paper

A Time Dependent Leptonic Model for Microquasar Jets: Application to LSI 61 303

arXiv:astro-ph/0606590 · doi:10.1086/508880

Abstract

The Galactic high-mass X-ray binary and jet source (microquasar) LSI +61 303 has recently been detected at TeV gamma-ray energies by the MAGIC telescope. We have applied a time-dependent leptonic jet model to the broadband spectral energy distribution and suggested (though not unambiguously detected) orbital modulation of the very high energy gamma-ray emission of this source. Our model takes into account time dependent electron injection and acceleration, and the adiabatic and radiative cooling of non-thermal electrons. It includes synchrotron, synchrotron self-Compton and external inverse Compton (with seed photons from the companion star), as well as gamma-gamma absorption of gamma-rays by starlight photons. The model can successfully reproduce the available multiwavelength observational data. Our best fit to the SED indicates that a magnetic field of B_0 ~ 5 X 10^3 G at ~ 10^3 R_g is required, and electrons need to be accelerated out to TeV energies (gamma_2 = 10^6) with a nonthermal injection spectrum with a spectral index of q = 1.7, indicating the operation of acceleration mechanisms beyond the standard first-order Fermi mechanism at relativistic or non-relativistic shocks. The orbital modulation of the VHE gamma-ray emission can be explained solely by the geometrical effect of changes in the relative orientation of the stellar companion with respect to the compact object and jet as it impacts the position and depth of the gamma-gamma absorption trough. Such a scenario predicts a trend of spectral hardening during VHE gamma-ray low orbital phases.

accepted for publication in ApJ Letters; 11 ms pages, including 2 figures and 1 table

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