Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes

Galaxy clusters are being assembled today in the most energetic phase of hierarchical structure formation which manifests itself in powerful shocks that contribute to a substantial energy density of cosmic rays (CRs). Hence, clusters are expected to be luminous gamma-ray emitters since they also act...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria, Bosch i Ramon, Valentí, Munar i Adrover, Pere, Moldón Vara, Francisco Javier
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/150966
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/150966
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Cúmuls de galàxies
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Clusters of galaxies
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spelling Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopesParedes i Poy, Josep MariaBosch i Ramon, ValentíMunar i Adrover, PereMoldón Vara, Francisco JavierRaigs gammaGalàxiesCúmuls de galàxiesGamma raysGalaxiesClusters of galaxiesGalaxy clusters are being assembled today in the most energetic phase of hierarchical structure formation which manifests itself in powerful shocks that contribute to a substantial energy density of cosmic rays (CRs). Hence, clusters are expected to be luminous gamma-ray emitters since they also act as energy reservoirs for additional CR sources, such as active galactic nuclei and supernova-driven galactic winds. To detect the gamma-ray emission from CR interactions with the ambient cluster gas, we conducted the deepest to date observational campaign targeting a galaxy cluster at very high-energy gamma-rays and observed the Perseus cluster with the MAGIC Cherenkov telescopes for a total of ~85 hr of effective observing time. This campaign resulted in the detection of the central radio galaxy NGC 1275 at energies E > 100 GeV with a very steep energy spectrum. Here, we restrict our analysis to energies E > 630 GeV and detect no significant gamma-ray excess. This constrains the average CR-to-thermal pressure ratio to be <= 1-2%, depending on assumptions and the model for CR emission. Comparing these gamma-ray upper limits to predictions from cosmological cluster simulations that include CRs constrains the maximum CR acceleration efficiency at structure formation shocks to be < 50%. Alternatively, this may argue for non-negligible CR transport processes such as CR streaming and diffusion into the outer cluster regions. Finally, we derive lower limits on the magnetic field distribution assuming that the Perseus radio mini-halo is generated by secondary electrons/positrons that are created in hadronic CR interactions: assuming a spectrum of E^-2.2 around TeV energies as implied by cluster simulations, we limit the central magnetic field to be > 4-9 microG, depending on the rate of decline of the magnetic field strength toward larger radii.EDP Sciences2020202020122020info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/150966Articles publicats en revistes (Física Quàntica i Astrofísica)reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunyainstname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)InglésReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118502Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2012, vol. 541, p. 99Ahttps://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118502(c) The European Southern Observatory (ESO), 2012info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:recercat.cat:2445/1509662026-05-29T05:05:01Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
title Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
spellingShingle Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Cúmuls de galàxies
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Clusters of galaxies
title_short Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
title_full Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
title_fullStr Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
title_full_unstemmed Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
title_sort Constraining cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the Perseus galaxy cluster with TeV observations by the MAGIC telescopes
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Bosch i Ramon, Valentí
Munar i Adrover, Pere
Moldón Vara, Francisco Javier
author Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
author_facet Paredes i Poy, Josep Maria
Bosch i Ramon, Valentí
Munar i Adrover, Pere
Moldón Vara, Francisco Javier
author_role author
author2 Bosch i Ramon, Valentí
Munar i Adrover, Pere
Moldón Vara, Francisco Javier
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Cúmuls de galàxies
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Clusters of galaxies
topic Raigs gamma
Galàxies
Cúmuls de galàxies
Gamma rays
Galaxies
Clusters of galaxies
description Galaxy clusters are being assembled today in the most energetic phase of hierarchical structure formation which manifests itself in powerful shocks that contribute to a substantial energy density of cosmic rays (CRs). Hence, clusters are expected to be luminous gamma-ray emitters since they also act as energy reservoirs for additional CR sources, such as active galactic nuclei and supernova-driven galactic winds. To detect the gamma-ray emission from CR interactions with the ambient cluster gas, we conducted the deepest to date observational campaign targeting a galaxy cluster at very high-energy gamma-rays and observed the Perseus cluster with the MAGIC Cherenkov telescopes for a total of ~85 hr of effective observing time. This campaign resulted in the detection of the central radio galaxy NGC 1275 at energies E > 100 GeV with a very steep energy spectrum. Here, we restrict our analysis to energies E > 630 GeV and detect no significant gamma-ray excess. This constrains the average CR-to-thermal pressure ratio to be <= 1-2%, depending on assumptions and the model for CR emission. Comparing these gamma-ray upper limits to predictions from cosmological cluster simulations that include CRs constrains the maximum CR acceleration efficiency at structure formation shocks to be < 50%. Alternatively, this may argue for non-negligible CR transport processes such as CR streaming and diffusion into the outer cluster regions. Finally, we derive lower limits on the magnetic field distribution assuming that the Perseus radio mini-halo is generated by secondary electrons/positrons that are created in hadronic CR interactions: assuming a spectrum of E^-2.2 around TeV energies as implied by cluster simulations, we limit the central magnetic field to be > 4-9 microG, depending on the rate of decline of the magnetic field strength toward larger radii.
publishDate 2012
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2012
2020
2020
2020
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2445/150966
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/150966
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118502
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2012, vol. 541, p. 99A
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118502
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv (c) The European Southern Observatory (ESO), 2012
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv (c) The European Southern Observatory (ESO), 2012
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Articles publicats en revistes (Física Quàntica i Astrofísica)
reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
instname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,811543

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