COS-B gamma-ray measurements, cosmic rays and the local interstellar medium
Abstract
A study of the relation between galaxy counts and gamma rays measured by the COS-B satellite clearly shows that there exists a bidimensional correlation between these quantities. Though the 21 cm measurements are more accurate than galaxy counts they show a weaker correlation with gamma rays. A significant fraction of the local gas in molecular form, linked to the dust, can account for this situation: gamma rays and galaxy counts being total gas tracers. The gamma-ray emissivity per hydrogen atom is derived leading to an estimate of the spectrum of the cosmic-ray electrons contributing to the gamma-ray emission through bremsstrahlung interactions.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982A&A...107..390L
- Keywords:
-
- Cos-B Satellite;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Gas Density;
- Hydrogen Clouds;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Abundance;
- Bremsstrahlung;
- Cosmic Rays;
- Electron Flux Density;
- Hydrogen Atoms;
- Interstellar Extinction;
- Space Radiation