TY - JOUR
T1 - Supernova remnant KES 17
T2 - An efficient cosmic ray accelerator inside a molecular cloud
AU - Gelfand, Joseph D.
AU - Castro, Daniel
AU - Slane, Patrick O.
AU - Temim, Tea
AU - Hughes, John P.
AU - Rakowski, Cara
PY - 2013/11/10
Y1 - 2013/11/10
N2 - The supernova remnant Kes 17 (SNR G304.6+0.1) is one of a few but growing number of remnants detected across the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, we analyze recent radio, X-ray, and γ-ray observations of this object, determining that efficient cosmic ray acceleration is required to explain its broadband non-thermal spectrum. These observations also suggest that Kes 17 is expanding inside a molecular cloud, though our determination of its age depends on whether thermal conduction or clump evaporation is primarily responsible for its center-filled thermal X-ray morphology. Evidence for efficient cosmic ray acceleration in Kes 17 supports recent theoretical work concluding that the strong magnetic field, turbulence, and clumpy nature of molecular clouds enhance cosmic ray production in supernova remnants. While additional observations are needed to confirm this interpretation, further study of Kes 17 is important for understanding how cosmic rays are accelerated in supernova remnants.
AB - The supernova remnant Kes 17 (SNR G304.6+0.1) is one of a few but growing number of remnants detected across the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, we analyze recent radio, X-ray, and γ-ray observations of this object, determining that efficient cosmic ray acceleration is required to explain its broadband non-thermal spectrum. These observations also suggest that Kes 17 is expanding inside a molecular cloud, though our determination of its age depends on whether thermal conduction or clump evaporation is primarily responsible for its center-filled thermal X-ray morphology. Evidence for efficient cosmic ray acceleration in Kes 17 supports recent theoretical work concluding that the strong magnetic field, turbulence, and clumpy nature of molecular clouds enhance cosmic ray production in supernova remnants. While additional observations are needed to confirm this interpretation, further study of Kes 17 is important for understanding how cosmic rays are accelerated in supernova remnants.
KW - ISM: individual objects (Kes 17)
KW - ISM: supernova remnants
KW - X-rays: individual (Kes 17)
KW - cosmic rays
KW - gamma rays: ISM
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U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/777/2/148
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/777/2/148
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84886685871
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 777
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 2
M1 - 148
ER -