Modelling TeV gamma-ray emission from the kiloparsec-scale jets of Centaurus A and M87

Abstract

The widespread detection of synchrotron X-ray emission from the jets of low-power, nearby radio galaxies implies the presence of electrons at and above TeV energies. In this paper we explore the possibility that the TeV gamma-rays detected from the radio galaxies Cen A and M87, which both have bright, well-studied X-ray jets, are produced at least in part by inverse-Compton scattering of various photon fields by the high-energy electrons responsible for the synchrotron X-rays on kiloparsec scales. We describe a new numerical code that we have developed to carry out inverse-Compton calculations taking account of all the relevant physics and using detailed models of the jets and the photon fields in which they are embedded, and show that existing constraints on the very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray fluxes of these two objects already place significant constraints on the magnetic field strengths in the jet in Cen A. Finally, we discuss the prospects for constraints on radio galaxy jet physics that may be obtained from observations with the Cerenkov Telescope Array (CTA).

11 pages, 8 figures (some in colour). Accepted by MNRAS

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Cited by in corpus (43)

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• Active Galactic Nuclei under the scrutiny of CTA
• Internal entrainment and the origin of jet-related broad-band emission in Centaurus A
• Resolving acceleration to very high energies along the Jet of Centaurus A
• Disks and Jets - Gravity, Rotation and Magnetic Fields
• Synchrotron and inverse-Compton emission from radio galaxies with non-uniform magnetic field and electron distributions
• Synchrotron and inverse-Compton emission from blazar jets - II. An accelerating jet model with a geometry set by observations of M87
• Evidence for a second component in the high-energy core emission from Centaurus A?
• The $\gamma$-ray spectrum of the core of Centaurus A as observed with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT
• An X-ray and Multiwavelength Survey of Highly Radio-Loud Quasars at z > 4: Jet-Linked Emission in the Brightest Radio Beacons of the Early Universe
• Radio Galaxies at VHE energies
• VLBA Observations of Mrk 6: Probing the Jet-Lobe Connection
• Hadronic High-energy Emission from Magnetically Arrested Disks in Radio Galaxies
• Synchrotron and inverse-Compton emission from blazar jets - III. Compton-dominant blazars
• One-zone SSC model for the core emission of Centaurus A revisited
• Non-thermal radiation from collisions of compact objects with intermediate scale jets in active galaxies
• Gamma-ray fluxes from the core emission of Centaurus A: A puzzle solved
• Non-variable TeV emission from the extended jet of a blazar in the stochastic acceleration scenario: the case of the hard TeV emission of 1ES 1101-232
• Collective non-thermal emission from an extragalactic jet interacting with stars
• Deep Chandra X-ray Imaging of a Nearby Radio Galaxy 4C+29.30: X-ray/Radio Connection
• Probing the central black hole in M87 with gamma-rays
• The complex gamma-ray behaviour of the Radio Galaxy M87
• Correlation of $\gamma$-ray and high-energy cosmic ray fluxes from the giant lobes of Centaurus A
• Nuclear and electromagnetic cascades induced by ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays in radio galaxies: implications for Centaurus A
• Inverse Compton scattering of starlight in the kiloparsec-scale jet in Centaurus A: The origin of excess TeV $\gamma$-ray emission
• The unique case of the AGN core of M87: a misaligned low power blazar?
• The impact of a young radio galaxy: clues from the cosmic-ray electron population
• A search for Centaurus A-like features in the spectra of Fermi-LAT detected radio galaxies
• Blasting away a dwarf galaxy: The "tail" of ESO 324-G024
• Gamma-Rays from Non-Blazar AGN
• GeV-TeV gamma-rays produced by electrons in the kpc scale jet as a result of comptonization of the inner jet emission
• High-energy Gamma-rays from Magnetically Arrested Disks in Nearby Radio Galaxies
• Physical Conditions and Particle Acceleration in the Kiloparsec Jet of Centaurus A
• Morphology of TeV gamma-ray emission from the kpc scale jets in radio galaxies
• Probing IC/CMB Interpretation for the X-ray knots of AGN through VHE observations
• Photo-Disintegration of Heavy Nuclei at the Core of Cen A
• The High Energy View of FR0 Radio Galaxies
• Dissipative processes and their role in the evolution of radio galaxies
• On the extragalactic jet asymmetry and composition, and the production of high energy cosmic rays
• Implications of pc and kpc jet asymmetry to the cosmic ray acceleration