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NASA NTRS1992

A survey of small-scale extremes in extinction at low Galactic latitudes using IRAS galaxies

Optical CCD and 21 cm H I data are combined here via the Tully-Fisher relation to study the Galactic extinction in the V an I bands over an angular scale of a few arcmin at absolute Galactic latitudes between 2 and 16 deg. Extinctions in V and I bands are found to be linearly correlated with A(I) about 0.58 A(V), with no noticeable environmental dependence and consistent with existing results of Galactic reddening. There is a large scatter in the simple linear relation with csc /b/, confirming the existence of 'holes' and patches at low Galactic latitudes. The mean correlation between Galactic extinction and H I column density over a comparable angular scale is also found to be consistent with those at high latitudes over large angular scales. Correlation is also found between optical extinction and the IRAS 100 micron sky brightness, and this sky brightness is only slightly worse than H I column density as an indicator for optical extinction.

Lu, N. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1993

OSSE observations of Galactic 511 keV positron annihilation radiation - Initial phase 1 results

The Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO) has performed numerous observations of the Galactic plane and Galactic center region to measure the distribution of Galactic 511 keV positron annihilation radiation and to search for time variability of the emission. The initial 511 keV line fluxes for the observations performed during the first 18 months of the GRO mission are presented. The 511 keV line flux for a typical Galactic center observation is (2.5 +/- 0.3) x 10 exp -4 gamma/sq cm per sec, where the quoted uncertainty represents the 1 sigma statistical uncertainty. No statistically significant time variability of the line flux has been observed; the 3 sigma upper limit to daily variations from the mean is 3 x 10 exp -4 gamma/sq cm per sec. The distribution of Galactic 511 keV positron annihilation radiation implied by the OSSE observations is discussed and compared with observations by other instruments.

Purcell, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

COBE diffuse infrared background experiment observations of Galactic reddening and stellar populations

This Letter describes the results of an initial study of Galactic extinction and the colors of Galactic stellar populations in the near-IR using the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) aboard the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) spacecraft. The near-IR reddening observed by DIRBE is consistent with the extinction law tabulated by Rieke & Lebofsky (1985). The distribution of dust and stars in most of the first and fourth quadrants of the Galactic plane (0 deg less than l less than 90 deg, and 270 deg less than l less than 360 deg, respectively) can be modeled as a stellar background source seen through up to approximately 4 mag of extinction at 1.25 micrometers. The unreddened near-IR colors of the Galactic disk are similar to those of late-K and M giants. The Galactic bulge exhibits slightly bluer colors in the 2.2-3.5 micrometers range, as noted by Terndrup et al. (1991). Star-forming regions exhibit colors that indicate the presence of a approximately 900 K continuum produced by hot dust or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contributing at wavelengths as short as 3.5 micrometers.

Arendt, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The Galactic far-ultraviolet sky as seen by Faust: Modeling and observations

We test the model of the Galactic point source sky recently extended to the far-ultraviolet by Cohen (1994) against the set of Galactic far-ultraviolet point sources detected by the Far Ultraviolet Space Telescope (FAUST) experiment. We find excellent agreement between the predicted (log N, log S) and the observed source counts for a range of Galactic directions observed by Faust. At low galactic latitudes, we can directly infer the amount of interstellar extinction in a given direction associated with local molecular complexes, based on comparison of model calculations and FAUST star counts. The model can also be used to predict the statistical stellar content of any field. We compare the model predcitions with the observations of Brosch et al. (1994), who have spectroscopically studied an optically identified complete sample of FAUST objects in a region near the north Galactic pole. We have used the model to determine that the contribution of far-ultraviolet stars fainter than 6 x 10(exp -14) ergs/s/sq cm/A (the FAUST detection limit) is less than 1% of the diffuse sky brightness, and less than about 4% of the total point source flux.

Cohen, Martin↗
NASA NTRS1995

Near-infrared spectra of compact stellar wind sources at the Galactic center

We present high- and low-resolution, H- and K-band spectra on nine compact 2.2 micrometers Galactic center sources in which we clearly detect He I 2.058 micrometers emission, including the AF source, IRS 13, IRS 1W, IRS 16NE, IRS 16NW, IRS 16C, IRS 16SW, IRS 34, and IRS 6E. We have also obtained comparison spectra of both a luminous blue variable (LBV) and a WR star (P Cygni and HD 192163, respectively). Our H- and K-band spectrum of the LBV P Cygni strongly resembles the near-infrared spectra of known WN9/Ofpe stars. Our spectra of the Galactic center sources share many characteristics in common with our spectrum of P Cygni. The spectra all show emission lines of H I and He I with large He I/H line flux ratios. Some have permitted and forbidden lines of Fe II. Brackett line widths and ratios indicate the presence of strong stellar winds. In contrast to the spectrum of the WR star, none of the Galactic center sources show evidence of He II emission lines in their spectra, suggesting that none of the Galactic center sources are WR stars. Our high-resolution H-band spectrum of the AF source differs from previously published low-resolution H-band spectra in that it is rich in emission lines. Furthermore, we find two distinct spectral components to the AF source separated in space by a few arcseconds. We identify both the emission-line component of the AF source and an exciting source of IRS 13 as an LBV or WN9/Ofpe star. Our results, when combined with the results of others, also suggest that IRS 16NE, IRS 16C, IRS 16NW, IRS 34, and a component of IRS 6E are early-type, emission-line stars. The argument for IRS 16SW, however, is less compelling. We find no evidence for a compact He I emission-line source at IRS 1W. This result contradicts previous findings, suggesting that the He I source at IRS 1W may be variable. If the He I lines in IRS 1W are truly variable, a stellar component of IRS 1W may be an LBV, because LBVs are known to have variable line emission on short timescales. The nine Galactic center wind sources appear to contribute a significant fraction of the total luminosity of the central few parsecs of the Galaxy.

Libonate, S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Diffuse Galactic Continuum Gamma Rays. A Model Compatible with EGRET Data and Cosmic-ray Measurements

We present a study of the compatibility of some current models of the diffuse Galactic continuum gamma-rays with EGRET data. A set of regions sampling the whole sky is chosen to provide a comprehensive range of tests. The range of EGRET data used is extended to 100 GeV. The models are computed with our GALPROP cosmic-ray propagation and gamma-ray production code. We confirm that the "conventional model" based on the locally observed electron and nucleon spectra is inadequate, for all sky regions. A conventional model plus hard sources in the inner Galaxy is also inadequate, since this cannot explain the GeV excess away from the Galactic plane. Models with a hard electron injection spectrum are inconsistent with the local spectrum even considering the expected fluctuations; they are also inconsistent with the EGRET data above 10 GeV. We present a new model which fits the spectrum in all sky regions adequately. Secondary antiproton data were used to fix the Galactic average proton spectrum, while the electron spectrum is adjusted using the spectrum of diffuse emission it- self. The derived electron and proton spectra are compatible with those measured locally considering fluctuations due to energy losses, propagation, or possibly de- tails of Galactic structure. This model requires a much less dramatic variation in the electron spectrum than models with a hard electron injection spectrum, and moreover it fits the y-ray spectrum better and to the highest EGRET energies. It gives a good representation of the latitude distribution of the y-ray emission from the plane to the poles, and of the longitude distribution. We show that secondary positrons and electrons make an essential contribution to Galactic diffuse y-ray emission.

Strong, Andrew W.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Evaluating Galactic Cosmic Ray Environment Models Using RaD-X Flight Data

Galactic cosmic rays enter Earth's atmosphere after interacting with the geomagnetic field. The primary galactic cosmic rays spectrum is fundamentally changed as it interacts with Earth's atmosphere through nuclear and atomic interactions. At points deeper in the atmosphere, such as at airline altitudes, the radiation environment is a combination of the primary galactic cosmic rays and the secondary particles produced through nuclear interactions. The RaD-X balloon experiment measured the atmospheric radiation environment above 20 km during 2 days in September 2015. These experimental measurements were used to validate and quantify uncertainty in physics-based models used to calculate exposure levels for commercial aviation. In this paper, the Badhwar-O'Neill 2014, the International Organization for Standardization 15390, and the German Aerospace Company galactic cosmic ray environment models are used as input into the same radiation transport code to predict and compare dosimetric quantities to RaD-X measurements. In general, the various model results match the measured tissue equivalent dose well, with results generated by the German Aerospace Center galactic cosmic ray environment model providing the best comparison. For dose equivalent and dose measured in silicon, however, the models were compared less favorably to the measurements.

Norman, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Galactic cosmic ray modulation from 1965-1970.

