• 천문학회지
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.307-313
• /
• 2004

Clusters of galaxies are believed to constitute a population of astrophysical objects potentially able to emit electromagnetic radiation up to gamma-ray energies. Evidence of the existence of non-thermal radiation processes in galaxy clusters is indicated from observations of diffuse radio halos, hard X-ray and EUV excess emission. The presence of cosmic ray acceleration processes and its confinement on cosmological timescales nearly inevitably yields in predicting energetic gamma-ray emission, either directly deduceably from a cluster's multifreqency emission characteristics or indirectly during large-scale cosmological structure formation processes. This theoretical reasoning suggests several scenarios to actually detect galaxy clusters at gamma-ray wavelengths: Either resolved as individual sources of point-like or extended gamma-ray emission, by investigating spatial-statistical correlations with unidentified gamma-ray sources or, if unresolved, through their contribution to the extragalactic diffuse gamma-ray background. In the following I review the situation concerning the proposed relation between galaxy clusters and high-energy gamma-ray observations from an observational point-of-view.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.113.1-113.1
• /
• 2014

We propose a three-year Key Science Program (KSP) consisting of VLBI monitoring observations and single dish (SD) rapid response observations (RRO). The VLBI monitoring observations are comprised of ten 24-hr observations per year (every month) of about 30 gamma-ray brigt active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with Korea VLBI Network (KVN) at 22, 43, 86, and 129 GHz. The SD RROs may consist of twelve 7-hr observations per source (every week for 3 months after triggering) of gamma-ray flaring sources with two KVN SD telescopes at 22, 43, and 86 GHz in dual polarization. We expect one or two sources per year for the SD RROs. Gamma-ray flares of AGNs are known to be occured in innermost regions of relativistic jets which radiate in whole ranges of electromagnetic spectra due to synchrotron radiation, syschrotron self absorption, inverse-compton scttering, doppler boosting etc. Possible explanations of the gamma-ray flares in AGNs are a) shocks-in-jets propagating within jet flow and b) bending of the whole jets. For both cases, we should expect changes in polarization, luminosity, particle distribution, and structures of jets at mas-scale. The multifrequency simultaneous VLBI/SD observations with KVN are the best tool for detecting such changes correlated with gamma-ray flares. This KSP proposal aims to answer the fundamental questions about the basic nature of the flares of AGNs.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2016

Over the last few years, the data obtained using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has provided new insights on high-energy processes in globular clusters, particularly those involving compact objects such as MilliSecond Pulsars (MSPs). Gamma-ray emission in the 100 MeV to 10 GeV range has been detected from more than a dozen globular clusters in our galaxy, including 47 Tucanae and Terzan 5. Based on a sample of known gammaray globular clusters, the empirical relations between gamma-ray luminosity and properties of globular clusters such as their stellar encounter rate, metallicity, and possible optical and infrared photon energy densities, have been derived. The measured gamma-ray spectra are generally described by a power law with a cut-off at a few gigaelectronvolts. Together with the detection of pulsed γ-rays from two MSPs in two different globular clusters, such spectral signature lends support to the hypothesis that γ-rays from globular clusters represent collective curvature emission from magnetospheres of MSPs in the clusters. Alternative models, involving Inverse-Compton (IC) emission of relativistic electrons that are accelerated close to MSPs or pulsar wind nebula shocks, have also been suggested. Observations at >100 GeV by using Fermi/LAT and atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes such as H.E.S.S.-II, MAGIC-II, VERITAS, and CTA will help to settle some questions unanswered by current data.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제41권2호
• /
• pp.60.2-60.2
• /
• 2016

We present recent results of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using Korean VLBI Network (KVN) at 22, 43, 86, and 129~GHz bands, which are part of a KVN key science program; Interferometric Monitoring of Gamma-ray Bright AGNs (iMOGABA). We selected a total of 34 radio-loud AGNs of which 30 sources are gamma-ray bright AGNs, including 24 sources monitored by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope using the Large Area Telescope on board. The selected sources consist of 24 quasars, 7 BL Lacs, and 3 radio galaxies. In this talk, we summarize recent results of the iMOGABA, including results of single-epoch multi-frequency VLBI observations of the target sources, conducted during a 24-hr session on 2013 November 19 and 20. All observed sources were detected and imaged at all frequency bands with or without a frequency phase transfer technique which enabled to detect and image 12 faint sources at 129 GHz, except for 0218+357 which was detected for only one baseline at all frequency bands.

• 천문학회지
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.125-128
• /
• 2005

In this paper, we argue that the gigahertz peaked spectrum (GPS) quasars are special blazars, blazars in dense and dusty gas enviornment. The ROSAT detection rate of GPS quasars is similar to that of flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), suggesting that the relativistic jets in GPS quasars are oriented at small angle to the line of sight. Due to strong inverse Compton scattering off infrared photons from dense and dusty nuclear interstellar media in GPS quasars, most of them may have significant soft gamma-ray and X-ray emission, which is consistent with ASCA X-ray observations. Because Compton cooling in GPS quasars is stronger than that in FSRQs, synchrotron emission in GPS quasars may less dominate over thermal emission of the accretion disk and hot dust, hence most GPS quasars show low optical polarization and small variability, consistent with observations. We suggest that it is the significant radio emission of electron/positron pairs produced by the interaction of gamma-rays with the dense gas and dust grains in GPS quasars that makes GPS quasars show steep radio spectra, low radio polarization, and relatively faint VLBI/VLBA cores. Whether GPS quasars are special blazars can be tested by gamma-ray observations with GLAST in the near future, with the detection rate of GPS quasars being similar to that of FSRQs.

