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Title: STAR-JET INTERACTIONS AND GAMMA-RAY OUTBURSTS FROM 3C454.3

Abstract

We propose a model to explain the ultra-bright GeV gamma-ray flares observed from the blazar 3C454.3. The model is based on the concept of a relativistic jet interacting with compact gas condensations produced when a star (a red giant) crosses the jet close to the central black hole. The study includes an analytical treatment of the evolution of the envelope lost by the star within the jet, and calculations of the related high-energy radiation. The model readily explains the day-long that varies on timescales of hours, GeV gamma-ray flare from 3C454.3, observed during 2010 November on top of a plateau lasting weeks. In the proposed scenario, the plateau state is caused by a strong wind generated by the heating of the stellar atmosphere due to nonthermal particles accelerated at the jet-star interaction region. The flare itself could be produced by a few clouds of matter lost by the red giant after the initial impact of the jet. In the framework of the proposed scenario, the observations constrain the key model parameters of the source, including the mass of the central black hole: M{sub BH} {approx_equal} 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun }, the total jet power: L{sub j} {approx_equal} 10{sup 48} ergmore » s{sup -1}, and the Doppler factor of the gamma-ray emitting clouds: {delta} {approx_equal} 20. Whereas we do not specify the particle acceleration mechanisms, the potential gamma-ray production processes are discussed and compared in the context of the proposed model. We argue that synchrotron radiation of protons has certain advantages compared to other radiation channels of directlyaccelerated electrons. An injected proton distribution {proportional_to}E {sup -1} or harder below the relevant energies would be favored to alleviate the tight energetic constraints and to avoid the violation of the observational low-energy constraints.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science/JAXA, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 (Japan)
  2. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
  3. Departament d'Astronomia i Meteorologia, Institut de Ciencies del Cosmos (ICC), Universitat de Barcelona (IEEC-UB), Marti i Franques 1, E-08028 Barcelona (Spain)
  4. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 31 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 (Ireland)
  5. Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 662, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22133890
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 774; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; BLACK HOLES; COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS; ELECTRONS; GAMMA RADIATION; MASS; PROTONS; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; STARS; STELLAR ATMOSPHERES; STELLAR FLARES; STELLAR WINDS; SYNCHROTRON RADIATION

Citation Formats

Khangulyan, D. V., Barkov, M. V., Bosch-Ramon, V., Aharonian, F. A., and Dorodnitsyn, A. V. STAR-JET INTERACTIONS AND GAMMA-RAY OUTBURSTS FROM 3C454.3. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/774/2/113.
Khangulyan, D. V., Barkov, M. V., Bosch-Ramon, V., Aharonian, F. A., & Dorodnitsyn, A. V. STAR-JET INTERACTIONS AND GAMMA-RAY OUTBURSTS FROM 3C454.3. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/774/2/113
Khangulyan, D. V., Barkov, M. V., Bosch-Ramon, V., Aharonian, F. A., and Dorodnitsyn, A. V. 2013. "STAR-JET INTERACTIONS AND GAMMA-RAY OUTBURSTS FROM 3C454.3". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/774/2/113.
@article{osti_22133890,
title = {STAR-JET INTERACTIONS AND GAMMA-RAY OUTBURSTS FROM 3C454.3},
author = {Khangulyan, D. V. and Barkov, M. V. and Bosch-Ramon, V. and Aharonian, F. A. and Dorodnitsyn, A. V.},
abstractNote = {We propose a model to explain the ultra-bright GeV gamma-ray flares observed from the blazar 3C454.3. The model is based on the concept of a relativistic jet interacting with compact gas condensations produced when a star (a red giant) crosses the jet close to the central black hole. The study includes an analytical treatment of the evolution of the envelope lost by the star within the jet, and calculations of the related high-energy radiation. The model readily explains the day-long that varies on timescales of hours, GeV gamma-ray flare from 3C454.3, observed during 2010 November on top of a plateau lasting weeks. In the proposed scenario, the plateau state is caused by a strong wind generated by the heating of the stellar atmosphere due to nonthermal particles accelerated at the jet-star interaction region. The flare itself could be produced by a few clouds of matter lost by the red giant after the initial impact of the jet. In the framework of the proposed scenario, the observations constrain the key model parameters of the source, including the mass of the central black hole: M{sub BH} {approx_equal} 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun }, the total jet power: L{sub j} {approx_equal} 10{sup 48} erg s{sup -1}, and the Doppler factor of the gamma-ray emitting clouds: {delta} {approx_equal} 20. Whereas we do not specify the particle acceleration mechanisms, the potential gamma-ray production processes are discussed and compared in the context of the proposed model. We argue that synchrotron radiation of protons has certain advantages compared to other radiation channels of directlyaccelerated electrons. An injected proton distribution {proportional_to}E {sup -1} or harder below the relevant energies would be favored to alleviate the tight energetic constraints and to avoid the violation of the observational low-energy constraints.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/774/2/113},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22133890}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 774,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}