Context. Nearly a dozen star-forming galaxies have been detected in γ-rays by the Fermi observatory in the last decade. A remarkable property of this sample is the quasi-linear relation between the γ-ray luminosity and the star formation rate, which was obtained assuming that the latter is well traced by the infrared luminosity of the galaxies. The non-linearity of this relation has not been fully explained yet. Aims. We aim to determine the biases derived from the use of the infrared luminosity as a proxy for the star formation rate and to shed light on the more fundamental relation between the latter and the γ-ray luminosity. We expect to quantify and explain some trends observed in this relation. Methods. We compiled a near-homogeneous set of distances, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and γ-ray fluxes from the literature for all known γ-ray emitting, star-forming galaxies. From these data, we computed the infrared and γ-ray luminosities, and star formation rates. We determined the best-fitting relation between the latter two, and we describe the trend using simple, population-orientated models for cosmic-ray transport and cooling. Results. We find that the γ-ray luminosity–star formation rate relation obtained from infrared luminosities is biased to shallower slopes. The actual relation is steeper than previous estimates, having a power-law index of 1.35 ± 0.05, in contrast to 1.23 ± 0.06. Conclusions. The unbiased γ-ray luminosity–star formation rate relation can be explained at high star formation rates by assuming that the cosmic-ray cooling region is kiloparsec-sized and pervaded by mild to fast winds. Combined with previous results about the scaling of wind velocity with star formation rate, our work provides support to advection as the dominant cosmic-ray escape mechanism in galaxies with low star formation rates.
Context. The Argentine Institute of Radio astronomy (IAR) is equipped with two single-dish 30 m radio antennas capable of performing daily observations of pulsars and radio transients in the southern hemisphere at 1.4 GHz. Aims. We aim to introduce to the international community the upgrades performed and to show that IAR observatory has become suitable for investigations in numerous areas of pulsar radio astronomy, such as pulsar timing arrays, targeted searches of continuous gravitational waves sources, monitoring of magnetars and glitching pulsars, and studies of short time scale interstellar scintillation. Methods. We refurbished the two antennas at IAR to achieve high-quality timing observations. We gathered more than 1 000 hours of observations with both antennas to study the timing precision and sensitivity they can achieve. Results. We introduce the new developments for both radio telescopes at IAR. We present observations of the millisecond pulsar J0437−4715 with timing precision better than 1 µs. We also present a follow-up of the reactivation of the magnetar XTE J1810-197 and the measurement and monitoring of the latest (Feb. 1st. 2019) glitch of the Vela pulsar (J0835-4510).Conclusions. We show that IAR is capable of performing pulsar monitoring in the 1.4 GHz radio band for long periods of time with a daily cadence. This opens the possibility of pursuing several goals in pulsar science, including coordinated multi-wavelength observations with other observatories. In particular, observations of the millisecond pulsar J0437−4715 will increase the gravitational wave sensitivity of the NANOGrav array in their current blind spot. We also show IAR's great potential for studying targets of opportunity and transient phenomena such as magnetars, glitches, and fast-radio-burst sources.
Context. Star-forming galaxies emit non-thermal radiation from radio to γ rays. Observations show that their radio and γ-ray luminosities scale with their star formation rates, supporting the hypothesis that non-thermal radiation is emitted by cosmic rays produced by their stellar populations. However, the nature of the main cosmic-ray transport processes that shape the emission in these galaxies is still poorly understood, especially at low star formation rates. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the main mechanisms of global cosmic-ray transport and cooling in star-forming galaxies. The way they contribute to shaping the relations between non-thermal luminosities and star formation rates could shed light onto their nature, and allow us to quantify their relative importance at different star formation rates. Methods. We developed a model to compute the cosmic-ray populations of star-forming galaxies, taking into account their production, transport, and cooling. The model is parametrised only through global galaxy properties, and describes the non-thermal emission in radio (at 1.4 GHz and 150 MHz) and γ rays (in the 0.1−100 GeV band). We focused on the role of diffusive and advective transport by galactic winds, either driven by turbulent or thermal instabilities. We compared model predictions to observations, for which we compiled a homogeneous set of luminosities in these radio bands, and updated those available in γ rays. Results. Our model reproduces reasonably well the observed relations between the γ-ray or 1.4 GHz radio luminosities and the star formation rate, assuming a single power-law scaling of the magnetic field (with index β = 0.3) and winds blowing either at Alfvenic speeds (∼tens of km s−1, for ≲5 M⊙ yr−1) or typical starburst wind velocities (∼hundreds of km s−1, for ≳5 M⊙ yr−1). Escape of cosmic rays is negligible for ≳30 M⊙ yr−1. A constant ionisation fraction of the interstellar medium fails to reproduce the 150 MHz radio luminosity throughout the whole star formation rate range. Conclusions. Our results reinforce the idea that galaxies with high star formation rates are cosmic-ray calorimeters, and that the main mechanism driving proton escape is diffusion, whereas electron escape also proceeds via wind advection. They also suggest that these winds should be cosmic-ray or thermally driven at low and intermediate star formation rates, respectively. Our results globally support that magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence is responsible for the dependence of the magnetic field strength on the star formation rate and that the ionisation fraction is strongly disfavoured to be constant throughout the whole range of star formation rates.
