Exploring Galactic Particle Accelerators with the All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-Ray Observatory (AMEGO)
Abstract
Observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope have raised new questions about particle accelerators within the Galaxy, including supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae, and novae. What is the origin and mechanism of the extreme, rapid variability seen in the Crab Nebula and how does it connect to longer time-scale hard X-ray variability? Do other young PWNe show this behavior near the synchrotron cutoff energy, which more commonly falls in the MeV band? How does the gamma-ray emission routinely detected from a nova relate to the properties of the binary system and the particle acceleration process occurring in the outburst? Can prompt gamma signals from novae be detected to probe the onset of the thermonuclear runaway explosion? MeV observations will also provide an important extension below the pion decay feature in LAT-detected supernova remnants as well as providing sensitivity to the youngest SNRs in the Galaxy and the LMC. We will explore the impact of medium-energy gamma-ray observations on characterizing known acceleration regions and exploring new, currently inaccessible phenomena.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #16
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017HEAD...1610316H