scholarly journals Cosmic rays from the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253: the effect of a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (2) ◽  
pp. 2109-2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Gutiérrez ◽  
G E Romero ◽  
F L Vieyro
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Starburst Galaxy ◽  
Active Nucleus ◽  
Accretion Flow ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Cosmic Ray Acceleration ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Dynamo Mechanism

ABSTRACT NGC 253 is a nearby starburst galaxy in the Sculptor group located at a distance of ∼3.5 Mpc that has been suggested by some authors as a potential site for cosmic ray acceleration up to ultrahigh energies. Its nuclear region is heavily obscured by gas and dust, which prevents establishing whether or not the galaxy harbours a supermassive black hole coexisting with the starburst. Some sources have been proposed in the literature as candidates for an active nucleus. In this work, we aim at determining the implications that the presence of a supermassive black hole at the nucleus of NGC 253 might have on cosmic ray acceleration. With this aim, we model the accretion flow on to the putative active nucleus, and we evaluate the feasibility of particle acceleration by the black hole dynamo mechanism. As a by-product, we explore the potential contribution from non-thermal particles in the accretion flow to the high-energy emission of the galaxy. We found that in the three most plausible nucleus candidates, the emission of the accretion flow would inhibit the black hole dynamo mechanism. To rule out completely the influence that a putative nucleus in NGC 253 might have in cosmic ray acceleration, a better clarification concerning the true nature of the nucleus is needed.

scholarly journals Hot gas flows on a parsec scale in the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 3115

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (1) ◽  
pp. 444-455
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Yao ◽  
Zhaoming Gan
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Density Profile ◽  
Active Galactic Nucleus ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Accretion Flow ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
The One

ABSTRACT NGC 3115 is known as the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus that hosts the nearest (z ∼ 0.002) billion-solar-mass supermassive black hole (∼1.5 × 109 M⊙). Its Bondi radius rB (∼3.6 arcsec) can be readily resolved with Chandra, which provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the accretion flow on to a supermassive black hole. In this paper, we perform two-dimensional hydrodynamical numerical simulations, tailored for NGC 3115, on the mass flow across the Bondi radius. Our best fittings for the density and temperature agree well with the observations of the hot interstellar medium in the centre of NGC 3115. We find that the flow properties are determined solely by the local galaxy properties in the galaxy centre: (1) stellar winds (including supernova ejecta) supply the mass and energy sources for the accreting gas; (2) similar to in the one-dimensional calculations, a stagnation radius rst ∼ 0.1 rB is also found in the two-dimensional simulations, which divides the mass flow into an inflow–outflow structure; (3) the radiatively inefficient accretion flow theory applies well inside the stagnation radius, where the gravity is dominated by the supermassive black hole and the gas is supported by rotation; (4) beyond the stagnation radius, the stellar gravity dominates the spherical-like fluid dynamics and causes the transition from a steep density profile outside to a flat density profile inside the Bondi radius.

scholarly journals Particle acceleration in the superwinds of starburst galaxies

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. A57 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Romero ◽  
A. L. Müller ◽  
M. Roth
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Shock Acceleration ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Starburst Galaxy ◽  
Diffusive Shock Acceleration ◽  
Mass Load ◽  
The Galaxy

Context. Starbursts are galaxies undergoing massive episodes of star formation. The combined effect of stellar winds from hot stars and supernova explosions creates a high-temperature cavity in the nuclear region of these objects. The very hot gas expands adiabatically and escapes from the galaxy creating a superwind which sweeps matter from the galactic disk. The superwind region in the halo is filled with a multi-phase gas with hot, warm, cool, and relativistic components. Aims. The shocks associated with the superwind of starbursts and the turbulent gas region of the bubble inflated by them might accelerate cosmic rays up to high energies. In this work we calculate the cosmic ray production associated with the superwind using parameters that correspond to the nearby southern starburst galaxy NGC 253, which has been suggested as a potential accelerator of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Methods. We evaluate the efficiency of both diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) and stochastic diffusive acceleration (SDA) in the superwind of NGC 253. We estimate the distribution of both hadrons and leptons and calculate the corresponding spectral energy distributions of photons. The electromagnetic radiation can help to discriminate between the different scenarios analyzed. Results. We find that the strong mass load of the superwind, recently determined through ALMA observations, strongly attenuates the efficiency of DSA in NGC 253, whereas SDA is constrained by the age of the starburst. Conclusions. We conclude that NGC 253 and similar starbursts can only accelerate iron nuclei beyond ~1018 eV under very special conditions. If the central region of the galaxy harbors a starved supermassive black hole of ~106 M⊙, as suggested by some recent observations, a contribution in the range 1018−1019 eV can be present for accretion rates ṁ ~ 10−3 in Eddington units. Shock energies of the order of 100 EeV might only be possible if very strong magnetic field amplification occurs close to the superwind.

