EVIDENCE FOR COSMIC RAY ACCELERATION IN CASSIOPEIA A

Abstract

Combining archival data taken at radio and infrared wavelengths with state-of-the-art measurements at X-ray and gamma-ray energies, we assembled a broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) of Cas A, a young supernova remnant. Except for strong thermal emission at infrared and X-ray wavelengths, the SED is dominated by non-thermal radiation. We attempted to model the non-thermal SED with a two-zone leptonic model which assumes that the radio emission is produced by electrons that are uniformly distributed throughout the remnant while the non-thermal X-ray emission is produced by electrons that are localized in regions near the forward shock. Synchrotron emission from the electrons can account for data from radio to X-ray wavelengths. Much of the GeV–TeV emission can also be explained by a combination of bremsstrahlung emission and inverse Compton scattering of infrared photons. However, the model cannot fit a distinct feature at GeV energies. This feature can be well accounted for by adding a π0 emission component to the model, providing evidence for cosmic ray production in Cas A. We discuss the implications of these results. Key words: ISM: individual objects (Cassiopeia A) – ISM: supernova remnants – radiation mechanisms: non-thermal Online-only material: color figures 1.