Constraints on the Emission of Gamma-Rays from M31 with HAWC
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-10-2020
Department
Department of Physics; Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
Cosmic rays, along with stellar radiation and magnetic fields, are known to make up a significant fraction of the energy density of galaxies such as the Milky Way. When cosmic rays interact in the interstellar medium, they produce gamma-ray emission which provides an important indication of how the cosmic rays propagate. Gamma-rays from the Andromeda galaxy (M31), located 785 kpc away, provide a unique opportunity to study cosmic-ray acceleration and diffusion in a galaxy with a structure and evolution very similar to the Milky Way. Using 33 months of data from the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, we search for teraelectronvolt gamma-rays from the galactic plane of M31. We also investigate past and present evidence of galactic activity in M31 by searching for Fermi bubble-like structures above and below the galactic nucleus. No significant gamma-ray emission is observed, so we use the null result to compute upper limits on the energy density of cosmic rays >10 TeV in M31.
Publication Title
Astrophysical Journal
Recommended Citation
Albert, A.,
Alfaro, R.,
Alvarez, C.,
Arteaga-Velázquez, J.,
Arunbabu, K.,
Avila Rojas, D.,
Ayala Solares, H.,
Belmont-Moreno, E.,
Benzvi, S.,
Brisbois, C.,
Caballero-Mora, K.,
Capistrán, T.,
Carramiñana, A.,
Casanova, S.,
Cotti, U.,
Cotzomi, J.,
Coutiño De León, S.,
De La Fuente, E.,
De León, C.,
Dichiara, S.,
Dingus, B.,
Duvernois, M.,
Engel, K.,
Espinoza, C.,
Fleischhack, H.,
Fraija, N.,
Galván-Gámez, A.,
García-Aguilar, D.,
García-González, J.,
Garfias, F.,
González, M.,
Goodman, J.,
Hona, B.,
Huang, D.,
&
Hüntemeyer, P.
(2020).
Constraints on the Emission of Gamma-Rays from M31 with HAWC.
Astrophysical Journal,
893(1).
http://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab7999
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/2715
Publisher's Statement
© 2020. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab7999