Dynamical and radiative simulations of γ-ray jets in microquasars

Abstract

The emission of γ-rays in jets emanating from the vicinity of collapsed stellar remnants, in binary systems known as microquasars, is investigated using a three-dimensional relativistic hydrocode (PLUTO), in combination with two in-house radiative transfer codes. Even though a great number of stellar systems may be addressed by such models, we restrict ourselves to the concrete example of the SS433 X-ray binary, the only microquasar with a definite hadronic content in its jets, as verified from spectral line observations.Avariety of system configurations have been examined, by employing a hadron-based emission mechanism. The dependence of the γ-ray emissions on certain dynamical source properties, such as the hydrodynamic parameters of the mass-flowdensity, the gas-pressure and the temperature of the ejected matter, is simulated. Radiative properties, especially the assumed high-energy proton population inside the jet plasma, and its effect on the calculated emission, are also examined. Two sets of initial conditions of the chosen microquasar are employed, in order to cover different scenarios pertaining to the system under consideration. © 2013 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.