Prospects for exploring the local galaxies through the study of their high-energy gamma-ray emission

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (21) References (44) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Prospects for Exploring the Local Galaxies through the Study of Their High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Ozel, Mehmet E. ; Fichtel, Carl E. Abstract In the near future, high-energy (E>20 MeV) gamma-ray astronomy offers the promise of a new means of examining the closest galaxies. Three local galaxies, the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds and M31, should be visible to the high-energy gamma-ray telescope on the Gamma Ray Observatory, and the first two should be seen by GAMMA-1. It is expected that the intensity and structure of both of the Magellanic Clouds can be examined in sufficient detail to study the cosmic-ray density and its variation, and, thereby, to determine the relevant scale of coupling for the cosmic rays and diffuse matter. With the assumptions of adequate sources and reasonable magnetic field strengths, both of which should likely be satisfied, very specific predictions of the gamma-ray emission can be made separating the three current cosmic-ray containment concepts, namely that it is on the scale of one to a few kiloparsec mass clustering, the whole galaxy, or some much larger scale. Further, because of the markedly different distributions of molecular and atomic hydrogen in the galaxies and the differences between the galaxies, an independent measure of the normalization of the diffuse molecular hydrogen density is possible. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166912 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...335..135O Keywords: Andromeda Galaxy; Gamma Ray Astronomy; Local Group (Astronomy); Magellanic Clouds; Cosmic Rays; Extraterrestrial Radiation; Galactic Structure; Gamma Ray Observatory; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL MESSIER NUMBER: M31; GALAXIES: MAGELLANIC CLOUDS; GAMMA RAYS: GENERAL; RADIATION MECHANISMS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (3) NED (3)