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NASA NTRS1975

Solar and galactic cosmic ray abundances - A comparison and some comments

We have compared the abundances of galactic cosmic rays at their source and solar cosmic-rays utilizing new data which includes the first determination of the abundances of Na and Al in the solar cosmic ray population. We find the relative abundances of the solar and galactic species to be identical within experimental error for 8 elements. One clear abundance difference exists for C. He and Fe have a variable solar cosmic ray abundance, and the unbiased abundance of both of these nuclei is also probably different than that in the galactic cosmic ray sources. We also have compared the cosmic ray abundances with solar system and solar atmospheric abundance determinations. We find an abundance ratio which depends on the first ionization potential for galactic cosmic rays; however, in addition, we find this same dependence on ionization potential for solar cosmic ray abundance ratios. The implications of this result are discussed.

Webber, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Spectral and spatial resolution of the 12.8 micron Ne II 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/s and a velocity dispersion of about 200 km/s. The line has been observed with spectral resolution as high as 0.10 micron/cm and spatial resolution as high as 8 arcsec. This appears to provide a direct measurement of conditions in the 45-arcsec 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 10,000 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 of the order of 4 million solar masses for the mass within 0.8 pc of the galactic center is obtained from the velocity dispersion.

Wollman, E. R.↗
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 is predicted as a function of galactic longitude for longitudes between 4 and 90 deg; the far-infrared emissivity is predicted as a function of galactocentric distance. 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

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 planes is predicted as a function of galactic longitude for the region between 4 and 90 deg longitude; the far-infrared emissivity is predicted as a function of galactocentric distance. 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 NTRS1977

Low- and medium-energy galactic gamma-ray observations

Observation of 0.2 to 100 MeV-diffuse gamma-radiation emitted from a galaxy provides information on the intensities of 5 to 50 MeV/nucleon cosmic-rays and approximately less than 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, which is dominant over the pi-decay emission generated in high-energy nuclear collisions. 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-ray are produced on a galactic scale. Current detection techniques for 0.1 to 100 MeV gamma-ray measurements are summarized, and their capabilities for measuring the diffuse galactic emission are evaluated.

Share, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

SAS-2 observations of the diffuse gamma radiation in the galactic latitude interval 10 deg absolute b or equal to 90 deg

An analysis of all of the second small astronomy satellite gamma-ray data for galactic latitudes with the absolute value of b 10 deg has shown that the intensity varies with galactic latitude, being larger near 10 deg than 90 deg. For energies above 100 MeV the gamma-ray data are consistent with a latitude distribution of the form I(b) = C sub 1 + C sub 2/sin b, with the second term being dominant. This result suggests that the radiation above 100 MeV is coming largely from local regions of the galactic disk. Between 35 and 100 MeV, a similar equation is also a good representation of the data, but here the two terms are comparable. These results indicate that the diffuse radiation above 35 MeV consists of two parts, one with a relatively hard galactic component and the other an isotropic, steep spectral component which extrapolates back well to the low energy diffuse radiation. The steepness of the diffuse isotropic component places significant constraints on possible theoretical models of this radiation.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Translational anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation and far-infrared emission by galactic dust clouds

The predicted emission spectrum of galactic dust at about 10 K is compared with the spectrum of 2.8-K universal blackbody radiation and with the spectrum of the anisotropy expected in the 2.8-K radiation due to motion of earth with respect to the coordinate system in which the radiation was last scattered. The extremely anisotropic galactic-dust emission spectrum may contribute a significant background to anisotropy measurements which scan through the galactic plane. The contamination would appear in an 8-mm scan around the celestial equator, for example, as a spurious 200 km/s velocity toward declination 0 deg, right ascension 19 hr, if predictions are correct. The predicted spectrum of dust emission in the galactic plane at longitudes not exceeding about 30 deg falls below the total 2.8-K cosmic background intensity at wavelengths of at least 1 mm.

Forman, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Airborne far-infrared observations of the galactic center region

Maps of a region 10 arcmin in diameter around the galactic center made simultaneously in three wavelength bands at 30, 50, and 100 microns with about 1 arcmin resolution are presented, and the distribution of far-IR luminosity and color temperature across this region is derived. The position of highest far-IR surface brightness coincides with the peak of the late-type stellar distribution and with the H II region Sgr A West. The high spatial and temperature resolution of the data is used to identify features of the far-IR maps with known sources of near-IR, radio continuum, and molecular emission. The emission mechanism and energy sources for the far-IR radiation are analyzed qualitatively, and it is concluded that all of the observed far-IR radiation from the galactic-center region can be attributed to thermal emission from dust heated both by the late-type stars and by the ultraviolet sources which ionize the H II regions. A self-consistent model for the far-IR emission from the galactic-center region is presented. It is found that the visual extinction across the central 10 pc of the Galaxy is only about 3 mag and that the dust density is fairly uniform in this region. An upper limit of 10 million suns is set on the luminosity of any still unidentified source of 0.1- to 1-micron radiation at the galactic center.

