Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters

Details Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters

1999-10-11

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9910180v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 1 figure, Proc. 5th Compton Symposium

Scientific paper

10.1063/1.1303170

OB associations and young open clusters constitute the most prolific nucleosynthesis sites in our Galaxy. The combined activity of stellar winds and core-collapse supernovae ejects significant amounts of freshly synthesised nuclei into the interstellar medium. Radioactive isotopes, such as 26Al or 60Fe, that have been co-produced in such events may eventually be observed by gamma-ray instruments through their characteristic decay-line signatures. In order to study such signatures and to derive constraints on the involved nucleosynthesis processes, we developed a multi-wavelength evolutionary synthesis model for massive star associations. We apply this model to associations and clusters in the well-studied Cygnus region for which we re-determined the stellar census based on photometric and spectroscopic data. In particular we study the relation between 1.809 MeV gamma-ray line emission and ionising flux, since the latter has turned out to provide an excellent tracer of the global galactic 1.809 MeV emission. We compare our model to COMPTEL 1.8 MeV gamma-ray line observations from which we derive limits on the relative contributions from massive stars and core-collapse supernovae to the actual 26Al content in this region. Based on our model we make predictions about the expected 26Al and 60Fe line signatures in the Cygnus region. These predictions make the Cygnus region a prime target for the future INTEGRAL mission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gamma-ray line emission from OB associations and young open clusters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-460727