X-RAY AFTERGLOW OF SWIFT J1644+57: A COMPTON ECHO?

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/816/1/L10· OSTI ID:22518645

Cheng, K. S.; Chernyshov, D. O.; Dogiel, V. A. ^[1]; Kong, Albert K. H. ^[2]; Ko, C. M. ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong (China)
2. Institute of Astronomy and Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (China)
3. Institute of Astronomy, Department of Physics and Center for Complex Systems, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan (China)

Swift, Chandra, and XMM have found a weak but nearly constant X-ray component from Swift J1644+57 that appeared at ∼500 days and was visible at least until ∼1400 days after the stellar capture, which cannot be explained by standard tidal disruption theories. We suggest that this X-ray afterglow component may result from the Thomson scattering between the primary X-rays and its surrounding plasma, i.e., a Compton echo effect. Similar phenomena have also been observed from molecular clouds in our Galactic Center, which were caused by the past activity of Srg A*. If this interpretation of Swift J1644+57 afterglow is correct, this is the first Compton Echo effect observed in the cosmological distances.

• OSTI ID: 22518645
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 816, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
AFTERGLOW
CAPTURE
CLOUDS
COSMOLOGY
DISTANCE
MILKY WAY
PLASMA
THOMSON SCATTERING
X RADIATION