Abstract
THE galactic centre (GC) is characterised by objects of high activity: there are powerful sources of infrared radiation, radio waves and X rays, and evidence for a small region (∼ 1 pc) of extremely high luminosity (∼ 108L⊙). The presence of a ring of gas (very largely molecular hydrogen)1 at a distance of ∼ 300 pc from the GC also indicates violent activity. It is reasonable to assume that there is also an increased cosmic-ray intensity at least for energies ≲ 10 GeV. The presence of protons and electrons having such energies together with high gas densities and high starlight intensities provides the ingredients for significant γ-ray fluxes. Here we examine the implications of recent measurements of the γ-ray flux from the region of the GC, with particular reference to the 300-pc ring.
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WOLFENDALE, A., WORRALL, D. Cosmic rays near the galactic centre. Nature 263, 482–483 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263482a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/263482a0
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