Gamma-Rays from Kilonovae and the Cosmic Gamma-Ray Background

Ruiz‐Lapuente, P.; Korobkin, Oleg

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab744e

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(110 reference statements)

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“…MeV gamma rays are also produced by nuclear processes in the stellar explosions known as supernovae (both so-called Type Ia 18 and core collapse 19 ), which surely also contribute 15 . Other proposed sources include non-thermal emission from black holes 20 , nuclear gamma rays from the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in neutron star mergers ("kilonovae") 21 , and dark matter annihilation 22 . Intriguingly, a recent compilation of the most up-to-date theoretical models 23 is not able to reproduce the existing COMPTEL and SMM measurements, with the total predicted flux falling a factor of ~2 below the data points for energies below ~1.5 MeV (Fig.…”

Section: Scientific Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mini astrophysical MeV background observatory (MAMBO) CubeSat mission for gamma-ray astronomy

Bloser,

Vestrand,

Hehlen

et al. 2023

UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII

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The origin of the Cosmic Diffuse Gamma-ray (CDG) background in the 0.3 to 30 MeV energy range is a mystery that has persisted for 50 years. The best existing measurements have large systematic uncertainties, and the latest theoretical models based on emission from active galactic nuclei and supernovae differ significantly from these data below 1 MeV. The Mini Astrophysical MeV Background Observatory (MAMBO) is a new CubeSat mission under development at Los Alamos National Laboratory with the goal of making high-quality measurements of the MeV CDG to help solve this puzzle. The concept is motivated by the fact that, since the MeV CDG is relatively bright, only a small detector is required to make high-quality measurements of it. Indeed, the sensitivity of space-based gamma-ray instruments to the MeV CDG is limited not by size, but by the locally generated instrumental background produced by interactions of energetic particles in spacecraft materials. Comparatively tiny CubeSat platforms provide a uniquely quiet environment relative to previous gamma-ray science missions. The MAMBO mission will provide the best measurements ever made of the MeV CDG spectrum and angular distribution, utilizing two key innovations: 1) low instrumental background on a 12U CubeSat platform; and 2) an innovative shielded spectrometer design that simultaneously measures signal and background. Los Alamos is partnering with commercial vendors for the 12U CubeSat bus and ground station network, which we expect will become a new paradigm for low-cost, fast-turnaround space science missions. We present calibration and test results for the payload and simulations of the expected scientific return.

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Section: Scientific Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mini astrophysical MeV background observatory (MAMBO) CubeSat mission for gamma-ray astronomy

Bloser,

Vestrand,

Hehlen

et al. 2023

UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII

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“…Other sources contributing to the CGB include a diverse set of active galaxies. Seyfert galaxies provide most of the emission from X-ray energies up to 0.3 MeV (Madau et al 1994;Ueda et al 2003;Ruiz-Lapuente & Korobkin 2020) while blazars, starforming galaxies, and radio galaxies seem to be responsible for the emission from 50 MeV to the GeV range (Ajello et al 2015;Di Mauro & Donato 2015;Ruiz-Lapuente & Korobkin 2020). Recent work by Marcotulli et al (2022) shows that there is a considerable contribution from FSRQs in the 0.1-20.0 MeV regime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmic Supernova Neutrino and Gamma-Ray Backgrounds in the MeV Regime

Anandagoda

Hartmann

Fryer

et al. 2023

ApJ

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Cosmic multimessenger backgrounds include relic diffuse components created in the early universe and contributions from individual sources. Here, we study both type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) contributions to the diffuse neutrino and gamma-ray backgrounds in the MeV regime referred to as DSNB and DSGB respectively. We show that the diffuse SN Ia background is 106 times lower (for ν ¯ e ) than the CCSN background making it negligible. Our predicted DSNB ν ¯ e flux at earth in the 19.3–32 MeV regime is 0.36 ν cm−2 s−1. We also find that the DSNB flux in the energy range from 11.3 to 32 MeV varies by +29% with a change in the SFRD model from Madau & Fragos which yielded a minimum predicted flux, to the extragalactic background light reconstruction model (maximum predicted flux). The diffuse SN Ia gamma-ray background and its dependence on the progenitor supernova delay time distribution are also evaluated. Furthermore, we address the origin of the CGB (Cosmic Gamma-ray Background) in the 0.1–7 MeV regime by adding contributions from sources such as SNe Ia, CCSNe, radio-quiet Active Galactic Nuclei, Flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and Neutron star—neutron star mergers. We find that our modeled background (including uncertainties) matches the observed CGB above 1.0 MeV, but is a factor ≈2 lower than the observed flux in the 0.1–1.0 MeV range, highlighting the need for future MeV missions to establish the CGB spectrum more reliably, and to possibly identify additional sources or even source classes in the underexplored MeV band.

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“…MeV gamma rays can provide complementary evidence, should the event occur nearby. Previous studies (Hotokezaka et al 2016;Li 2019;Korobkin et al 2020;Ruiz-Lapuente & Korobkin 2020) considered the MeV photons emitted from the β decay of radioactive r-process species and found such signals can encode key information on composition and event morphology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MeV Gamma Rays from Fission: A Distinct Signature of Actinide Production in Neutron Star Mergers

Wang,

Vassh,

Sprouse

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Neutron star mergers (NSMs) are the first verified site of rapid neutron capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis, and could emit gamma rays from the radioactive isotopes synthesized in the neutron-rich ejecta. These MeV gamma rays may provide a unique and direct probe of the NSM environment as well insight into the nature of the r process, just as observed gammas from the 56 Ni radioactive decay chain provide a window into supernova nucleosynthesis. In this work, we include the photons from fission processes for the first time in estimates of the MeV gamma-ray signal expected from a NSM event. We consider NSM ejecta compositions with a range of neutron richness and find a dramatic difference in the predicted signal depending on whether or not fissioning nuclei are produced. The difference is most striking at photon energies above ∼ 3.5 MeV and at a relatively late time, several days after the merger event, when the ejecta is optically thin. We estimate that a Galactic NSM could be detectable by a next generation gamma-ray detector such as AMEGO in the MeV range, up to ∼ 10 4 days after the merger, if fissioning nuclei are robustly produced in the event.

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Gamma-Rays from Kilonovae and the Cosmic Gamma-Ray Background

Cited by 8 publications

References 80 publications

The mini astrophysical MeV background observatory (MAMBO) CubeSat mission for gamma-ray astronomy

The mini astrophysical MeV background observatory (MAMBO) CubeSat mission for gamma-ray astronomy

Cosmic Supernova Neutrino and Gamma-Ray Backgrounds in the MeV Regime

MeV Gamma Rays from Fission: A Distinct Signature of Actinide Production in Neutron Star Mergers

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