Proposal Details - 0720047
Hard X-ray spectro-imagery of RX J1713.7-3946 (Terrier)

Proposal Abstract

The SNR RX J1713.7-3946 is part of a class of remnants dominated by synchrotron emission in X-rays and is one of the few detected at the TeV. It is therefore an excellent target to study particle acceleration at SNR shocks. The nature of the particles producing TeV emission is still a matter of controversy. The strong similarities between X-ray and TeV images suggest a leptonic origin but the required magnetic field is quite low. On the other hand, to be viable hadronic scenarios require high ambient matter density at odds the the absence of strong thermal X-ray emission. The hard X-rays probe the electrons in the spectral cutoffs region and are therefore fundamental to understand the mechanisms of acceleration to the highest energies. Suzaku has been able to measure the integrated spectrum of the remnant but so far no detailed spectro-imagery exist for this object. We propose a 4Ms observation of RX J1713.7-3946 to map the hard X-ray emission from the remnant from 10 keV up to 50 keV and to resolve spatially the hard X-ray spectrum of the remnant. (we request a special 3x3 dithering mode allowing good JemX exposure while limiting systematics in the other instruments). This will allow a mapping of the spectral cutoffs in the shell and hopefully shed some light on the long standing problem of the origin of cosmic rays up to the knee.

Observation Strategy (Recommended by TAC)

2 Ms in the standard 5x5 dithering mode centred on RA, Dec = 258.458, -39.75 (l, b = 347.374, -0.509).

Proposal grade: A

Data Rights (Recommended by TAC)

The TAC has allocated the following specific data rights to this proposal: SNR RX J1713.7-3946

Exposure Map

The exposure maps are in galactic coordinates and units of ksec, and the colour scale is indicated at the bottom. The green lines provide the 100 ksec contour.