A two‐zone model for the emission from RX J1713.7‐3946

We study the acceleration and radiation of charged particles in the shock waves of supernova remnants using a recent version of the so‐called “box model”. Particles are accelerated in an energy‐dependent region around the shock and lose energy through radiation. At the same time a fraction of the particles escapes behind the shock where it also radiates. We calculate the distribution function of both populations and obtain the photon spectra they produce. The application of the model to the supernova remnant RX J1713.7‐3946, which was recently confirmed as a TeV source by H.E.S.S., shows that the X‐ray emission can be attributed to electron synchrotron radiation and the γ‐ray emission to inverse Compton scattering from the same electrons. The possible contribution from a hadronic component is not considered.