Gamma-ray emission from young supernova remnants: hadronic or leptonic?

TL;DR

This paper examines whether gamma-ray emissions from young supernova remnants, especially RX~J1713.7-3946, are caused by hadronic or leptonic processes, impacting our understanding of cosmic ray origins.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of gamma-ray emission mechanisms in young supernova remnants, focusing on the case of RX~J1713.7-3946, to clarify the hadronic versus leptonic debate.

Findings

Evidence favoring hadronic processes in gamma-ray emission

Implications for supernova remnants as cosmic ray sources

Discussion of observational signatures distinguishing emission types

Abstract

The debate on the nature of the gamma-ray emission from young supernova remnants is still open. Ascribing such emission to hadronic rather than leptonic processes would provide an evidence for the acceleration of protons and nuclei, and this fact would fit with the very popular (but not proven) paradigm that supernova remnants are the sources of Galactic cosmic rays. Here, we discuss this issue with a particular focus on the best studied gamma-ray-bright supernova remnant: RX~J1713.7-3946.