Numerical solutions of the cosmic-ray equation of transport within the solar cavity and including the effects of diffusion, convection, and energy losses due to adiabatic deceleration, have been used to reproduce the modulation of galactic electrons, protons, and helium nuclei observed during the period from 1965 to 1970. Kinetic energies between 10 and 10,000 MeV/nucleon are considered. Computed and observed spectra are given for the years 1965, 1968, 1969, and 1970 together with the diffusion coefficients. These diffusion coefficients are assumed to be of separable form in rigidity and radial dependence, and are consistent with the available magnetic-field power spectra. The force-field solutions are given for these diffusion coefficients and galactic spectra and are compared with the numerical solutions. It is shown that the energy losses and convection lead to near-earth nuclei spectra at kinetic energies less than or equal to 100 MeV/nucleon in which the differential intensity is proportional to the kinetic energy with little dependence on the form of the galactic spectrum. This dependence is in agreement with the observed spectra of all species of atomic nuclei and it is argued that this provides strong observational evidence for the presence of energy losses in the propagation process, and for the exclusion of low-energy galactic nuclei from near earth.

Urch, I. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Possible evidence for structured acceleration of cosmic rays on a galactic scale from recent gamma-ray observations

Recent data from SAS-2 on the galactic gamma-ray line flux as a function of longitude reveal a broad maximum in the region below 30 deg. These data, as unfolded here, imply that the low-energy (1-10 GeV) galactic cosmic-ray flux varies with the radial distance from the galactic center and is about an order of magnitude higher than the local value in a toroidal region for radial distances between 4 and 5 kpc. We further show that this enhancement can be plausibly accounted for by Fermi acceleration and compression caused by a hydrodynamic shock driven by the expanding gas in the 3-kpc arm and invoked in some versions of galactic structure theory.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A redetermination of the galactic H I half-thickness and a discussion of some dynamical consequences

We have redetermined the half-thickness of the neutral hydrogen layer of our Galaxy over a significant portion of the disk (R, distance from the galactic center between 1.4 and 16.8 kpc). Four high-resolution 21-cm surveys were employed, and corrections were made for the effects of finite optical depth in the 21-cm line. We find that the half-thickness is approximately constant for R from 4.5 to 10 kpc and averages 260 pc for 0 to 90 deg long and 230 pc for 270 to 360 deg long. Using this thickness in conjunction with a recent galactic mass model, we are able to determine the quantity Q over a large portion of the galactic disk, where Q-squared is the ratio at the galactic plane of the sum of the gas, magnetic, and cosmic-ray pressures to the gas density.

Jackson, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High energy galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms

A model for the emission of high energy ( 100 MeV) gamma rays from the galactic disk was developed and compared to recent SAS-2 observations. In the calculation, it is assumed that (1) the high energy galactic gamma rays result primarily from the interaction of cosmic rays with galactic matter; (2) on the basis of theoretical and experimental arguments the cosmic ray density is proportional to the matter density on the scale of galactic arms; and (3) the matter in the galaxy, atomic and molecular, is distributed in a spiral pattern consistent with density wave theory and the experimental data on the matter distribution.

Bignami, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Molecular hydrogen in the galaxy and galactic gamma rays

Recent surveys of 2.6 mm CO emission and 100 MeV gamma-radiation in the galactic plane reveal a striking correlation suggesting that both emissions may be primarily proportional to the line-of-sight column density of H2 in the inner galaxy. Both the gamma ray and CO data suggest a prominent ring or arm consisting of cool clouds of H2 at a galactocentric distance of approximately 5 kpc with a mean density of approximately 4 atoms/cu cm. The importance of H2 in understanding galactic gamma ray observations is also reflected in the correlation of galactic latitude distribution of gamma rays and dense dust clouds. A detailed calculation of the gamma ray flux distribution in the 0 deg to 180 deg range using the CO data to obtain the average distribution of molecular clouds in the galaxy shows that most of the enhancement in the inner galaxy is due to pion-decay radiation and the 5 kpc ring plays a major role. Detailed agreement with the gamma ray data is obtained with the additional inclusion of contributions from bremsstrahlung and Compton radiation of secondary electrons and Compton radiation from the intense radiation field near the galactic center.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Radio and gamma ray evidence for a molecular-arm feature at 5 kpc from the galactic centre

Recent measurements of the galactic CO distribution as evidenced from 2.6 mm radio observations of the CO emission line intensity are correlated with the SAS-2 measurements of galactic gamma ray emission. Both distributions are indicative of a ring-shaped distribution or arm consisting of cool clouds of molecular hydrogen at a galactocentric distance of approximately 5 kpc. The mean density of H2 in this region is estimated to be between 1 and 5 cu cm. Both a galactic and extra-galactic origin of cosmic rays are consistent with the observations, although the presence of dynamical effects and increased star formation at 5 kpc in the dense molecular clouds may be connected with an increase in cosmic-ray production.