Gatley, I.↗
NASA NTRS1977

SAS-2 observations of the diffuse gamma radiation in the galactic latitude interval from 10 to 90 deg in both hemispheres

An analysis of all the second Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-2) gamma-ray data for galactic latitudes higher than 10 deg in both hemispheres has shown that the intensity varies with galactic latitude, being larger near 10 deg than 90 deg. For energies above 100 MeV the gamma-ray data are consistent with a latitude distribution of the form I(b) = C1 + C2/sin b, with the second term being dominant. This result suggests that the radiation above 100 MeV is coming largely from local regions of the galactic disk. Between 35 and 100 MeV, a similar equation is also a good representation of the data, but here the two terms are comparable. These results indicate that the diffuse radiation above 35 MeV consists of two parts, one with a relatively hard galactic component and the other an isotropic steep spectral component which extrapolates back well to the low-energy (less than 10 MeV) diffuse radiation. The steepness of the diffuse isotropic component places significant constraints on possible theoretical models of this radiation.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Observability of the neutrino flux from the inner region of the galactic disk

The observability of galactic neutrinos in a detector of 10 billion tons of water with an observing time of a few years is explored. Although the atmospheric flux exceeds the galactic flux considerably at energies greater than or equal to 1 TeV, the latter may still provide a marginally observable signal owing to its directionality. Galactic muon neutrinos with energy greater than or equal to 1 TeV will produce a signal approximately 2 sigma above the atmospheric background over a four year period. If electron neutrinos can also be studied with the deep underwater muon and neutrino detector, then galactic electron neutrinos above 1 TeV would give an approximate 4 to 5 sigma signal above the electron neutrino background over a four year integration time.

Silberberg, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Observations of diffuse galactic gamma rays

The observations of galactic diffuse gamma radiation are reviewed. The connections of the gamma ray observations with galactic structure and cosmic rays are discussed. The high latitude galactic component and the low latitude emission from the galactic plane are examined. The observations in other regions of the gamma ray spectrum are discussed.

Simpson, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Positions and identifications of galactic X-ray sources

A catalog of compact Galactic X-ray sources with precise positions is presented together with a large bibliography. The catalog provides available X-ray, optical, and radio data for the 96 compact Galactic sources that have been identified and contains the most precise of the available optical, X-ray, or radio positions, the maximum and minimum published intensities, references to finding charts, and a comprehensive referenced list of X-ray, optical, and radio characteristics. The catalog also includes X-ray sources in the Magellanic clouds as well as all unidentified hard (greater than 2 keV) compact sources with an error radius of less than 60 arcsec and a Galactic latitude of less than 10 deg (absolute value). The sources list includes 14 X-ray Doppler or eclipsing binaries, seven or eight other X-ray pulsators, 23 transients or X-ray novae, 15 persistent bright bulge sources, seven X-ray sources associated with globular clusters, nine bursters, seven Galactic Center sources, and 18 other identified sources.

Bradt, H. V.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Observability of the neutrino flux from the inner region of the galactic disk

The observability of galactic neutrinos in a detector of 10 to the 10th tons of water with an observing time of a few years is explored. Although the atmospheric flux exceeds the galactic flux considerably at energies greater than or equal to 1 TeV, the latter may still provide a marginally observable signal owing to its directionality. Galactic muon neutrinos with energy greater than approximately 1 TeV will produce a signal approximately two standard deviations above the atmospheric background over a four year period. If electron neutrinos can also be studied with DUMAND, then galactic electron neutrinos above 1 TeV would give an approximately four to five standard deviations signal above the electron neutrino background over a four-year integration time.

Silberberg, R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Limit on galactic 6.13 MeV gamma-ray line

The University of New Hampshire large gamma-ray detector observed the galactic center region during a balloon flight from Alice Springs, Australia on 1977 November 21-22. The absence of any observable line at 6.13 MeV or its escape-peak energy makes it possible to place an upper limit of 8.1 x 10 to the -4th photons/(sq cm s) at the 99% confidence level on the 0-16 de-excitation line at this energy from the galactic disk in the direction of the center. This limit restricts the interpretation given by Willett et al. (1979) of the line at 6.13 MeV which they observed while viewing the galactic anticenter. The present results indicate that it is highly unlikely that the line which these authors report is due to dark nebulae or the quiet sun. Possible explanations for their observation are atmospheric background, local production in the detector, a localized cosmic source in the direction of the galactic anticenter, or a statistical fluctuation.