scholarly journals A strong magnetic field around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Galaxy

Nature ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 501 (7467) ◽  
pp. 391-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Eatough ◽  
H. Falcke ◽  
R. Karuppusamy ◽  
K. J. Lee ◽  
D. J. Champion ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Strong Magnetic Field ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy

scholarly journals The starburst galaxy NGC 253 revisited by H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A73 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
H. Abdalla ◽  
F. Aharonian ◽  
F. Ait Benkhali ◽  
E. O. Angüner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Index ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Thick Target ◽  
Starburst Galaxy ◽  
Particle Accelerators ◽  
Power Law Distribution ◽  
Particle Population ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties

Context. NGC 253 is one of only two starburst galaxies found to emit γ-rays from hundreds of MeV to multi-TeV energies. Accurate measurements of the very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) and high-energy (HE; E > 60 MeV) spectra are crucial to study the underlying particle accelerators, probe the dominant emission mechanism(s) and to study cosmic-ray interaction and transport. Aims. The measurement of the VHE γ-ray emission of NGC 253 published in 2012 by H.E.S.S. was limited by large systematic uncertainties. Here, the most up to date measurement of the γ-ray spectrum of NGC 253 is investigated in both HE and VHE γ-rays. Assuming a hadronic origin of the γ-ray emission, the measurement uncertainties are propagated into the interpretation of the accelerated particle population. Methods. The data of H.E.S.S. observations are reanalysed using an updated calibration and analysis chain. The improved Fermi–LAT analysis employs more than 8 yr of data processed using pass 8. The cosmic-ray particle population is evaluated from the combined HE–VHE γ-ray spectrum using NAIMA in the optically thin case. Results. The VHE γ-ray energy spectrum is best fit by a power-law distribution with a flux normalisation of (1.34 ± 0.14stat ± 0.27sys) × 10−13 cm−2 s−1 TeV1 at 1 TeV – about 40% above, but compatible with the value obtained in Abramowski et al. (2012). The spectral index Γ = 2.39 ± 0.14stat ± 0.25sys is slightly softer than but consistent with the previous measurement within systematic errors. In the Fermi energy range an integral flux of F(E > 60 MeV) = (1.56 ± 0.28stat ± 0.15sys) × 10−8 cm−2 s−1 is obtained. At energies above ∼3 GeV the HE spectrum is consistent with a power-law ranging into the VHE part of the spectrum measured by H.E.S.S. with an overall spectral index Γ = 2.22 ± 0.06stat. Conclusions. Two scenarios for the starburst nucleus are tested, in which the gas in the starburst nucleus acts as either a thin or a thick target for hadronic cosmic rays accelerated by the individual sources in the nucleus. In these two models, the level to which NGC 253 acts as a calorimeter is estimated to a range of fcal = 0.1 to 1 while accounting for the measurement uncertainties. The presented spectrum is likely to remain the most accurate measurements until the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) has collected a substantial set of data towards NGC 253.

scholarly journals Universal interferometric signatures of a black hole’s photon ring

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. eaaz1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Johnson ◽  
Alexandru Lupsasca ◽  
Andrew Strominger ◽  
George N. Wong ◽  
Shahar Hadar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Infinite Sequence ◽  
High Order ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Self Similar