• 천문학회지
• /
• 제51권6호
• /
• pp.171-183
• /
• 2018

To celebrate the tenth anniversary since the launch of Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, we take a retrospect to a series of breakthroughs Fermi has contributed to pulsar astronomy in the last decade. Apart from significantly enlarging the population of ${\gamma}$-ray pulsars, observations with the Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi also show the population is not homogeneous. Instead, many classes and sub-classes have been revealed. In this paper, we will review the properties of different types of ${\gamma}$-ray pulsars, including radio-quiet ${\gamma}$-ray pulsars, millisecond pulsars, ${\gamma}$-ray binaries. Also, we will discuss the prospects of pulsar astronomy in the high energy regime.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.76.1-76.1
• /
• 2019

CTA 102, one of gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) has been observed with Korean very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) network (KVN) during the period of 2012 December-2018 May as part of interferometric Monitoring Of Gamma-ray Bright AGN (iMOGABA). Multi-frequency VLBI observations enable us to compare the milliarcsecond(mas)-scale iMOGABA images of relativistic jets with those from the Monitoring Of Jets in AGN with Very long baseline array (VLBA) Experiments (MOJAVE) and the VLBA-Boston University(BU)-BLAZAR programs which use VLBA with its angular resolutions of 0.2-1.3 mas. In spite of the relative larger beam sizes of KVN (1-10 mas), we are able to identify jet components of CTA 102 using the KVN multi-frequency VLBI observations with those resolved with VLBA. Considering an instrumental beam blending effect on the jet component identification, we were able to obtain a blending shift of the core position based on a convolution analysis using the VLBA data. When we apply the core position shift to the KVN images of CTA 102, we find that the identified jet components of CTA 102 from the KVN observations are well matched with those from the VLBA observations. Based on the results of the analysis, we may be able to study the jet kinematics and its correlation with gamma-ray flare activity.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제41권1호
• /
• pp.65.1-65.1
• /
• 2016

We present results of long-term multi-wavelength polarization observations of the powerful blazar 3C 279 after its ${\gamma}$-ray flare on 2013 December 20. We followed up this flare by means of single-dish polarization observations with two 21-m telescopes of the Korean VLBI Network, carried out weekly from 2013 December 25 to January 11, and at 22, 43, and 86 GHz, simultaneously. These observations were part of the Monitoring Of GAmma-ray Bright AGNs (MOGABA) program. We Measured 3C 279 total flux densities at 22, 43, and 86 GHz, showing a mild variability of a factor of ${\leq}50%$ over the period of our observations. The spectral index ranged from -0.13 to -0.36 at between 22 and 86 GHz. The degree of linear polarization was in the range of 6 ~ 12 %, and slightly decreased with time at all frequencies. We found Faraday rotation measures (RM) of -300 to $-1200rad\;m^{-2}$ between 22 and 43 GHz, and -800 to $-5100rad\;m^{-2}$ between 43 and 86 GHz. The RM values follow a power law ${\mid}RM{\mid}{\propto}{\nu}^{\alpha}$, with a mean ${\alpha}$ of 2.2, implying that the polarized emission at these frequencies travels through a Faraday screen in or near the jet. We conclude that the regions emitting polarized radio emission may be different from the region responsible for the 2013 December ${\gamma}$-ray flare, and that these regions are maintained by the dominant magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of the radio jet at milliarcsecond scales.

• 천문학회지
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.433-438
• /
• 2004

Clusters of galaxies generally form by the gravitational merger of smaller clusters and groups. Major cluster mergers are the most energetic events in the Universe since the Big Bang. The basic properties of cluster mergers and their effects are discussed. Mergers drive shocks into the intracluster gas, and these shocks heat the intracluster gas. As a result of the impulsive heating and compression associated with mergers, there is a large transient increase in the X-ray luminosities and temperatures of merging clusters. These merger boost can affect X-ray surveys of clusters and their cosmological interpretation. Similar boosts occur in the strong lensing cross-sections and Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in merging clusters. Merger shock and turbulence associated with mergers should also (re)accelerate nonthermal relativistic particles. As a result of particle acceleration in shocks and turbulent acceleration following mergers, clusters of galaxies should contain very large populations of relativistic electrons and ions. Observations and models for the radio, extreme ultraviolet, hard X-ray, and gamma-ray emission from nonthermal particles accelerated in these shocks will also be described. Gamma-ray observations with GLAST seem particularly promising.

• 천문학회지
• /
• 제29권spc1호
• /
• pp.99-102
• /
• 1996

I discuss implications of gamma-ray emission from blazars based on electron acceleration by shock waves in a relativistic jet. The number spectrum of electrons turns out to be a broken power law; while at low energies the power law index has a universal value of 2, at high energies it steepens to an index of 3 because of strong radiative cooling. This spectrum can basically reproduce the observed spectral break between X-rays and gamma-rays. I show that energetics of relativistic jets can be well explained by this model. I estimate physical quantities of the relativistic jets by comparing the prediction with observations. The results show that the jets are particle dominated and are comprised of electron-positron pairs. A connection between gamma-ray emission and radiation drag is also discussed.