COS-B gamma-ray measurements and the large-scale distribution of interstellar matter
Abstract
Two results of the study made by Mayer-Hasselwander et al. (1982), namely the gamma-ray color of the Milky Way and the intrinsic thickness of the gamma-ray disk, are discussed. In discussing the large-scale structure of the galactic gamma-ray emissivity, data in the energy range from 150 MeV to 5 GeV are used. Longitude profiles are derived for the latitude range in which 7 deg is the upper limit. A ring of enhanced emissivity is evident in the 3-6 kpc region of the Galaxy, especially in the fourth quadrant. The gamma-ray emission in this galactic ring is between two and four times stronger than in the solar region. From this result it is straightforward to compute the overall gamma-ray luminosity of the Galaxy. The value obtained is 2 x 10 to the 42nd photon/s.
- Publication:
-
Kinematics, Dynamics and Structure of the Milky Way
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1007/978-94-009-7060-1_33
- Bibcode:
- 1983ASSL..100..223M
- Keywords:
-
- Cos-B Satellite;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Gamma Rays;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Radiation Measurement;
- Luminosity;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Radial Distribution;
- Radiant Flux Density;
- Space Radiation