RE-EXAMINATION OF THE EXPECTED GAMMA-RAY EMISSION OF SUPERNOVA REMNANT SN 1987A

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/810/1/63· OSTI ID:22525502

Berezhko, E. G.; Ksenofontov, L. T. ^[1]

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1. Yu. G. Shafer Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Aeronomy, 31 Lenin Avenue, 677980 Yakutsk (Russian Federation)

A nonlinear kinetic theory, combining cosmic-ray (CR) acceleration in supernova remnants (SNRs) with their gas dynamics, is used to re-examine the nonthermal properties of the remnant of SN 1987A for an extended evolutionary period of 5–50 year. This spherically symmetric model is approximately applied to the different features of the SNR, consisting of (i) a blue supergiant wind and bubble, and (ii) of the swept-up red supergiant (RSG) wind structures in the form of an H ii region, an equatorial ring (ER), and an hourglass region. The RSG wind involves a mass loss rate that decreases significantly with elevation above and below the equatorial plane. The model adapts recent three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations by Potter et al. in 2014 that use a significantlysmaller ionized mass of the ER than assumed in the earlier studies by the present authors. The SNR shock recently swept up the ER, which is the densest region in the immediate circumstellar environment. Therefore, the expected gamma-ray energy flux density at TeV energies in the current epoch has already reached its maximal value of ∼10{sup −13} erg cm{sup −2} s{sup −1}. This flux should decrease by a factor of about two over the next 10 years.

• OSTI ID: 22525502
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 810; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ACCELERATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COSMIC RADIATION
FLUX DENSITY
GAMMA RADIATION
MASS TRANSFER
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
TEV RANGE
X RADIATION