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Title: Characterizing cosmic-ray propagation in massive star-forming regions: The case of 30 Doradus and the large Magellanic cloud

Abstract

We investigate the propagation characteristics of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons and nuclei in the 30 Doradus (30 Dor) star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using infrared, radio, and γ-ray data and a phenomenological model based on the radio-far-infrared correlation within galaxies. By employing a correlation analysis, we derive an average propagation length of ~100-140 pc for ~3 GeV CR electrons resident in 30 Dor from consideration of the radio and infrared data. Assuming that the observed γ-ray emission toward 30 Dor is associated with the star-forming region, and applying the same methodology to the infrared and γ-ray data, we estimate a ~20 GeV propagation length of 200-320 pc for the CR nuclei. This is approximately twice as large as for ~3 GeV CR electrons, corresponding to a spatial diffusion coefficient that is ~4 times higher, scaling as (R/GV)δ with δ ≈ 0.7-0.8 depending on the smearing kernel used in the correlation analysis. This value is in agreement with the results found by extending the correlation analysis to include ~70 GeV CR nuclei traced by the 3-10 GeV γ-ray data (δ ≈ 0.66 ± 0.23). Using the mean age of the stellar populations in 30 Dor and the results frommore » our correlation analysis, we estimate a diffusion coefficient DR ≈ (0.9-1.0) × 1027(R/GV)0.7 cm2 s–1. We also compare the values of the CR electron propagation length and surface brightness for 30 Dor and the LMC as a whole with those of entire disk galaxies. We find that the trend of decreasing average CR propagation distance with increasing disk-averaged star formation activity holds for the LMC, and extends down to single star-forming regions, at least for the case of 30 Dor.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Observatories of the Carnegie Inst. for Science, Pasadena, CA (United States)
  2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Hansen Experimental Physics Lab.; Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Kavli Inst. for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
  3. California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
  4. Max Planck Inst. for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching (Germany)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
Contributing Org.:
Fermi LAT Collaboration
OSTI Identifier:
1356737
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-76SF00515
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 750; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; cosmic rays; galaxies: individual (LMC); gamma rays: galaxies; H II regions; infrared: galaxies; radio continuum: galaxies; stars: formation

Citation Formats

Murphy, E. J., Porter, T. A., Moskalenko, I. V., Helou, G., and Strong, A. W. Characterizing cosmic-ray propagation in massive star-forming regions: The case of 30 Doradus and the large Magellanic cloud. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126.
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Murphy, E. J., Porter, T. A., Moskalenko, I. V., Helou, G., & Strong, A. W. Characterizing cosmic-ray propagation in massive star-forming regions: The case of 30 Doradus and the large Magellanic cloud. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126
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Murphy, E. J., Porter, T. A., Moskalenko, I. V., Helou, G., and Strong, A. W. Tue . "Characterizing cosmic-ray propagation in massive star-forming regions: The case of 30 Doradus and the large Magellanic cloud". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1356737.
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@article{osti_1356737,
title = {Characterizing cosmic-ray propagation in massive star-forming regions: The case of 30 Doradus and the large Magellanic cloud},
author = {Murphy, E. J. and Porter, T. A. and Moskalenko, I. V. and Helou, G. and Strong, A. W.},
abstractNote = {We investigate the propagation characteristics of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons and nuclei in the 30 Doradus (30 Dor) star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using infrared, radio, and γ-ray data and a phenomenological model based on the radio-far-infrared correlation within galaxies. By employing a correlation analysis, we derive an average propagation length of ~100-140 pc for ~3 GeV CR electrons resident in 30 Dor from consideration of the radio and infrared data. Assuming that the observed γ-ray emission toward 30 Dor is associated with the star-forming region, and applying the same methodology to the infrared and γ-ray data, we estimate a ~20 GeV propagation length of 200-320 pc for the CR nuclei. This is approximately twice as large as for ~3 GeV CR electrons, corresponding to a spatial diffusion coefficient that is ~4 times higher, scaling as (R/GV)δ with δ ≈ 0.7-0.8 depending on the smearing kernel used in the correlation analysis. This value is in agreement with the results found by extending the correlation analysis to include ~70 GeV CR nuclei traced by the 3-10 GeV γ-ray data (δ ≈ 0.66 ± 0.23). Using the mean age of the stellar populations in 30 Dor and the results from our correlation analysis, we estimate a diffusion coefficient DR ≈ (0.9-1.0) × 1027(R/GV)0.7 cm2 s–1. We also compare the values of the CR electron propagation length and surface brightness for 30 Dor and the LMC as a whole with those of entire disk galaxies. We find that the trend of decreasing average CR propagation distance with increasing disk-averaged star formation activity holds for the LMC, and extends down to single star-forming regions, at least for the case of 30 Dor.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126},
journal = {The Astrophysical Journal},
number = 2,
volume = 750,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue Apr 24 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126
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