Broadband Radio Study of the North Polar Spur: Origin of the Spectral Turnover with Insights into the X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Spectra

Abstract

The North Polar Spur (NPS) is a giant structure that is clearly visible in both radio and X-ray all-sky maps. We analyzed broadband radio observations covering a range between 22 MHz and 70 GHz to systematically analyze the thermal/nonthermal emissions associated with the NPS. We demonstrate that the radio emission of the NPS comprises synchrotron, free–free, and dust emission; however, synchrotron emissions dominate over other emissions, especially at high Galactic latitudes. Moreover, the synchrotron spectra exhibit a power-law behavior with N ( γ ) ∝ γ ^− ^s ( s ≃ 1.8–2.4) up to a few GHz moderated by a turnover at ν _brk ≃ 1 GHz, above which the spectral index s decreases by one. Assuming that the turnover is due to the electrons being cooled by synchrotron radiation before escaping (or advecting) from the emission region, the magnetic field strength can be estimated to be B ∼ 8 μ G if the NPS is a distant structure that is near the Galactic center (GC). However, an unreasonably strong B ∼ 114 μ G is required if the NPS is near the local supernova remnant (SNR). The corresponding nonthermal energy stored in the NPS is E _n/th ≃ 4.4 × 10 ^55 erg in the GC scenario, whereas E _n/th ≃ 4.1 × 10 ^52 erg is difficult to explain with a single local SNR. We also estimated the gamma-ray emission associated with the NPS through inverse Comptonization of the cosmic microwave background, which peaks at 100–1000 keV with a flux of ν F _ν ∼ 10 ^−9 erg cm ^−2 s ^−1 sr ^−1 in the GC model, and may be a good candidate for detection by future X-ray/gamma-ray observatories.

Keywords

• Radio astronomy
• Galaxy stellar halos
• Interstellar medium
• Stellar wind bubbles