Evidence for protons accelerated and escaped from the Puppis A region using \textit{Fermi}-LAT observations

TL;DR

This study uses 14 years of Fermi-LAT data to analyze gamma-ray emissions from Puppis A, revealing asymmetric morphology, different acceleration mechanisms in regions, and evidence of cosmic-ray escape, informing cosmic-ray propagation models.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed gamma-ray morphological and spectral analysis of Puppis A, highlighting asymmetric acceleration processes and cosmic-ray escape evidence.

Findings

Asymmetric gamma-ray emission with distinct spectral properties.

Evidence of cosmic-ray escape interacting with nearby molecular clouds.

Estimated total energy in escaping cosmic rays as ~1.5 x 10^{49} erg.

Abstract

Supernova remnants (SNRs) interacting with molecular clouds are interesting laboratories to study the acceleration of cosmic rays and their propagation in the dense ambient medium. We analyze 14 years of Fermi-LAT observations of the supernova remnant Puppis A to investigate its asymmetric $\gamma$-ray morphology and spectral properties. This middle-aged remnant ($\sim$4 kyr) is evolving in an inhomogeneous environment, interacting with a dense molecular cloud in the northeast and a lower-density medium in the southwest. We find clear differences in both $\gamma$-ray luminosity and spectral energy distribution between these two regions. The emission from both sides is consistent with a hadronic origin. However, while the southwestern emission can be explained by standard Diffusive Shock Acceleration (DSA), the northeastern side may involve re-acceleration of pre-existing cosmic rays or acceleration via reflected shocks in the dense cloud environment. Additionally, we identify two significant $\gamma$-ray excesses outside the remnant, including a previously unreported source to the south. These features are likely produced by cosmic rays that have escaped Puppis A and are interacting with nearby dense molecular material. From this extended emission, we estimate the total energy in escaping cosmic rays to be $W_{CR} \sim 1.5 \times 10^{49}$ erg, providing important constraints on cosmic-ray propagation around the remnant.