Galactic Superaccreting X-Ray Binaries as Super-PeVatron Accelerators
The extension of the cosmic-ray (CR) spectrum well beyond 1 PeV necessitates the existence of a population of accelerators in the Milky Way, which we refer to as super-PeVatrons. Identifying the nature of these sources remains a challenge to the paradigm of Galactic CRs. Galactic superaccreting X-ra...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/adf3a4 |
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| Summary: | The extension of the cosmic-ray (CR) spectrum well beyond 1 PeV necessitates the existence of a population of accelerators in the Milky Way, which we refer to as super-PeVatrons. Identifying the nature of these sources remains a challenge to the paradigm of Galactic CRs. Galactic superaccreting X-ray binaries (XRBs), where the compact object accretes at a rate near or above the Eddington limit, can meet the energy requirement to supply the high-energy population of Galactic CRs. We demonstrate that the transrelativistic jets and/or winds of these powerful objects with kinetic power exceeding 10 ^39 erg s ^−1 can accelerate protons to energies above several PeV. Detection of such superaccreting XRBs through their ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray “halos” and large-scale nebulae is also discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-8205 |