Abstract

We report on the first detection of GeV high-energy gamma-ray emission from a young supernova remnant (SNR) with the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. These observations reveal a source with no discernible spatial extension detected at a significance level of 12.2 sigma above 500 MeV a a location that is consistent with the position of the remnant of the supernova explosion that occurred around 1680 in the Cassiopeia constellation-Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The gamma-ray flux and spectral shape of the source are consistent with a scenario in which the gamma-ray emission originates from relativistic particles accelerated in the shell of this remnant. The total content of cosmic rays (electrons and protons) accelerated in Cas A can be estimated as W(CR) similar or equal to (1-4) x 10(49) erg thanks to the well-known density in the remnant assuming that the observed gamma ray originates in the SNR shell(s). The magnetic field in the radio-emitting plasma can be robustly constrained as B >= 0.1 mG, providing new evidence of the magnetic field amplification at the forward shock and the strong field in the shocked ejecta.

Autore Pugliese

• Loparco Francesco , Giordano Francesco , Fusco Piergiorgio , Raino' Silvia

Tutti gli autori

• LOPARCO F.;GIORDANO F.;FUSCO P.;RAINO' S.

Titolo volume/Rivista

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Anno di pubblicazione

2010

ISSN

2041-8205

ISBN

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Settori ERC

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