The Event Horizon Telescope image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87 is dominated by a bright, unresolved ring. General relativity predicts that embedded within this image lies a thin “photon ring,” which is composed of an infinite sequence of self-similar subrings that are indexed by the number of photon orbits around the black hole. The subrings approach the edge of the black hole “shadow,” becoming exponentially narrower but weaker with increasing orbit number, with seemingly negligible contributions from high-order subrings. Here, we show that these subrings produce strong and universal signatures on long interferometric baselines. These signatures offer the possibility of precise measurements of black hole mass and spin, as well as tests of general relativity, using only a sparse interferometric array.

scholarly journals High-energy Emission from Interacting Supernovae: New Constraints on Cosmic-Ray Acceleration in Dense Circumstellar Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 874 (1) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohta Murase ◽  
Anna Franckowiak ◽  
Keiichi Maeda ◽  
Raffaella Margutti ◽  
John F. Beacom
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Energy Emission ◽  
Cosmic Ray Acceleration ◽  
Circumstellar Environments ◽  
High Energy Emission

scholarly journals The Role of Flare Stars in Cosmic-ray Origin

1995 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 185-192
Author(s):  
Maurice M. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
Cosmic Ray Acceleration ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Flare Stars ◽  
Far Ultraviolet ◽  
Ultraviolet Observations

AbstractSupernovae and their expanding shock fronts are evidently the main agents of cosmic-ray acceleration. The thermal gas in the interstellar medium has been regarded as the reservoir of seed particles destined to become cosmic-ray nuclei. This assumption is, however, at variance with the source composition of galactic cosmic iays. In an alternative hypothesis, the seed particles are injected into the interstellar material as suprathermal seed ions, and it has been surmised that flare stars provide the initial boost. We find that the dMe and dKe stars are probably the principal sources of cosmic-ray seed particles. Most stars in the Galaxy are red dwarfs and many of these flares much more powerfully and frequently than solar flares. Augmenting the optical data, recent X-ray and far-ultraviolet observations now permit a better estimate of the energy budget. Altogether, dMe and dKe stars seem to be the most promising class of cosmic-ray injectors.

scholarly journals Composition and Galactic Confinement of Cosmic Rays

1971 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 740-756
Author(s):  
Maurice M. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Interstellar Space ◽  
Heavy Nuclei ◽  
High Energy Astrophysics ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Path Lengths

The ‘Galactic’ cosmic rays impinging on the Earth come from afar over tortuous paths, traveling for millions of years. These particles are the only known samples of matter that reach us from regions of space beyond the solar system. Their chemical and isotopic composition and their energy spectra provide clues to the nature of cosmic-ray sources, the properties of interstellar space, and the dynamics of the Galaxy. Various processes in high-energy astrophysics could be illuminated by a more complete understanding of the arriving cosmic rays, including the electrons and gamma rays.En route, some of theprimordialcosmic-ray nuclei have been transformed by collision with interstellar matter, and the composition is substantially modified by these collisions. A dramatic consequence of the transformations is the presence in the arriving ‘beam’ of considerable fluxes of purely secondary elements (Li, Be, B), i.e., species that are, in all probability, essentially absent at the sources. We shall here discuss mainly the composition of the arriving ‘heavy’ nuclei -those heavier than helium - and what they teach us about thesourcecomposition, the galactic confinement of the particles, their path lengths, and their transit times.

scholarly journals Probing the accretion disk - jet connection via instabilities in the inner accretion flow. From microquasars to quasars

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 94-95
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Janiuk ◽  
Bożena Czerny ◽  
Monika Mościbrodzka ◽  
Aneta Siemiginowska
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Radiation Pressure ◽  
Duty Cycle ◽  
Thermal Instability ◽  
Accretion Flow ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Complex Morphology ◽  
Hydrogen Ionization ◽  
Jet Axis

AbstractWe present various instability mechanisms in the accreting black hole systems which might indicate at the connection between the accretion disk and jet. The jets observed in microquasars can have a peristent or blobby morphology. Correlated with the accretion luminosity, this might provide a link to the cyclic outbursts of the disk. Such duty-cycle type of behaviour on short timescales results from the thermal instability caused by the radiation pressure domination. The same type of instability may explain the cyclic radioactivity of the supermassive black hole systems. The somewhat longer timescales are characteristic for the instability caused by the partial hydrogen ionization. The distortions of the jet direction and complex morphology of the sources can be caused by precession of the disk-jet axis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document