TeV $\gamma$-ray emission near globular cluster Terzan 5 as a probe of cosmic ray transport

TL;DR

This paper uses the observed displacement of gamma-ray emission near globular cluster Terzan 5 to directly constrain cosmic ray scattering rates, providing new insights into cosmic ray transport mechanisms in the galaxy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to use displaced gamma-ray signals as direct probes of cosmic ray scattering rates in different galactic environments.

Findings

Displacement of gamma-ray emission constrains cosmic ray scattering rates.

Scattering primarily caused by magnetic waves excited by cosmic rays.

Method applicable to other sources with displaced non-thermal signals.

Abstract

Cosmic rays travelling through interstellar space have their propagation directions repeatedly scattered by fluctuating interstellar magnetic fields. The nature of this scattering is a major unsolved problem in astrophysics, one that has resisted solution largely due to a lack of direct observational constraints on the scattering rate. Here we show that very high-energy $\gamma$-ray emission from the globular cluster Terzan 5, which has unexpectedly been found to be displaced from the cluster, presents a direct probe of this process. We show that this displacement is naturally explained by cosmic rays accelerated in the bow shock around the cluster propagating a finite distance before scattering processes re-orient enough of them towards Earth to produce a detectable $\gamma$-ray signal. The angular distance between the cluster and the signal places tight constraints on the scattering rate, which we show are consistent with a model whereby scattering is primarily due to excitation of magnetic waves by the cosmic rays themselves. The analysis method we develop here will make it possible to use sources with similarly displaced non-thermal X-ray and TeV $\gamma$-ray signals as direct probes of cosmic ray scattering across a range of Galactic environments.