Galactic gamma rays and the origin of cosmic rays
Abstract
High-energy gamma rays in the Galaxy are generated primarily through the interactions of cosmic ray nuclei and electrons with matter and radiation fields present in a variety of astrophysical objects and in the interstellar medium. Because of this close relationship, the observations of both discrete galactic gamma-ray sources and the diffuse galactic gamma-ray emission provide significant clues to the nature and distribution of cosmic ray sources. In this paper, it is argued that cosmic rays leaking from gamma ray sources must contribute significantly to the density of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Conversely, the sources of cosmic rays are also likely to be gamma ray sources.
- Publication:
-
Non-Solar Gamma-Rays
- Pub Date:
- 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980nsgr.symp..205C
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmic Rays;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Electron Energy;
- Kinetic Energy;
- Radiation Distribution;
- Spectral Energy Distribution;
- Space Radiation