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Search for X‐ray evidence of cosmic ray acceleration in SNR shocks
Author(s) -
Petre R.,
Allen G.E.,
Hwang U.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3994(199908)320:4/5<199::aid-asna199>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - physics , cosmic ray , astrophysics , acceleration , synchrotron , astronomy , shock (circulatory) , particle acceleration , ultra high energy cosmic ray , nuclear physics , medicine , classical mechanics
The discovery using ASCA that the featureless X‐ray spectrum from the shell of SN 1006 is produced by shock‐accelerated TeV electrons, and is thus an indicator of cosmic ray acceleration, has sparked a search for X‐ray spectral evidence for cosmic ray acceleration in other remnants, as well as much theoretical work. Thus far evidence for cosmic ray acceleration, in the form of synchrotron continuum components, has been found in several additional remnants, including Cas A, G347.5‐0.5, and IC 443. The information provided by both detections and non‐detections of these components can be used to investigate the shock acceleration process. We review the latest results of the continuing search for X‐ray indicators of cosmic ray acceleration in Galactic and Magellanic Cloud SNR's and what we have learned thus far from it.