Galactic gamma-ray distribution: implications for galactic structure and the radial cosmic ray gradient

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5740848

Harding, A K; Stecker, F W

The radial distribution of gamma ray emissivity in the Galaxy was derived from flux longitude profiles, using both the final SAS-2 results and the recently corrected COS-B results and analyzing the northern and southern galactic regions separately. The recent CO surveys of the Southern Hemisphere, were used in conjunction with the Northern Hemisphere data, to derive the radial distribution of cosmic rays on both sides of the galactic plane. In addition to the 5 kpc ring, there is evidence from the radial asymmetry for spiral features which are consistent with those derived from the distribution of bright HII regions. Positive evidence was also found for a strong increase in the cosmic ray flux in the inner Galaxy, particularly in the 5 kpc region in both halves of the plane.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 5740848
• Report Number(s): N-85-16729; NASA-TM-86173
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND NOISE
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EMISSIVITY
GALAXIES
H2 REGIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILKY WAY
NOISE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES