Galactic acceleration phenomena
Abstract
I review the current status of our observational knowledge of prominent classes of particle accelerators in the Galaxy, namely shell-type supernova remnants (SNRs) and pulsar wind nebulae. I highlight in particular the contribution of the recent improvement in sensitivity of very-high-energy (VHE) γ-ray observations, which are currently the most direct probe of particle acceleration in the Galaxy up to energies of several hundreds of TeV.
- Publication:
-
Highlights of Astronomy
- Pub Date:
- August 2007
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2007HiA....14...91G
- Keywords:
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- acceleration of particles;
- cosmic rays;
- gamma rays: observations;
- supernova remnants;
- shock waves;
- magnetic fields;
- pulsars: general;
- radiation mechanisms: nonthermal