Modeling of GeV-TeV gamma-ray emission of Cygnus Cocoon

OB-associations and superbubbles being energetically essential galactic powerhouses are likely to be the important acceleration sites of galactic cosmic rays (CRs). The emission profile of y-ray sources related to superbubbles and stellar clusters indicates on continuous particle acceleration by winds of massive stars. One of the most luminous galactic y-ray sources is Cygnus Cocoon superbubble, observed by multiple instruments, such as Fermi-LAT, ARGO, and, recently, HAWC. We discuss a model of particle acceleration and transport in a superbubble to explain GeV-TeV y-ray spectrum of Cygnus Cocoon, which has a break at the energy of about 1 TeV. It is shown that the y rays produced by hadronic interactions of high-energy protons accelerated by an ensemble of shocks from winds of massive stars and supernovae in the Cygnus Cocoon can explain the observations. The proton spectral shape at the highest energies depends on the MHD-fluctuation spectrum in the Cocoon. The viable solutions for Cygnus Cocoon may be applied to some other associations showing similar behaviour. We briefly discuss the similarity and differences of particle acceleration processes in extended superbubbles and compact clusters of young massive stars as represented by Westerlund 1 and 2 y-ray sources. (c) 2022 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

OB-associations and superbubbles are important sites for the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays. The emission profile of γ-ray sources related to superbubbles and stellar clusters indicates continuous particle acceleration. This study focuses on the Cygnus Cocoon superbubble and proposes a model of particle acceleration and transport to explain its γ-ray spectrum. The results suggest that the γ rays are produced by hadronic interactions of high-energy protons accelerated by shocks from winds of massive stars and supernovae in the Cygnus Cocoon.