Time Variability of Nonthermal X-Ray Stripes in Tycho's Supernova Remnant with Chandra
Abstract
Analyzing Chandra data of Tycho's supernova remnant (SNR) taken in 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2015, we search for time-variable features of synchrotron X-rays in the southwestern part of the SNR, where stripe structures of hard X-ray emission were previously found. By comparing X-ray images obtained at each epoch, we discover a knot-like structure in the northernmost part of the stripe region became brighter particularly in 2015. We also find a bright filamentary structure gradually became fainter and narrower as it moves outward. Our spectral analysis reveals that not only the nonthermal X-ray flux but also the photon indices of the knot-like structure change from year to year. During the period from 2000 to 2015, the small knot shows a brightening of ∼70% and hardening of ΔΓ ∼ 0.45. The time variability can be explained if the magnetic field is amplified to $\sim 100\,\mu {\rm{G}}$ and/or if magnetic turbulence significantly changes with time.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2020
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2003.10035
- Bibcode:
- 2020ApJ...894...50O
- Keywords:
-
- Supernova remnants;
- Interstellar medium;
- X-ray sources;
- Cosmic ray sources;
- Galactic cosmic rays;
- Magnetic fields;
- 1667;
- 847;
- 1822;
- 328;
- 567;
- 994;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