Cosmic ray origin: Supernova remnants through the electromagnetic spectrum

Abstract

Supernova Remnants have long been considered as unique candidates for cosmic-ray sources. Recent observations of several SNRs in X-rays and TeV gamma-rays will help in solving the problem of the origin of cosmic rays and are key to understanding the mechanism of particle acceleration at a propagating shock wave. The observation results of Galactic shell-type supernova remnants at different evolution stages Cas A, Tycho's SNR, γCygni SNR, IC 443 and G166.0+4.3 by the SHALON mirror Cherenkov telescope are presented. For each SNR the SHALON observation results are given with its spectral energy distribution compared with other experimental data and images by SHALON together with data from X-ray by Chandra and radio-data by Canadian Galactic Plane Survey DRAO (CGPS). The comparison of the source's morphology in different energy bands could reveal its essential features as a forward and reverse shock or the location of swept out dense molecular cloud. The experimental data presented here have confirmed the prediction of the theory about the hadronic generation mechanism of very high energy 800 GeV-100 TeV gamma-rays in Tycho's SNR, Cas A and IC 443. Also the collected experimental data help to make clear the origin of TeV gamma-ray emission in the SNRs like γCygni SNR and G166.0+4.3.