Dunphy, P. P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An X-ray study of the galactic center

The results from two long observations with the Einstein Observatory Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) of an approximately 1 x 1 deg field centered near the galactic nucleus are presented. The X-ray images reveal a complex of weak sources within 20 arcmin of the galactic nucleus (Sgr A West) together with a region of apparently diffuse emission about 25 x 15 arcmin in extent. Three of the sources are tentatively identified: two with nearby galactic objects, and a third positionally coincident with Sgr A West itself (within the arcmin-accuracy available with the IPC). The nature of this source and the implications of both the high source density and presence of diffuse emission in the galactic center region are discussed.

Watson, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Far-IR spectroscopy of the galactic center: Neutral and ionized gas in the central 10 pc of the galaxy

The 3P1 - 3P2 fine structure line emission from neutral atomic oxygen at 63 microns in the vicinity of the galactic center was mapped. The emission is extended over more than 4' (12 pc) along the galactic plane, centered on the position of Sgr A West. The line center velocities show that the O I gas is rotating around the galactic center with an axis close to that of the general galactic rotation, but there appear also to be noncircular motions. The rotational velocity at R is approximately 1 pc corresponds to a mass within the central pc of about 3 x 10(6) solar mass. Between 1 and 6 pc from the center the mass is approximately proportional to radius. The (O I) line probability arises in a predominantly neutral, atomic region immediately outside of the ionized central parsec of out galaxy. Hydrogen densities in the (O I) emitting region are 10(3) to 10(6) cm(-3) and gas temperatures are or = 100 K. The total integrated luminosity radiated in the line is about 10(5) solar luminosity, and is a substantial contribution to the cooling of the gas. Photoelectric heating or heating by ultraviolet excitation of H2 at high densities (10(5) cm(-3)) are promising mechanisms for heating of the gas, but heating due to dissipation of noncircular motions of the gas may be an alternative possibility. The 3P1 - 3P0 fine structure line of (O III) at 88 microns toward Sgr A West was also detected. The (O III) emission comes from high density ionized gas (n 10(4) cm(-3)), and there is no evidence for a medium density region (n 10(3) cm(-3)), such as the ionized halo in Sgr A West deduced from radio observations. This radio halo may be nonthermal, or may consist of many compact, dense clumps of filaments on the inner edges of neutral condensations at R or = 2 pc.

Hollenbach, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Abundances in galactic H2 regions, 3: G25.4-0.2, G45.5+0.06, M8, S159 and DR22

Measurements of the ARII (6.99 microns), ArIII (8.99 microns), NeII (12.81 microns), SIII (18.71 microns), and SIV (10.51 microns) lines are presented for five compact HII regions along with continuum spectroscopy. From these data and radio data, lower limits to the elemental abundances of Ar, S, and Ne were deduced. The complex G25.4-0.2 is only 5.5 kpc from the galactic center, and is considerably overabundant in all these elements. Complex G45.5+0.06 is at seven kpc from the galactic center, and appears to be approximately consistent with solar abundance. The complex S159 in the Perseus Arm, at 12 kpc from the galactic center, has solar abundance, while M8 in the solar neighborhood may be somewhat overabundant in Ar and Ne. Complex DR 22, at 10 kpc from the galactic center in the Cygnus Arm, is overabundant in Ar. A summary of results from a series of papers on abundances is given.

Pipher, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Abundances in galactic H II regions. III - G25.4-0.2, G45.5+0.06, M8, S159, and DR 22

Measurements of the ARII (6.99 microns), ArIII (8.99 microns), NeI (12.81 microns), SIII (18.71 microns), and SIV (10.51 microns) lines are presented for five compact HII regions along with continuum spectroscopy. From these data and radio data, lower limits to the elemental abundances of Ar, S, and Ne were deduced. The complex G25.4-0.2 is only 5.5 kpc from the galactic center, and is considerably overabundant in all these elements. Complex G45.5+0.06 is at seven kpc from the galactic center, and appears to be approximately consistent with solar abundance. The complex S159 in the Perseus Arm, at 12 kpc from the galactic center, has solar abundance, while M8 in the solar neighborhood may be somewhat overabundant in Ar and Ne. Complex DR 22, at 10 kpc from the galactic center in the Cygnus Arm, is overabundant in Ar. A summary of results from a series of papers on abundances is given.

Pipher, J. L.↗