Open AccessIs the diffuse gamma background radiation generated by Galactic cosmic rays?
Author(s) -
Dar Ar,
De Rújula A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04246.x
Subject(s) - physics , cosmic microwave background , cosmic ray , astrophysics , compton scattering , cosmic background radiation , galaxy , electron , background radiation , starlight , astronomy , gamma ray , radiation , milky way , anisotropy , nuclear physics , optics , stars
We explore the possibility that the diffuse gamma‐ray background radiation (GBR) at high Galactic latitudes could be dominated by inverse Compton scattering of cosmic ray (CR) electrons on the cosmic microwave background radiation and on starlight from our own galaxy. Assuming that the mechanisms accelerating Galactic CR hadrons and electrons are the same, we derive simple and successful relations between the spectral indices of the GBR above a few MeV and the CR electrons and CR nuclei above a few GeV. We reproduce the observed intensity and angular dependence of the GBR, in directions away from the Galactic disc and centre, without recourse to hypothetical extragalactic sources.