Status and future of high energy diffuse gamma-ray astronomy

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(83)90002-9· OSTI ID:6345660

Fichtel, C E

There are two distinctly different high energy diffuse gamma-ray components, one well correlated with broad galactic features and the other apparently isotropic and presumably extragalactic. The observed diffuse galactic high energy gamma radiation is generally thought to be produced in interactions between the cosmic rays and the interstellar matter and photons. It should then ultimately be possible to obtain from the diffuse galactic emission a detailed picture of the galactic cosmic-ray distribution, a high contrast view of the general structure of the galaxy, and further insight into molecular clouds. Two of the candidates for the explanation of the extragalactic diffuse radiation are the sum of emission from active galaxies and matter-antimatter annihilation. A major advancement in the study of the properties of both galactic and extragalactic gamma radiation should occur over the next decade.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
• OSTI ID: 6345660
• Journal Information: Adv. Space Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN ASRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640100* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
DOCUMENT TYPES
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTROPY
MILKY WAY
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
RADIATIONS
REVIEWS