimum jet powers can be derived accordingly. We find that the obtained minimum jet powers exceed the Eddington luminosity of the supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Implications for the accretion mode of the SMBHs in these BL Lac objects and the origin of their TeV emissions are discussed. KW - galaxies: active KW - galaxies: jets KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aaf720 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 871 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wilhelm, Alina A1 - Telezhinsky, Igor A1 - Dwarkadas, Vikram V. A1 - Pohl, Martin T1 - Stochastic re-acceleration and magnetic-field damping in Tycho’s supernova remnant JF - Astronomy and astrophysics N2 - Context. Tycho's supernova remnant (SNR) is associated with the historical supernova (SN) event SN 1572 of Type Ia. The explosion occurred in a relatively clean environment, and was visually observed, providing an age estimate. This SNR therefore represents an ideal astrophysical test-bed for the study of cosmic-ray acceleration and related phenomena. A number of studies suggest that shock acceleration with particle feedback and very efficient magnetic-field amplification combined with Alfvenic drift are needed to explain the rather soft radio spectrum and the narrow rims observed in X-rays. Aims. We show that the broadband spectrum of Tycho's SNR can alternatively be well explained when accounting for stochastic acceleration as a secondary process. The re-acceleration of particles in the turbulent region immediately downstream of the shock should be efficient enough to impact particle spectra over several decades in energy. The so-called Alfvenic drift and particle feedback on the shock structure are not required in this scenario. Additionally, we investigate whether synchrotron losses or magnetic-field damping play a more profound role in the formation of the non-thermal filaments. Methods. We solved the full particle transport equation in test-particle mode using hydrodynamic simulations of the SNR plasma flow. The background magnetic field was either computed from the induction equation or follows analytic profiles, depending on the model considered. Fast-mode waves in the downstream region provide the diffusion of particles in momentum space. Results. We show that the broadband spectrum of Tycho can be well explained if magnetic-field damping and stochastic re-acceleration of particles are taken into account. Although not as efficient as standard diffusive shock acceleration, stochastic acceleration leaves its imprint on the particle spectra, which is especially notable in the emission at radio wavelengths. We find a lower limit for the post-shock magnetic-field strength similar to 330 mu G, implying efficient amplification even for the magnetic-field damping scenario. Magnetic-field damping is necessary for the formation of the filaments in the radio range, while the X-ray filaments are shaped by both the synchrotron losses and magnetic-field damping. KW - acceleration of particles KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - ISM: supernova remnants KW - cosmic rays KW - ISM: individual objects: Tycho's SNR KW - shock waves Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936079 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 639 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vieyro, Florencia L. A1 - Romero, Gustavo Esteban A1 - Bosch-Ramon, Valentin A1 - Marcote, Benito A1 - del Valle, Maria Victoria T1 - A model for the repeating FRB 121102 in the AGN scenario JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are transient sources of unknown origin. Recent radio and optical observations have provided strong evidence for an extragalactic origin of the phenomenon and the precise localization of the repeating FRB 121102. Observations using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) have revealed the existence of a continuum non-thermal radio source consistent with the location of the bursts in a dwarf galaxy. All these new data rule out several models that were previously proposed, and impose stringent constraints to new models. Aims. We aim to model FRB 121102 in light of the new observational results in the active galactic nucleus (AGN) scenario. Methods. We propose a model for repeating FRBs in which a non-steady relativistic e(+)-beam, accelerated by an impulsive magneto-hydrodynamic driven mechanism, interacts with a cloud at the centre of a star-forming dwarf galaxy. The interaction generates regions of high electrostatic field called cavitons in the plasma cloud. Turbulence is also produced in the beam. These processes, plus particle isotropization, the interaction scale, and light retardation effects, provide the necessary ingredients for short-lived, bright coherent radiation bursts. Results. The mechanism studied in this work explains the general properties of FRB 121102, and may also be applied to other repetitive FRBs. Conclusions. Coherent emission from electrons and positrons accelerated in cavitons provides a plausible explanation of FRBs. KW - radio continuum: general KW - galaxies: dwarf KW - galaxies: jets KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201730556 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 602 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sushch, Iurii A1 - Brose, Robert A1 - Pohl, Martin T1 - Modeling of the spatially resolved nonthermal emission from the Vela Jr. supernova remnant JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Vela Jr. (RX J0852.0-4622) is one of just a few known supernova remnants (SNRs) with a resolved shell across the whole electromagnetic spectrum from radio to very-high-energy (>100 GeV; VHE) gamma-rays. Its proximity and large size allow for detailed spatially resolved observations of the source, making Vela Jr. one of the primary sources used for the study of particle acceleration and emission mechanisms in SNRs. High-resolution X-ray observations reveal a steepening of the spectrum toward the interior of the remnant. In this study we aim for a self-consistent radiation model of Vela Jr. which at the same time would explain the broadband emission from the source and its intensity distribution. We solve the full particle transport equation combined with the high-resolution one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic simulations (using Pluto code) and subsequently calculate the radiation from the remnant. The equations are solved in the test particle regime. We test two models for the magnetic field profile downstream of the shock: damped magnetic field, which accounts for the damping of strong magnetic turbulence downstream, and transported magnetic field. Neither of these scenarios can fully explain the observed radial dependence of the X-ray spectrum under spherical symmetry. We show, however, that the softening of the spectrum and the X-ray intensity profile can be explained under the assumption that the emission is enhanced within a cone. KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - acceleration of particles KW - cosmic rays KW - ISM: supernova remnants KW - X-rays: individuals: Vela Jr (RX J08520-4622) KW - shock waves Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201832879 SN - 1432-0746 SN - 0004-6361 VL - 618 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ohm, Stefan A1 - Hoischen, Clemens T1 - On the expected gamma-ray emission from nearby flaring stars JF - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - Stellar flares have been extensively studied in soft X-rays (SXRs) by basically every X-ray mission. Hard X-ray (HXR) emission from stellar superflares, however, have only been detected from a handful of objects over the past years. One very extreme event was the superflare from the young M-dwarf DGCVn binary star system, which triggered Swift/BAT as if it was a gamma-ray burst. In this work, we estimate the expected gamma-ray emission from DGCVn and the most extreme stellar flares by extrapolating from solar flares based on measured solar energetic particles (SEPs), as well as thermal and non-thermal emission properties. We find that ions are plausibly accelerated in stellar superflares to 100 GeV energies, and possibly up to TeV energies in the associated coronal mass ejections. The corresponding pi(0)-decay gamma-ray emission could be detectable from stellar superflares with ground-based gamma-ray telescopes. On the other hand, the detection of gamma-ray emission implies particle densities high enough that ions suffer significant losses due to inelastic proton-proton scattering. The next-generation Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) should be able to probe superflares from M dwarfs in the solar neighbourhood and constrain the energy in interacting cosmic rays and/or their maximum energy. The detection of gamma-ray emission from stellar flares would open a new window for the study of stellar physics, the underlying physical processes in flares and their impact on habitability of planetary systems. KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - stars: flare KW - stars: individual: DGCVn-gamma rays: stars Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx2806 SN - 0035-8711 SN - 1365-2966 VL - 474 IS - 1 SP - 1335 EP - 1341 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi A1 - Hardee, P. E. A1 - Dutan, I. A1 - Niemiec, J. A1 - Medvedev, M. A1 - Mizuno, Y. A1 - Meli, A. A1 - Sol, H. A1 - Zhang, B. A1 - Pohl, Martin A1 - Hartmann, D. H. T1 - Magnetic agnetic field generation in core-sheath jets via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15 for both electron-proton and electron-positron plasmas. For electron-proton plasmas, we find generation of strong large-scale DC currents and magnetic fields that extend over the entire shear surface and reach thicknesses of a few tens of electron skin depths. For electron-positron plasmas, we find generation of alternating currents and magnetic fields. Jet and sheath plasmas are accelerated across the shear surface in the strong magnetic fields generated by the kKHI. The mixing of jet and sheath plasmas generates a transverse structure similar to that produced by the Weibel instability. KW - acceleration of particles KW - magnetic fields KW - plasmas KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes KW - stars: jets Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/793/1/60 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 793 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi A1 - Frederiksen, J. T. A1 - Nordlund, A. A1 - Mizuno, Y. A1 - Hardee, P. E. A1 - Niemiec, J. A1 - Gomez, J. L. A1 - Dutan, I. A1 - Meli, A. A1 - Sol, H. A1 - Pohl, Martin A1 - Hartmann, D. H. T1 - EVOLUTION OF GLOBAL RELATIVISTIC JETS: COLLIMATIONS AND EXPANSION WITH kKHI AND THE WEIBEL INSTABILITY JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment. Here. we study the initial evolution of both electron-proton (e(-) - p(+)) and electron-positron (e(+/-)) relativistic jets, focusing on their lateral interaction with ambient plasma. We follow the evolution of toroidal magnetic fields generated by both the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz and Mushroom instabilities. For an e(-) - p(+) jet, the induced magnetic field collimates the jet and electrons are perpendicularly accelerated. As the instabilities saturate and subsequently weaken, the magnetic polarity switches from clockwise to counterclockwise in the middle of the jet. For an e(+/-) jet, we find strong mixing of electrons and positrons with the ambient plasma, resulting in the creation of a bow shock. The merging of current filaments generates density inhomogeneities that. initiate a forward shock. Strong jet-ambient plasma mixing prevents a full development of the jet (on the scale studied), revealing evidence for both jet collimation and particle acceleration in the forming bow shock. Differences in the magnetic field structure generated by e(-) - p(+) and e(+/-) jets may contribute to the polarization properties of the observed emission in AGN jets and gamma-ray bursts. KW - acceleration of particles KW - plasmas KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - relativistic processes KW - stars: jets KW - Sun: magnetic fields Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/820/2/94 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 820 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - del Valle, Maria Victoria A1 - Müller, A. L. A1 - Romero, G. E. T1 - High-energy radiation from collisions of high-velocity clouds and the Galactic disc JF - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are interstellar clouds of atomic hydrogen that do not follow normal Galactic rotation and have velocities of a several hundred kilometres per second. A considerable number of these clouds are falling down towards the Galactic disc. HVCs form large and massive complexes, so if they collide with the disc a great amount of energy would be released into the interstellar medium. The cloud-disc interaction produces two shocks: one propagates through the cloud and the other through the disc. The properties of these shocks depend mainly on the cloud velocity and the disc-cloud density ratio. In this work, we study the conditions necessary for these shocks to accelerate particles by diffusive shock acceleration and we study the non-thermal radiation that is produced. We analyse particle acceleration in both the cloud and disc shocks. Solving a time-dependent two-dimensional transport equation for both relativistic electrons and protons, we obtain particle distributions and non-thermal spectral energy distributions. In a shocked cloud, significant synchrotron radio emission is produced along with soft gamma rays. In the case of acceleration in the shocked disc, the non-thermal radiation is stronger; the gamma rays, of leptonic origin, might be detectable with current instruments. A large number of protons are injected into the Galactic interstellar medium, and locally exceed the cosmic ray background. We conclude that under adequate conditions the contribution from HVC-disc collisions to the galactic population of relativistic particles and the associated extended non-thermal radiation might be important. KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - ISM: clouds KW - cosmic rays Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx2984 SN - 0035-8711 SN - 1365-2966 VL - 475 IS - 4 SP - 4298 EP - 4308 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER -