Spectral analysis and interpretation of the γ-ray emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMaxted, N.
dc.contributor.authorNicholas, B.
dc.contributor.authorRowell, G.
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractVery high energy (VHE; E ≥ 100 GeV) and high-energy (HE; 100 MeV ≤ E ≤ 100 GeV) data from γ-ray observations performed with the H.E.S.S. telescope array and the Fermi-LAT instrument, respectively, are analyzed in order to investigate the non-thermal processes in the starburst galaxy NGC253. The VHE γ-ray data can be described by a power law in energy with differential photon index Γ = 2.14 ± 0.18<inf>stat</inf> ± 0.30<inf>sys</inf> and differential flux normalization at 1TeV of F <inf>0</inf> = (9.6 ± 1.5<inf>stat</inf>(+ 5.7, -2.9)<inf>sys</inf>) × 10 <sup>-14</sup> TeV<sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>. A power-law fit to the differential HE γ-ray spectrum reveals a photon index of Γ = 2.24 ± 0.14<inf>stat</inf> ± 0.03<inf>sys</inf> and an integral flux between 200MeV and 200GeV of F(0.2-200 GeV) = (4.9 ± 1.0 <inf>stat</inf> ± 0.3<inf>sys</inf>) × 10<sup>-9</sup> cm <sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>. No evidence for a spectral break or turnover is found over the dynamic range of both the LAT instrument and the H.E.S.S. experiment: a combined fit of a power law to the HE and VHE γ-ray data results in a differential photon index Γ = 2.34 ± 0.03 with a p-value of 30%. The γ-ray observations indicate that at least about 20% of the energy of the cosmic rays (CRs) capable of producing hadronic interactions is channeled into pion production. The smooth alignment between the spectra in the HE and VHE γ-ray domain suggests that the same transport processes dominate in the entire energy range. Advection is most likely responsible for charged particle removal from the starburst nucleus from GeV to multiple TeV energies. In a hadronic scenario for the γ-ray production, the single overall power-law spectrum observed would therefore correspond to the mean energy spectrum produced by the ensemble of CR sources in the starburst region. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityA. Abramowski... N. Maxted... G. Rowell... et al.
dc.identifier.citationThe Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics, 2012; 757(2):1-12
dc.identifier.doi10.1088/0004-637X/757/2/158
dc.identifier.issn0004-637X
dc.identifier.issn1538-4357
dc.identifier.orcidRowell, G. [0000-0002-9516-1581]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/73768
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniv Chicago Press
dc.rights© 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/757/2/158
dc.subjectConvection
dc.subjectdiffusion
dc.subjectgalaxies: individual (NGC 253)
dc.subjectgalaxies: starburst
dc.subjectgamma rays: galaxies
dc.subjectradiation mechanisms: non-thermal
dc.titleSpectral analysis and interpretation of the γ-ray emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253
dc.title.alternativeSpectral analysis and interpretation of the gamma-ray emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Collections

Physics publications
IPAS publications