HESS J1745$-$290 spectrum explained by a transition in the diffusion regime of PeV cosmic rays in the Sgr A* accretion flow

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Main Authors: Muena, Claudio, Riquelme, Mario, Reisenegger, Andreas, Sandoval, Astor
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Muena, Claudio
Riquelme, Mario
Reisenegger, Andreas
Sandoval, Astor
author_facet Muena, Claudio
Riquelme, Mario
Reisenegger, Andreas
Sandoval, Astor
contents Context. The diffuse TeV gamma-ray emission detected in the inner $\sim$ 100 pc of the Galactic Center suggests the existence of a central cosmic-ray accelerator reaching $\sim$ PeV energies. It is interesting to associate this so-called PeVatron with the point source HESS J1745$-$290, whose position is consistent with that of the central supermassive black hole, Sgr A*. However, the point source shows a spectral break at a few TeV, which is not shown by the diffuse emission, challenging this association. Aims. We seek to build an emission model for the point source consistent with both emissions being produced by the same population of relativistic protons, continuously injected with a power-law spectrum up to $\sim$ PeV energies, near Sgr A*. Methods. In our model, we assume that the point source is produced by hadronic collisions between the cosmic rays and the gas in the accretion flow of Sgr A*. The cosmic-ray density is calculated taking into consideration cosmic-ray transport due to diffusion and advection, while the properties of the gas are obtained from previous numerical simulations of the accretion flow. Results. Our model succeeds in explaining both the point source and the diffuse emission with the same cosmic rays injected in the vicinity of Sgr A*, as long as the coherence length of the magnetic turbulence in the accretion flow is $l_c\sim(1-3)\times 10^{14}\,\mathrm{cm}$. The spectral break of the point source appears naturally due to an energy-dependent transition in the way the cosmic rays diffuse within the inner $\sim 0.1$ pc of the accretion flow (where most of the emission is produced) Conclusions. Our model supports the idea that Sgr A* can be a PeVatron, whose accelerated cosmic rays give rise to both the point source and the diffuse emission. Future TeV telescopes, like CTAO, will be able to test this model.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_16348
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle HESS J1745$-$290 spectrum explained by a transition in the diffusion regime of PeV cosmic rays in the Sgr A* accretion flow
Muena, Claudio
Riquelme, Mario
Reisenegger, Andreas
Sandoval, Astor
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Context. The diffuse TeV gamma-ray emission detected in the inner $\sim$ 100 pc of the Galactic Center suggests the existence of a central cosmic-ray accelerator reaching $\sim$ PeV energies. It is interesting to associate this so-called PeVatron with the point source HESS J1745$-$290, whose position is consistent with that of the central supermassive black hole, Sgr A*. However, the point source shows a spectral break at a few TeV, which is not shown by the diffuse emission, challenging this association. Aims. We seek to build an emission model for the point source consistent with both emissions being produced by the same population of relativistic protons, continuously injected with a power-law spectrum up to $\sim$ PeV energies, near Sgr A*. Methods. In our model, we assume that the point source is produced by hadronic collisions between the cosmic rays and the gas in the accretion flow of Sgr A*. The cosmic-ray density is calculated taking into consideration cosmic-ray transport due to diffusion and advection, while the properties of the gas are obtained from previous numerical simulations of the accretion flow. Results. Our model succeeds in explaining both the point source and the diffuse emission with the same cosmic rays injected in the vicinity of Sgr A*, as long as the coherence length of the magnetic turbulence in the accretion flow is $l_c\sim(1-3)\times 10^{14}\,\mathrm{cm}$. The spectral break of the point source appears naturally due to an energy-dependent transition in the way the cosmic rays diffuse within the inner $\sim 0.1$ pc of the accretion flow (where most of the emission is produced) Conclusions. Our model supports the idea that Sgr A* can be a PeVatron, whose accelerated cosmic rays give rise to both the point source and the diffuse emission. Future TeV telescopes, like CTAO, will be able to test this model.
title HESS J1745$-$290 spectrum explained by a transition in the diffusion regime of PeV cosmic rays in the Sgr A* accretion flow
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.16348