Evidence for a New Component of Solar Gamma-Ray Emission
Abstract
The Fermi-LAT has detected a bright solar gamma-ray flux produced by the efficient redirection of incoming cosmic-rays by solar magnetic fields. I will show new observations, including the first resolved imaging of this gamma-ray signal across the solar surface, that find three surprising results. First, the gamma-ray emission extends to energies exceeding 200 GeV, implying that Solar magnetic fields can redirect TeV protons. Second, the morphology and spectrum of gamma-ray emission varies significantly over the solar cycle. Third, a significant "spectral-dip" appears between energies of 30-50 GeV. These observations are in significant tension with all current models of solar gamma-ray production. I will conclude by focusing on possible theoretical interpretations of these results, and their implications for our understanding of our nearest stellar neighbor.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #233
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AAS...23340108L