Speaker
Roland Walter
(University of Geneva)
Description
Eta Carinae is the colliding wind binary with the largest mass loss rate in our Galaxy and the only one in which hard X-ray and gamma-ray emission has been detected. Eta Carinae is therefore a primary candidate to search for particle acceleration. We present preliminary gamma-ray data covering two periastron passages. The source variability can be compared with the results of hydrodynamic simulations. The energy transferred to the accelerated hadrons (∼ 5% of the collision mechanical energy) is comparable to that of the thermal X-ray emission. The colliding winds could accelerate as much cosmic rays as a supernova remnant. Extrapolation to OB association will be explored.
Author
Roland Walter
(University of Geneva)
Co-author
Mr
Matteo Balbo
(ISDC)
