X-rays from a Galactic Wind

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

THERE is evidence1,2 that the low energy diffuse X-rays in excess of that predicted from an extrapolation of the isotropic power law spectrum observed at higher energies3–10 may not be of extragalactic origin. Silk11 has pointed out that this flux may originate in a hot galactic halo. Recent observations9 indicate an X-ray temperature in the direction of the galactic pole of 3-4.5 × 106 K. If this emission does originate in the halo, an electron density of approximately 0.003 cm-3 is required to produce the observed flux.