Evidence of a curved cosmic-ray electron spectrum in SN 1006
Abstract
We present Chandra ACIS data for the eastern rim of the supernova remnant SN 1006. A joint spectral analysis of this X-ray data, some radio data and the CANGAROO gamma-ray data was performed using a model that includes synchrotron radiation and inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background. The nonthermal electron spectrum used to compute the emission spectra for these two components is the traditional exponentially cut-off power law with one notable difference. The power-law index is a linear function of the logarithm of the momentum, not just a constant. Inclusion of the linear term enables us to show, for the first time, that the electron spectrum of SN 1006 seems to flatten with increasing energy. At 1 GeV (i.e. radio--synchrotron-emitting energies), the power-law index is about 2.2. At 30 TeV (i.e. X-ray--synchrotron-emitting energies), the index is about 2.0. This result is qualitatively consistent with theoretical models and implies that cosmic rays are dynamically important, not ``test'' particles. The joint spectral analyses also enable us to independently fit the values of the ``maximum'' energy of the electrons and the total strength of the downstream magnetic field. Confidence contour maps for these two parameters are presented.
- Publication:
-
35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004cosp...35.2266A