2009ApJ...706L.270H -
Astrophys. J., 706, L270-L274 (2009/December-1)
Correlation of supernova remnant masers and gamma-ray sources.
HEWITT J.W., YUSEF-ZADEH F. and WARDLE M.
Abstract (from CDS):
Supernova remnants (SNRs) interacting with molecular clouds are potentially exciting systems in which to detect evidence of cosmic ray acceleration. Prominent γ-ray emission is produced via the decay of neutral pions when cosmic rays encounter nearby dense clouds. In many of the SNRs coincident with γ-ray sources, the presence of OH (1720 MHz) masers is used to identify interaction with dense gas and to provide a kinematic distance to the system. In this Letter we use statistical tests to demonstrate that there is a correlation between these masers and a class of GeV- to TeV-energy γ-ray sources coincident with interacting remnants. For pion decay the γ-ray luminosity provides a direct estimate of the local cosmic ray density. We find the cosmic ray density is enhanced by one to two orders of magnitude over the local solar value, comparable to X-ray-induced ionization in these remnants. The inferred ionization rates are sufficient to explain non-equilibrium chemistry in the post-shock gas, where high columns of hydroxyl are observed.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
cosmic rays - masers - shock waves - supernova remnants
Simbad objects:
30
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