Particle Acceleration in the Disk-Halo System

1991 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 377-386
Author(s):  
Reinhard Schlickeiser
Keyword(s):  
Particle Acceleration ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Energy Spectra ◽  
Galactic Wind ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

The recent observations of the nonthermal properties of the halo of our Galaxy at radio and γ-ray wavelengths are summarized. Radio and γ-ray data show a similar spectral flattening with Galactic height towards the anticenter direction, which is interpreted as a cosmic-ray effect. Several theoretical explanations for the flattening of the energy spectra of the radiating cosmic-ray electrons (in the radio) and nucleons (in γ-rays) are reviewed including propagation of cosmic rays in an accelerating Galactic wind and the presence of cosmic-ray sources with flat energy spectra in the halo.

scholarly journals Gamma Rays from Cosmic Rays

1981 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
pp. 309-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Wolfendale
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Gamma Rays ◽  
Molecular Clouds ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Cosmic Ray Intensity ◽  
Cosmic Ray Interactions ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

It is shown that there is evidence favouring molecular clouds being sources of γ-rays, the fluxes being consistent with expectation for ambient cosmic rays interacting with the gas in the clouds for the clouds considered. An estimate is made of the fraction of the apparently diffuse γ-ray flux which comes from cosmic ray interactions in the I.S.M. as distinct from unresolved discrete sources. Finally, an examination is made of the possibility of gradients of cosmic ray intensity in the Galaxy.

Can Galactic γ-Ray Background be due to Superposition of γ-Rays from Millisecond Pulsars?

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 273-274
Author(s):  
V.B. Bhatia ◽  
S. Mishra ◽  
N. Panchapakesan
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Diffuse Radiation ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Inverse Compton Scattering ◽  
High Energy Electrons ◽  
Inverse Compton ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

The SAS 2 and COS B observations have established the existence of diffuse γ-rays in our Galaxy in various energy ranges. The diffuse radiation is attributed to the interaction of cosmic ray nuclei and electrons with the particles of interstellar atomic and molecular gas (via the decay of pions and bremsstrahlung, respectively). Inverse Compton scattering of interstellar photons by the high energy electrons of cosmic rays may also be contributing to this background. In addition some contribution may come from discrete sources of γ-rays.

scholarly journals Molecular Clouds Observed by the EGRET Gamma-Ray Telescope

1997 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 22-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth. W. Digel ◽  
Stanley D. Hunter ◽  
Reshmi Mukherjee ◽  
Eugéne J. de Geus ◽  
Isabelle A. Grenier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mass ◽  
Molecular Clouds ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Background Rejection ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
Production Mechanisms

EGRET, the high-energy γ-ray telescope on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory, has the sensitivity, angular resolution, and background rejection necessary to study diffuse γ-ray emission from the interstellar medium (ISM). High-energy γ rays produced in cosmic-ray (CR) interactions in the ISM can be used to determine the CR density and calibrate the CO line as a tracer of molecular mass. Dominant production mechanisms for γ rays of energies ∼30 MeV–30 GeV are the decay of pions produced in collisions of CR protons with ambient matter and Bremsstrahlung scattering of CR electrons.

Evidence for Large Scale Cosmic Ray Electron Gradients in the Galaxy

1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Webber
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Spiral Structure ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Interstellar Matter ◽  
Interstellar Gas ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Ray Density ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

In recent years observations of γ-ray emission from the disk of the galaxy have provided a new opportunity for research into the structure of the spiral arms of our own galaxy. In Figure 1 we show a map of the structure of the disk of the galaxy as observed for γ-rays of energy > 100 MeV by the SAS-2 satellite (Fichtel et al. 1975). The angular resolution of these measurements is ~ 3°, and besides two point sources at l = 190° and 265° several features related to the spiral structure of the galaxy are evident in the data. Most of these γ-rays are believed to arise from the decay of π° mesons produced by the nuclear interactions of cosmic rays (mostly protons) with the ambient interstellar gas. As a result, the γ-ray fluxes represent a measure of the line of sight integral of the product of the cosmic ray density NCR and the interstellar matter density N1

scholarly journals Search for galactic γ-rays with energies greater than 500 MeV on board OGO-5

1970 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 297-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. M. Bleeker ◽  
J. J. Burger ◽  
A. J. M. Deerenberg ◽  
H. C. Van De Hulst ◽  
A. Scheepmaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radiation Belts ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

A cosmic ray detector, sensitive to γ-Rays with energies greater than 500 MeV is being flown on board the OGO-5 satellite. The spacecraft was launched into a highly eccentric orbit, apogee 145000 km, on March 4, 1968. γ-Ray observations are restricted to altitudes higher than 80000 km, thereby excluding interference from the radiation belts and reducing the influence from the earth albedo flux. A description of the instrument is published in the literature (Rogowski et al., 1969).

The effects of the nature of matter traversed by cosmic rays on their composition and energy spectrum

1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. S512-S514
Author(s):  
M. V. K. Apparao ◽  
S. Ramadurai
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Neutral Hydrogen ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
The State ◽  
Energy Spectra ◽  
Ionization Loss ◽  
Usual Assumption ◽  
Considerable Portion ◽  
Nature Of Matter

The effects of the state of ionization of the matter traversed by cosmic rays, and those due to the presence of helium in it, have been studied. The amount of matter traversed by cosmic rays expressed in g/cm2 deduced by the usual assumption that the matter traversed is all neutral hydrogen can be erroneous. The presence of helium increases this value, and a considerable portion of the matter is helium. The ionized (partial) nature of the matter increases the ionization loss of cosmic-ray nuclei. The effect of this on energy spectra has been demonstrated.

scholarly journals Particle acceleration in winds of star clusters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Morlino ◽  
P Blasi ◽  
E Peretti ◽  
P Cristofari
Keyword(s):  
Particle Acceleration ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Termination Shock ◽  
Shock Acceleration ◽  
Acceleration Process ◽  
Diffusive Shock Acceleration

Abstract The origin of cosmic rays in our Galaxy remains a subject of active debate. While supernova remnant shocks are often invoked as the sites of acceleration, it is now widely accepted that the difficulties of such sources in reaching PeV energies are daunting and it seems likely that only a subclass of rare remnants can satisfy the necessary conditions. Moreover the spectra of cosmic rays escaping the remnants have a complex shape that is not obviously the same as the spectra observed at the Earth. Here we investigate the process of particle acceleration at the termination shock that develops in the bubble excavated by star clusters’ winds in the interstellar medium. While the main limitation to the maximum energy in supernova remnants comes from the need for effective wave excitation upstream so as to confine particles in the near-shock region and speed up the acceleration process, at the termination shock of star clusters the confinement of particles upstream in guaranteed by the geometry of the problem. We develop a theory of diffusive shock acceleration at such shock and we find that the maximum energy may reach the PeV region for powerful clusters in the high end of the luminosity tail for these sources. A crucial role in this problem is played by the dissipation of energy in the wind to magnetic perturbations. Under reasonable conditions the spectrum of the accelerated particles has a power law shape with a slope 4÷4.3, in agreement with what is required based upon standard models of cosmic ray transport in the Galaxy.

scholarly journals Bohm Diffusion and Cosmic-Ray-Modified Shocks

1994 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 981-983
Author(s):  
Peter Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Particle Acceleration ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Shock Acceleration ◽  
Back Reaction ◽  
Acceleration Of Particles ◽  
Diffusive Shock Acceleration ◽  
Spacetime Structure ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Self Consistent

AbstractA numerical solution to the problem of self-consistent diffusive shock acceleration is presented. The cosmic rays are scattered, accelerated and exert a back-reaction on the gas through their interaction with turbulence frozen into the local fluid frame. Using a grid with a hierarchical spacetime structure the physically interesting limit of Bohm diffusion (к ∝ pv), which introduces a wide range of diffusion lengthscales and acceleration timescales, can be studied. Some implications for modified shocks and particle acceleration are presented.Subject headings: acceleration of particles — cosmic rays — diffusion — shock waves

scholarly journals Very high energy cosmic gamma rays

1965 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 253-258
Author(s):  
M. Libber ◽  
S. N. Milford ◽  
M. S. Spergel
Keyword(s):  
Pion Production ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Mass System ◽  
Proton Proton ◽  
Production Spectrum ◽  
Very High Energy ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray

Collisions of high energy cosmic rays with intergalactic gas produce various secondaries, including neutral pions that decay into high energy γ rays. The Landau-Milekhin hydrodynamical model for proton-proton collisions is used to calculate the pion production spectrum corresponding to cosmic γ rays of energy above 10 Gev. A source function for these high energy γ rays in space is found by combining the pion production and decay spectra with the primary cosmic ray proton flux. The resulting γ ray spectrum follows a different power law than spectra based upon the usual assumption of a line spectrum for the pions in the center of mass system of the colliding protons. The high energy γ ray intensity in space is calculated for a simple model universe. By comparison with previous estimates for the proton photoproduction process, it is found that proton-proton and proton-photon collisions appear to contribute about the same order of magnitude to the intergalactic γ ray intensity above ∼1016 eV.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document