Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gamma-ray astrophysics: parsecs to megaparsecs

  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A rapidly spinning, slowly accreting magnetic white dwarf (or X-ray pulsar) in hibernation is expected to result in rapid spindown as a result of the stretching and reconnection of magnetic field lines, leading to particle acceleration at the magnetospheric radiusoutside the corotation radius, and the propeller type ejection of magnetized synchrotron-emitting clouds. This may explain the non-thermal (radio andγ-rays) emission seen from the unique nearby AE Aquarii. Moving to Galactic distances we show how TeVγ-ray observations of pulsar-driven supernova remnants (with well-measured synchrotron X-ray spectra) allow us to obtain a direct measurement of the average magnetic field strength in the nebula. Finally, GeV to TeV observations ofγ-ray blazars out to redshifts of ∼ 2 allow us to probe the intergalactic infrared radiation field, the Hubble constant and possibly the Ω parameter of the Universe.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abada-Simon, M., Lecacheux, A., Bastian, T.S., Bookbinder, J.A. and Dulk, G.A.: 1993,Astrophys. J. 406, 692.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aly, J.J. and Kuipers, J.: 1990,Astron. Astrophys. 227, 473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, J.: 1981,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 197, 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastian, T.S., Dulk, G.A. and Chanmugan, G.: 1988,Astrophys. J. 324, 431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal, G.R. and Gould, R.J.: 1970,Rev. Mod. Physics 42(2), 237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brink C.et al.: 1990, inProc. 21st Internat. Cosmic Ray Conf. (Univ. of Adelaide)2, 283 (Bea90).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookbinder, J.A. and Lamb, D.Q.: 1987,Astrophys. J. 323, L131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden C.C.G.et al.: 1992,Astroparticle Physics 1, 47 (Bea92).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier, R.A. and Franson, C.: 1992,Astrophys. J. 395, 540.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C.: 1991,Astrophys. J. 378, 268.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C.: 1994,Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 90, 775.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C.: 1995, to appear in M.M. Shapiro, R. Silberberg. and J.P. Wefel (eds.),Proc. 9th Course in Cosmic Ray Astrophysics: Currents in High-Energy Astrophysics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C.et al.: 1991, in A.A. Zdziarski and M. Sikora (eds.),Relativistic Hadrons in Cosmic Compact Objects, Lecture Notes in Physics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York391, p. 173 (Dea91).

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C. and Harding, A.K.: 1992,Astrophys. J. 396, 161.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C. and Meintjes, P.J.: 1993,Astron. Astrophys. 268, L1.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C., Meintjes, P.J., O'Donoghue, D. and Robinson, E.L. 1994,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 267, 577.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C., Stecker, F.W. and Salamon, M.H.: 1994,Nature 369, 294.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, O.C.,et al.: 1995, in preparation.

  • Du Plessiset al.: 1995, submitted toAstrophys. J..

  • Elsner, R.F., Ghosh, P. and Lamb, F.K.: 1980,Astrophys. J. 241, L155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eracleous, M., Halpern, J. and Patterson, J.: 1991,Astrophys. J. 382, 290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eracleous, M.et al.: 1994,Astrophys. J.,433, 313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, W.L.et al.: 1994,Nature 371, 757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, R.J.: 1965,Phys. Rev. Lett. 15, 577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, P. and Lamb, F.K.: 1979a,Astrophys. J. 232, 259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, P. and Lamb, F.K.: 1979b,Astrophys. J. 234, 296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, P. and Lamb, F.K.: 1991, in J. Ventura and D. Pines (eds.)Neutron Stars: Theory and Observation, NATO ASI Series C, D. Reidel Pub. Comp., Dordrecht344, p. 363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamada, T. and Salpeter, E.E.: 1961,Astrophys. J. 134, 683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawai, N., Okayasu, R. and Sekimoto, Y.: 1993, in M. Friedlander, N. Gehrels and D.J. Macomb (eds.),Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory, American Institute of Physics, AIP, New York280, p. 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y.C.et al.: 1992,Astrophys. J. 401, L61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipunov, V.M.: 1992,Astrophysics of Neutron Stars, Springer-Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg, New York., p. 208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C. and Bowyer, S.: 1989,Astrophys. J. 338, 677 (MB89).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meintjes, P.J.et al.: 1992,Astrophys. J. 401, 325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meintjes, P.J.et al.: 1994,Astrophys. J. 434, 292, (Mea94).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meintjes, P.J., De Jager, O.C., Kanbach, G. and Merck, M. 1995, submitted toAstron. Astrophys.

  • Milne, D.K., Caswell, J.K. and Haynes, R.F.: 1993,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 264, 853.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, G.et al.: 1993, inProc. 23rd Int. Cosmic Ray Conf. (Univ. of Calgary Press)1, 440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagase, F.: 1989,Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 41, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, J.: 1979,Astrophys. J. 234, 978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, J., Branch, D., Chincarini, G. and Robinson, E.L.: 1980,Astrophys. J. 240, L133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, J.: 1994,Pub. Astron. Soc. Pac. 106, 209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavelin, P.E., Spencer, R.E. and Davis, R.J.: 1994,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 269, 779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punch, M.et al.: 1992,Nature 358, 477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raubenheimer, B.C.: 1995,Astrophys. Space Science, this volume.

  • Reynolds, S.P. and Chevalier, R.A.: 1984,Astrophys. J. 278, 630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, E.L., Shafter, A.W. and Balachandran, S.: 1991,Astrophys. J. 374, 298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salamon, M.H., Stecker, F.W. and De Jager, O.C.: 1994,Astrophys. J. 423, L1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seward, F.D., Harnden, F.R., Szymkowiak, A. and Swank, J.: 1984,Astrophys. J. 281, 650.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stecker, F.W.: 1971,Cosmic Gamma Rays, NASA SP-249.

  • Stecker, F.W., De Jager, O.C. and Salamon, M.H.: 1992,Astrophys. J. 390, L49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stecker, F.W. and De Jager, O.C.: 1995, to appear in:Proc. Workshop on Very High Energy and Ultrahigh Energy Gamma Ray Astronomy, Heidelberg.

  • Strom, R.G.: 1994,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 268, L5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanzi, E.G., Chincarini, G. and Tarenghi, M.: 1981,Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 93, 68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trussoni, E.et al.: 1990,Astron. Astrophys. 234, 403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Paradijs, J., Kraakman, H. and van Amerongen, S.: 1989,Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 79, 205 (PKA89).

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, B.: 1995,Cataclysmic Variable Stars, in press.

  • Warner, B. and Wickramasinghe, D.T.: 1991,Monthly Notices Roy. Astr. Soc. 248, 370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M.: 1987,Astron. Astrophys. 183, 257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M. and Robertson, J.A.: 1985,Astron. Astrophys. 151, 361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, W.F., Horne, K. and Gomer, R.: 1993,Astrophys. J. 410, L39 (WHG).

    Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, W.F., Horne, K. and Oke, J.B.: 1993,Astrophys. J. 401, 229 (WHO).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Research Unit Dept. of Physics, Potchefstroom University for CHE, 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Ocker C. De Jager

Authors
  1. Ocker C. De Jager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

De Jager, O.C. Gamma-ray astrophysics: parsecs to megaparsecs. Astrophys Space Sci 230, 279–298 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00658186

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00658186

Key words

Search

Navigation