Supernova remnants in the very-high-energy gamma-ray domain: the role of the Cherenkov telescope array

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to detect and study supernova remnants in the very-high-energy gamma-ray domain, aiming to enhance understanding of cosmic ray acceleration mechanisms.

Contribution

It highlights the expected role of the Cherenkov Telescope Array in discovering new supernova remnants and studying their population to better understand particle acceleration.

Findings

Cherenkov Telescope Array will detect many new supernova remnants in TeV range.

Population studies can constrain particle acceleration parameters.

Enhanced observations will improve understanding of shock acceleration mechanisms.

Abstract

Supernova remnants are often presented as the most probable sources of Galactic cosmic rays. This idea is supported by the accumulation of evidence that particle acceleration is happening at supernova remnant shocks. Observations in the TeV range have especially contributed to increase the understanding of the mechanisms, but many aspects of the particle acceleration at supernova remnant shocks are still debated. The Cherenkov telescope array is expected to lead to the detection of many new supernova remnants in the TeV and multi-TeV range. In addition to the individual study of each, the study of these objects as a population can help constrain the parameters describing the acceleration of particles and increase our understanding of the mechanisms involved.