Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994apjs...92..539g&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 92, no. 2, p. 539-543
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
4
Dark Matter, Galactic Cosmic Rays, Galactic Halos, Gamma Ray Astronomy, Gamma Rays, Hot Stars, Supernova Remnants, Baryons, Mass Distribution, Massive Stars, Milky Way Galaxy
Scientific paper
The gamma-ray surface brightness distribution is proportional to the surface mass distribution and to the flux density of cosmic rays. Given adequate gamma-ray data one can determine both these distributions. Local enhancements in the cosmic-ray intensity, visible as high surface brightness fluctuations which do not correspond to mass density enhancements, signal regions of enhanced cosmic-ray acceleration. Such regions are expected to occur in those places where multiple supernova remnants and many hot OB stars are found-- SNOBs. SNOBs probably dominate the energetics of the interstellar medium (ISM) as well as the cosmic-ray flux. They sometimes also blow through the thin disk ISM, creating 'chimneys' which feed high-excitation material into the Galactic halo. High spatial resolution gamma-ray imaging provides a unique means to study such phenomena. In places where the cosmic-ray flux is more uniformly extended, particularly at high Galactic latidudes, the gamma-ray surface brightness is a tracer of the surface mass density. One may use this to determine what fraction of the 'dark' massive Galactic halo is made of baryonic matter in a form which is capable of interacting with cosmic rays. Current data allow an upper limit of only 15% of the total mass of the Galactic dark halo to be baryonic matter which is not in compact objects.
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