Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Fermi lat and wmap observations of the supernova remnant HB 21

  • G. Pivato
  • , John W. Hewitt
  • , L. Tibaldo
  • , F. Acero
  • , J. Ballet
  • , T. J. Brandt
  • , F. de Palma
  • , F. Giordano
  • , G. H. Janssen
  • , G. Johannesson
  • , D. A. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present the analysis of Fermi Large Area Telescope γ-ray observations of HB 21 (G89.0+4.7). We detect significant γ-ray emission associated with the remnant: the flux >100 MeV is 9.4 ± 0.8 (stat) ± 1.6 (syst) × 10−11 erg cm−2 s−1. HB 21 is well modeled by a uniform disk centered at l = 8875 ± 004, b = +465 ± 006 with a radius of 119 ± 006. The γ-ray spectrum shows clear evidence of curvature, suggesting a cutoff or break in the underlying particle population at an energy of a few GeV. We complement γ-ray observations with the analysis of the WMAP 7 yr data from 23 to 93 GHz, achieving the first detection of HB 21 at these frequencies. In combination with archival radio data, the radio spectrum shows a spectral break, which helps to constrain the relativistic electron spectrum, and, in turn, parameters of simple non-thermal radiation models. In one-zone models multiwavelength data favor the origin of γ rays from nucleon-nucleon collisions. A single population of electrons cannot produce both γ rays through bremsstrahlung and radio emission through synchrotron radiation. A predominantly inverse-Compton origin of the γ-ray emission is disfavored because it requires lower interstellar densities than are inferred for HB 21. In the hadronic-dominated scenarios, accelerated nuclei contribute a total energy of ∼3 × 1049 erg, while, in a two-zone bremsstrahlung-dominated scenario, the total energy in accelerated particles is ∼1 × 1049 erg.

Original languageEnglish
Article number179
Pages (from-to)1–13
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume779
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 20 2013

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • ISM: individual objects (HB 21)
  • acceleration of particles
  • cosmic rays
  • radiation mechanisms:non-thermal

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fermi lat and wmap observations of the supernova remnant HB 21'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this