A deep survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud at ∼0.1–100 TeV photon energies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array is planned. We assess the detection prospects based on a model for the emission of the galaxy, comprising the four known TeV emitters, mock populations of sources, and interstellar emission on galactic scales. We also assess the detectability of 30 Doradus and SN 1987A, and the constraints that can be derived on the nature of dark matter. The survey will allow for fine spectral studies of N 157B, N 132D, LMC P3, and 30 Doradus C, and half a dozen other sources should be revealed, mainly pulsar-powered objects. The remnant from SN 1987A could be detected if it produces cosmic-ray nuclei with a flat power-law spectrum at high energies, or with a steeper index 2.3–2.4 pending a flux increase by a factor >3–4 over ∼2015–2035. Large-scale interstellar emission remains mostly out of reach of the survey if its >10 GeV spectrum has a soft photon index ∼2.7, but degree-scale 0.1–10 TeV pion-decay emission could be detected if the cosmic-ray spectrum hardens above >100 GeV. The 30 Doradus star-forming region is detectable if acceleration efficiency is on the order of 1 − 10 per cent of the mechanical luminosity and diffusion is suppressed by two orders of magnitude within <100 pc. Finally, the survey could probe the canonical velocity-averaged cross section for self-annihilation of weakly interacting massive particles for cuspy Navarro-Frenk-White profiles.
Cosmic rays (CRs) are responsible for a tight correlation between the star formation rate (SFR) and the radio/ -ray luminosity observed in star-forming galaxies (SFGs). This correlation can be explained by a linear scaling between the SFR and the number of CR acceleration sites, such as supernova remnants, coupled to the dependence of particle escape with galaxy properties. Observations in radio and -rays are important tools to probe CR activity, but they may not be sufficient to fully characterise the confinement properties of galaxies. For instance, CR calorimetry is one of the most intriguing unanswered aspects in star-forming regions that could result not only in emission through the neutrino channel but possibly also in the hard X-ray and MeV energy bands. We perform a multi-wavelength investigation of the CR population and the effective fields affecting their transport within SFGs with different levels of activity. In particular, we focus on the possibility of testing proton confinement in the X-ray and MeV bands. With this goal, we develop a model describing the CR transport in SFGs for a broad range of SFRs. Hadronic byproducts, pair production and leptonic emission are computed self-consistently in a multi-wavelength context ranging from radio up to X-rays and -rays. We conclude that a panchromatic view of the SFRluminosity correlations in SFGs is key to place strong constraints on the physical processes that govern the non-thermal physics of these sources.
We present the first-year data set of high-cadence, long-duration observations of the bright millisecond pulsar J0437−4715 obtained in the Argentine Institute of Radioastronomy (IAR). Using two single-dish 30 m radio antennas, we gather more than 700 hr of good-quality data with timing precision better than 1 µs. We characterize the white and red timing noise in IAR's observations, we quantify the effects of scintillation, and we perform single-pulsar searches of continuous gravitational waves, setting constraints in the nHz-µHz frequency range. We demonstrate IAR's potential for performing pulsar monitoring in the 1.4 GHz radio band for long periods of time with a daily cadence. In particular, we conclude that the ongoing observational campaign of J0437−4715 can contribute to increase the sensitivity of the existing pulsar-timing arrays.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be the next generation ground-based very-high-energy gamma-ray observatory, constituted by tens of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes at two sites once its construction and commissioning are finished. Like its predecessors, CTA relies on Instrument Response Functions (IRFs) to relate the observed and reconstructed properties to the true ones of the primary gamma-ray photons. IRFs are needed for the proper reconstruction of spectral and spatial information of the observed sources and are thus among the data products issued to the observatory users. They are derived from Monte Carlo simulations, depend on observation conditions like the telescope pointing direction or the atmospheric transparency and can evolve with time as hardware ages or is replaced. Producing a complete set of IRFs from simulations for every observation taken is a time-consuming task and not feasible when releasing data products on short timescales. Consequently, interpolation techniques on simulated IRFs are investigated to quickly estimate IRFs for specific observation conditions. However, as some of the IRFs constituents are given as probability distributions, specialized methods are needed. This contribution summarizes and compares the feasibility of multiple approaches to interpolate IRF components in the context of the pyirf python software package and IRFs simulated for the Large-Sized Telescope prototype (LST-1). We will also give an overview of the current functionalities implemented in pyirf.
Clusters of galaxies are the largest gravitationally-bound structures in the Universe. They are composed of galaxies and gas (approximately 15% of the total mass) mostly dark matter (DM, accounts up to 85% of the total mass). If the DM is composed of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), galaxy clusters represent one of the best targets to search for gamma-ray signals induced by the decay of WIMPs, with masses around the TeV scale. Due to its sensitivity and energy range of operation (from 20 GeV to 300 TeV), the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Observatory has a unique opportunity to test WIMPs with masses close to the unitarity limit. This will complement the searches for DM from other gamma-ray observatories as well as direct and collider experiments. The CTA Observatory is planning to search for gamma-ray emission, either its origin may be cosmic-ray (CR) or DM related, in the Perseus galaxy cluster during the first years of operation. In this poster, we will present the software created to perform the analysis using the ctools software and the corresponding results.
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