Solomon, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Spectral and spatial resolution of the 12.8 micron Ne 2 emission from the galactic center

High-resolution spectra of the Ne II 12.8 micron fine-structure line in emission from the galactic center cloud Sgr A West show a line-center LSR radial velocity of + 75 + or - 20 km/sec. and a velocity dispersion of about 200 km/sec. The line has been observed with spectral resolution as high as 0.10/cm and spatial resolution as high as 8 sec. This appears to provide a direct measurement of conditions in the 45 sec. ionized region at the galactic center. The radial velocity and dispersion are more-or-less independent of position and indicate that events as recent as the last 4 million years have given the ionized gas a systematic motion with respect to the massive stellar component of material at the galactic center. An upper limit for the mass approximately equal to four million times the solar mass was obtained from the velocity distribution, with the mass located within 0.8 parsecs of the galactic center.

Wollman, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

SAS-2 observations of the galactic gamma radiation from the Vela region

Data from a scan of the galactic plane by the SAS-2 high energy gamma ray experiment in the region 250 deg l2 290 deg show a statistically-significant excess over the general radiation from the galactic plane for gamma radiation of energy 100 MeV in the region 260 deg l2 270 deg and -7.5 deg b2 0 deg. If the enhanced gamma radiation results from interactions of cosmic rays with galactic matter, as the energy spectrum suggests, it seems reasonable to associate the enhancement with large scale galactic features, such as spiral arm segments in that direction, or with the region surrounding the Vela supernova remnant, with which PSR 0833-45 is associated. If the excess is attributed to cosmic rays released from this supernova interacting with the interstellar matter in that region, then on the order of 3.10 to the 50th power ergs would be released by that supernova in the form of cosmic rays.

Thompson, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Prediction of the diffuse far infrared flux from the galactic plane

A basic model and simple numerical relations useful for future far infrared studies of the galaxy are presented. Making use of recent CO and other galactic surveys, the diffuse far infrared flux distribution from the galactic plane as a function of galactic longitude alternate theta for 4 deg or = alternate theta or = 90 and the far infrared emissivity as a function of galactocentric distance is predicted. Future measurements of the galactic far infrared flux would yield valuable information on the physical properties and distribution of dust and molecular clouds in the galaxy, particularly the inner region.

Fazio, G. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Low and medium energy galactic gamma-ray observations

Observation of 0.2-100 MeV diffuse gamma radiation emitted from the Galaxy can provide information on the intensities of 5-50 MeV/nucleon cosmic-rays and 50 MeV electrons in interstellar space. Recent measurements of gamma-rays emitted from the galactic center region provide evidence for a diffuse continuum between 10 and 100 MeV. The intensities of the recently reported nuclear line gamma rays, also observed in the direction of the galactic center, require the presence of intense fluxes of low-energy cosmic-rays in the inner Galaxy if the gamma-rays are produced on a galactic scale. Current detection techniques for 0.1-100 MeV gamma-ray measurements are summarized and their capabilities for measuring the diffuse galactic emission are evaluated.

Share, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Final SAS-2 gamma ray results on sources in the galactic anticenter region

Analysis of SAS-2 high energy Gamma ray data from the direction of the galactic anticenter shows that this region is characterized by: a diffuse emission from the galactic plane which has a maximum along b=0 deg and an enhancement toward negative latitudes associated with Gould's Belt, a strong point source in the direction of the Crab nebula, and a second intense localized source near galactic coordinates 195 deg, +5 deg. Gamma ray emission from the Crab source is dominated by a pulsed flux from PSR 0531+21. The total flux above 100MeV is 3.7 + or - 0.8 million/sq cm s. The source near 195 deg, + 5 deg has a flux above 100 MeV of 4.3 + or - 0.9 million/sq cm s. Its spectrum appears flatter than that of the Crab. The diffuse galactic plane emission at negative lattitudes shows a general correlation with the local matter distribution associated with Gould's Belt. The calculated Gamma ray intensity agrees well with the SAS-2 observations.

Thompson, D. J.↗