Modelling the gamma-ray flares of the Crab Nebula
Abstract
The detection of major gamma-ray flaring episodes above 100 MeV from the Crab Nebula is challenging theoretical models of particle acceleration. We will review the recent AGILE and Fermi-LAT data showing both short (hour/day) timescale flares and more prolonged enhanced emission lasting weeks. Gamma-ray emission peaking near 500 MeV is apparently violating standard constraints derived from relativistic cyclotron-limited acceleration and synchrotron cooling. The Crab "flaring phenomenon" shows evidence of "super-acceleration" characterized by: (1) an apparent violation of standard synchrotron cooling and of the MHD approximation, and (2) a radiation-reaction-limited spectrum of accelerated particles producing a quasi mono-energetic distribution. We will discuss several scenarios for super-acceleration including collisionless magnetic field reconnection in specific sites of the Crab Nebula. We will present recent theoretical modelling of the South-East jet in the Nebula, and will address the issue of instabilities and particle acceleration in the jet and in the inner Nebula. Understanding the Crab "flaring phenomenon" will have an important impact for a variety of high-energy astrophysical sources including relativistic jets in Galactic and extragalactic sources.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #223
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22311409T