On the emissivity of π^0^-decay gamma radiation in the vicinity of accelerators of galactic cosmic rays.
Abstract
We study the emissivity of π^0^-decay γ-rays within 100pc regions of the interstellar medium from relatively young accelerators of cosmic ray protons. It is shown that in the general case of energy-dependent propagation of relativistic protons after their injection in the interstellar medium, a large variety of γ-ray spectra is expected depending on the age of the accelerator, time history of particle injection, and the location of the massive gas cloud/target with respect to the accelerator. We argue that both the γ-ray spectra and absolute fluxes of the unidentified EGRET sources detected at low galactic latitudes may be explained as fortuitous location of massive molecular clouds in the proximity of recent cosmic ray proton accelerators.
- Publication:
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996A&A...309..917A
- Keywords:
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- COSMIC-RAYS;
- ISM: CLOUDS;
- GAMMA-RAYS: THEORY;
- ACCELERATION OF PARTICLES