Galactic arm structure and gamma-ray astronomy

Abstract

In an attempt to explain the observed unexpectedly high-energy gamma-radiation over a broad region of the galactic plane in the general direction of the galactic center, a model is proposed wherein the galactic cosmic rays are preferentially located in the high-matter-density regions of galactic arm segments, as a result of the weight of the matter in these arms tying the magnetic fields and hence the cosmic rays to these regions. The presently observed longitudinal distribution of galactic gamma-rays can be explained with the current estimate of the average galactic matter density, if the average ratio of arm to interarm matter is 5:1 for the major arm segments toward the galactic center from the sun, and if the cosmic-ray density normalized to its local value is assumed to be directly proportional to the matter density.