Probing the cosmic ray population of the giant elliptical galaxy M 87 with observed TeV γ-rays

被引：39

作者：

Pfrommer, C ^{[1
]}

Ensslin, TA ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Max Planck Inst Astrophys, D-85741 Garching, Germany

来源：

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS | 2003年 / 407卷 / 03期

关键词：

gamma-rays : theory; cosmic rays; galaxies : individual : M 87; galaxies : cooling flows; intergalactic medium; radiation mechanisms : non-thermal;

D O I：

10.1051/0004-6361:20031088

中图分类号：

P1 [天文学];

学科分类号：

0704 ;

摘要：

We examine the cosmic ray proton (CRp) population within the giant elliptical galaxy M 87 using the TeV gamma-ray detection of the HEGRA collaboration. In our scenario, the gamma-rays are produced by decaying pions which result from hadronic CRp interactions with thermal gas of the interstellar medium of M 87. By comparing the gamma-ray emission to upper limits from EGRET, we constrain the spectral index of the CRp population to alpha(GeV)(TeV)<2.275 within our scenario. Both the expected radial gamma-ray profile and the required amount of CRp support this hadronic scenario. The accompanying radio mini-halo of hadronically originating cosmic ray electrons is outshone by the synchrotron emission of the relativistic jet of M 87 by one order of magnitude. According to our predictions, the future GLAST mission should allow us to test this hadronic scenario.

引用

页码：L73 / L77

页数：5

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