Radio flares from AE Aquarii - A low-power analog to Cygnus X-3?

Bastian, T. S.; Dulk, G. A.; Chanmugam, G.

doi:10.1086/165906

Cited by 88 publications

(132 citation statements)

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“…It exhibits flares 50% of the time, varying in the optical band from B = 12.5 mag (during the low state) to B = 10 mag (during flares). Bastian et al (1988) observed radio flares with fluxes in the range 1−12 mJy at 15 GHz. They show that the radio flares may be produced by relativistic electrons, which provides evidence of accelerated particles that radiate synchrotron emission in magnetized clouds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MAGIC search for VHEγ-ray emission from AE Aquarii in a multiwavelength context

Aleksić¹,

Ansoldi²,

Antonelli³

et al. 2014

A&A

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Context. It has been claimed that the nova-like cataclysmic variable AE Aquarii (AE Aqr) is a very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) source both on observational and theoretical grounds. Aims. We search for VHE γ-ray emission from AE Aqr during different states of the source at several wavelengths to confirm or rule out previous claims of detection of γ-ray emission from this object. Methods. We report on observations of AE Aqr performed by MAGIC. The source was observed during 12 h as part of a multiwavelength campaign carried out between May and June 2012 covering the optical, X-ray, and γ-ray ranges. Besides MAGIC, the other facilities involved were the KVA, Skinakas, and Vidojevica telescopes in the optical and Swift in X-rays. We calculated integral upper limits coincident with different states of the source in the optical. We computed upper limits to the pulsed emission limiting the signal region to 30% of the phaseogram and we also searched for pulsed emission at different frequencies applying the Rayleigh test. Results. AE Aqr was not detected at VHEs during the multiwavelength campaign. We establish integral upper limits at the 95% confidence level for the steady emission assuming the differential flux proportional to a power-law function dφ/dE ∝ E −Γ , with a Crab-like photon spectral index of Γ = 2.6. The upper limit above 200 GeV is 6.4 × 10 −12 cm −2 s −1 and above 1 TeV is 7.4 × 10 −13 cm −2 s −1 . We obtained an upper limit for the pulsed emission of 2.6 × 10 −12 cm −2 s −1 for energies above 200 GeV. Applying the Rayleigh test for pulsed emission at different frequencies we did not find any significant signal. Conclusions. Our results indicate that AE Aqr is not a VHE γ-ray emitter at the level of emission previously claimed. We have established the most constraining upper limits for the VHE γ-ray emission of AE Aqr.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MAGIC search for VHEγ-ray emission from AE Aquarii in a multiwavelength context

Aleksić¹,

Ansoldi²,

Antonelli³

et al. 2014

A&A

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“…3) from the system (e.g. [70,24]) that may be detectable with new generations of radio telescopes like meerKAT, the SKA precursor currently under construction in South Africa. This telescope will consist of an array of 64 telescopes, each with a ∼ 13.5 m reflector dish diameter, equipped with very sensitive UHF-band (0.55-1.015 GHz), L-Band ( 0.9-1.67 GHz) and X-band (8-14.5 GHz) receivers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeerKAT).…”

Section: Pos(heasa2015)004mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These authors showed that the lack of synchronization between the magnetized white dwarf and the secondary mass donor may induce strong field aligned potentials that can accelerate electrons to energies of the order of 1 MeV, resulting in synchrotron emission at radio wavelengths. Non-thermal radio outbursts have been detected from the nova-like variable system AE Aquarii [23] and modelled in terms of expanding synchrotron emitting clouds [24]. The effect is a self-absorbed S ν ∝ v α spectrum that extends to the infrared part of the spectrum [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient Sources in Astrophysics: From Radio to Gamma-Rays

Meintjes¹

2016

Proceedings of 3rd Annual Conference on High Energy Astrophysics in Southern Africa — PoS(HEASA2015)

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“…These authors suggested that a potential lack of synchronization between the magnetized white dwarf and the secondary mass donating star may induce strong field aligned potentials that can accelerate electrons resulting in synchrotron emission at, among others, radio wavelengths. Non-thermal radio outbursts have been detected from the nova-like variable system AE Aquarii [13] and quantified in terms of expanding synchrotron emitting clouds [14]. This detection was the first clear indication that particle acceleration can occur in a cataclysmic variable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Physics of Transient High-Energy Cosmic Sources: from Radio to VHE Gamma-rays

Meintjes¹

2016

Proceedings of XI Multifrequency Behaviour of High Energy Cosmic Sources Workshop — PoS(MULTIF15)

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In this study magnetohydrodynamical processes that may drive particle acceleration and transient emission in the cataclysmic variables, especially the enigmatic transient multi-frequency nova-like variable, AE Aquarii, are reviewed. It is shown that the propeller ejection of material from the magnetosphere of the white dwarf may drive magnetospheric processes that can accelerate charged particles to high energies. For example, the propeller ejection of the mass transferred from the secondary star results in magnetic reconnection as well as the induction of huge field aligned potentials that may accelerate charged particles to very high energies (VHE) ε > 10 11 eV. These processes have been discussed to provide a theoretical framework to evaluate the non-thermal emission detected from this source, especially the transient burst-like VHE emission reported by two independent groups in the 1990s. In conclusion very preliminary results have been presented of a search for pulsed emission from AE Aquarii in the Fermi-LAT data.

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Radio flares from AE Aquarii - A low-power analog to Cygnus X-3?

Cited by 88 publications

References 0 publications

MAGIC search for VHEγ-ray emission from AE Aquarii in a multiwavelength context

MAGIC search for VHEγ-ray emission from AE Aquarii in a multiwavelength context

Transient Sources in Astrophysics: From Radio to Gamma-Rays

The Physics of Transient High-Energy Cosmic Sources: from Radio to VHE Gamma-rays

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