Measuring the Cosmic-Ray Acceleration Efficiency of a Supernova Remnant
Helder EA, Vink J, Bassa CG, Bamba A, Bleeker JAM, Funk S, Ghavamian P, Van Der Heyden KJ, Verbunt F, Yamazaki R (2009)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2009
Journal
Book Volume: 325
Pages Range: 719-722
Journal Issue: 5941
Abstract
Cosmic rays are the most energetic particles arriving at Earth. Although most of them are thought to be accelerated by supernova remnants, the details of the acceleration process and its efficiency are not well determined. Here we show that the pressure induced by cosmic rays exceeds the thermal pressure behind the northeast shock of the supernova remnant RCW 86, where the x-ray emission is dominated by synchrotron radiation from ultrarelativistic electrons. We determined the cosmic-ray content from the thermal Doppler broadening measured with optical spectroscopy, combined with a proper-motion study in x-rays. The measured postshock proton temperature, in combination with the shock velocity, does not agree with standard shock heating, implying that >50% of the postshock pressure is produced by cosmic rays.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Universiteit Utrecht (UU) / Utrecht University
Netherlands (NL)
Netherlands Institute for Space Research / Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland (SRON)
Netherlands (NL)
Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA)
Japan (JP)
Stanford University
United States (USA) (US)
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
United States (USA) (US)
University of Cape Town (UCT)
South Africa (ZA)
Hiroshima University
Japan (JP)
Netherlands (NL)
Netherlands Institute for Space Research / Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland (SRON)
Netherlands (NL)
Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA)
Japan (JP)
Stanford University
United States (USA) (US)
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
United States (USA) (US)
University of Cape Town (UCT)
South Africa (ZA)
Hiroshima University
Japan (JP)
How to cite
APA:
Helder, E.A., Vink, J., Bassa, C.G., Bamba, A., Bleeker, J.A.M., Funk, S.,... Yamazaki, R. (2009). Measuring the Cosmic-Ray Acceleration Efficiency of a Supernova Remnant. Science, 325(5941), 719-722. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1173383
MLA:
Helder, E. A., et al. "Measuring the Cosmic-Ray Acceleration Efficiency of a Supernova Remnant." Science 325.5941 (2009): 719-722.
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