MSc Defense: Youyou Li

Stellar clusters are promising candidates of PeV-atrons (PeV accelerators) in our Galaxy. Diffusive shock acceleration is expected to be efficiently at work at the wind termination shock of these unique objects. Molecular clouds and clumps in the vicinity of the clusters can provide enough target material for a relevant production of hadronic secondaries. Indeed, recent observations by HAWC, Tibet-ASgamma, and LHAASO have identified 0.1-1 PeV gamma-ray emission coincident with nearby stellar clusters such as the Cygnus Cocoon or Westerlund 1 and 2. In this project, we will investigate high-energy gamma-ray and neutrino emission from Galactic stellar clusters. We will model hadronic emission of individual sources and compare our predictions to multimessenger observations. In particular, we investigate the prospects of neutrino telescopes to identify high-energy neutrino emission from stellar clusters.