High-Energy Gamma Rays from Polars
Abstract
An analysis of the EGRET phase 1 data was made to search for γ-ray emission from the magnetic cataclysmic variables V834 Cen, VV Pup, and AM Her. These sources were not detected using either a steady (DC) or a periodic (AC) analysis. These results are consistent with the upper limit detected by the Whipple Observatory at TeV energies, if we assume that γ-rays are produced, via pion decay, from accelerated protons with a power-law energy spectrum of -2, and are inconsistent with a claimed detection at TeV energies by the Gulmarg Observatory. Our results show that the γ-ray luminosity from polars is less than 1 % of the bolometric luminosity and that the acceleration of particles (protons) to γ-ray energies by diffusive shocks is probably not important for polars.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1086/176143
- Bibcode:
- 1995ApJ...450..334B
- Keywords:
-
- GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS;
- PARTICLE ACCELERATION;
- STARS: NOVAE;
- CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES