Cosmic Rays Help Drive Galactic Winds

Cosmic rays deposit both momentum and energy into thermal gas when magnetic fields are present (Wentzel, 1968; Kulsrud Pearce, 1969). Since we observe evidence of magnetic fields, cosmic-rays, and hot gas in galactic disks, it is plausible that cosmic rays may add momentum and energy to gas, and therefore help drive galactic-scale outflows. Building on past work by Breitschwerdt, Zirakashvili, Ptuskin, and others, our group investigates "hybrid" galactic winds driven by cosmic-ray and thermal-gas pressure. We have found that such a wind can fit mid-latitude Galactic X-ray emission observed by ROSAT towards the center of the Galaxy, and also (with some physically motivated modifications) fits radio-synchrotron survey data. We are now building estimates of the gamma-ray emission for this wind. So far, we also find that the parameters of such a wind are plausible for the conditions of the central Milky Way. More generally, we illustrate how cosmic-ray driving may increase the prevalance of galactic winds. For this talk, I will review the hydrodynamics of cosmic rays, including the work of other groups on cosmic-ray driven winds. I will highlight how cosmic ray pressure can help drive Galactic winds, how such a wind may work in our Galaxy, and include estimates of the impact of cosmic-ray diffusivity and the driving of cool clouds (observed within extragalactic winds and important to constrain wind velocities) within such a wind.