Issue |
A&A
Volume 622, February 2019
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A57 | |
Number of page(s) | 8 | |
Section | Astrophysical processes | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201833651 | |
Published online | 28 January 2019 |
The Orion Region: Evidence of enhanced cosmic-ray density in a stellar wind forward shock interaction with a high density shell
1
INAF-IAPS, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
e-mail: martina.cardillo@inaf.it
2
Dip. di Fisica, Univ. Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
3
Gran Sasso Science Institute, Viale Francesco Crispi 7, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
4
Astronomia, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Via della Lungara 10, 00165 Roma, Italy
5
INAF – IASF Milano, Via E. Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy
Received:
15
June
2018
Accepted:
19
December
2018
Context. In recent years, an in-depth γ-ray analysis of the Orion region has been carried out by the AGILE and Fermi/LAT (Large Area Telescope) teams with the aim of estimating the H2–CO conversion factor, XCO. The comparison of the data from both satellites with models of diffuse γ-ray Galactic emission unveiled an excess at (l, b)=[213.9, −19.5], in a region at a short angular distance from the OB star κ-Ori. Possible explanations of this excess are scattering of the so-called “dark gas”, non-linearity in the H2–CO relation, or cosmic-ray (CR) energization at the κ-Ori wind shock.
Aims. Concerning this last hypothesis, we want to verify whether cosmic-ray acceleration or re-acceleration could be triggered at the κ-Ori forward shock, which we suppose to be interacting with a star-forming shell detected in several wavebands and probably triggered by high energy particles.
Methods. Starting from the AGILE spectrum of the detected γ-ray excess, showed here for the first time, we developed a valid physical model for cosmic-ray energization, taking into account re-acceleration, acceleration, energy losses, and secondary electron contribution.
Results. Despite the characteristic low velocity of an OB star forward shock during its “snowplow” expansion phase, we find that the Orion γ-ray excess could be explained by re-acceleration of pre-existing cosmic rays in the interaction between the forward shock of κ-Ori and the CO-detected, star-forming shell swept-up by the star expansion. According to our calculations, a possible contribution from freshly accelerated particles is sub-dominant with respect the re-acceleration contribution. However, a simple adiabatic compression of the shell could also explain the detected γ-ray emission. Futher GeV and TeV observations of this region are highly recommended in order to correctly identify the real physical scenario.
Key words: acceleration of particles / radiation mechanisms: non-thermal / methods: data analysis / stars: winds / outflows / cosmic rays / gamma rays: ISM
© ESO 2019
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