Cosmic rays in star-forming galaxies
Abstract
Cosmic rays fill up the entire volume of galaxies, providing an important source of heating and ionization of the interstellar medium, and may play a significant role in the regulation of star formation and evolution of galaxies. Diffuse emissions from radio to highenergy gamma rays (< 100 MeV) arising from various interactions between cosmic rays and the interstellar medium, interstellar radiation field, and magnetic field, are currently the best way to trace the intensities and spectra of cosmic rays in the Milky Way and other galaxies. In this talk, I will give an overview of the observations of the cosmic-ray induced emissions from our own and other galaxies, in particular, results from the Fermi-LAT and Imaging Air Cerenkov telescopes. I will also talk about what can be deduced about the cosmic-ray origin and propagation from these observations.
- Publication:
-
Centenary Symposium 2012: Discovery of Cosmic Rays
- Pub Date:
- February 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4792557
- Bibcode:
- 2013AIPC.1516..136P
- Keywords:
-
- cosmic ray energy spectra;
- cosmic ray interactions;
- cosmic ray origin;
- cosmic ray propagation;
- galaxies;
- gamma-ray astronomy;
- interstellar magnetic fields;
- interstellar matter;
- star formation;
- 96.50.S-;
- 96.50.sb;
- 96.50.sh;
- 98.35.Ac;
- 98.35.Eg;
- 98.38.-j;
- 98.62.Ai;
- 98.70.Sa;
- Cosmic rays;
- Composition energy spectra and interactions;
- Interplanetary propagation and effects;
- Origin formation evolution age and star formation;
- Electric and magnetic fields;
- Interstellar medium and nebulae in Milky Way;
- Origin formation evolution age and star formation;
- Cosmic rays