HAWC J2227+610 and its association with G106.3+2.7, a new potential Galactic PeVatron

TL;DR

This paper reports the detection of very high energy gamma-ray emission above 100 TeV from HAWC J2227+610, suggesting it as a potential Galactic PeVatron linked to supernova remnant G106.3+2.7, with implications for cosmic ray acceleration.

Contribution

It provides the first detection of >100 TeV gamma rays from HAWC J2227+610 and interprets it as evidence for proton acceleration up to at least 800 TeV, identifying a new candidate PeVatron.

Findings

Detection of gamma-ray emission above 100 TeV from HAWC J2227+610.

Proton cutoff energy lower limit of 800 TeV inferred.

Supernova remnant G106.3+2.7 identified as likely source.

Abstract

We present the detection of VHE gamma-ray emission above 100 TeV from HAWC J2227+610 with the HAWC observatory. Combining our observations with previously published results by VERITAS, we interpret the gamma-ray emission from HAWC J2227+610 as emission from protons with a lower limit in their cutoff energy of 800 TeV. The most likely source of the protons is the associated supernova remnant G106.3+2.7, making it a good candidate for a Galactic PeVatron. However, a purely leptonic origin of the observed emission cannot be excluded at this time.