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Paper: Modelling the Milky Way in Gamma Rays for GLAST
Volume: 317, Milky Way Surveys: The Structure and Evolution of Our Galaxy
Page: 351
Authors: Digel, S.W.; Grenier, I.A.; GLAST LAT Collaboration, for the
Abstract: The Milky Way is a bright, diffuse source of high-energy gamma rays produced by cosmic-ray interactions with interstellar gas and radiation. An accurate, detailed model of this emission will be important for analysis of the data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) under development for launch by NASA on GLAST in 2006. The LAT will study the sky in the 20 MeV—300 GeV energy range with angular resolution ranging from 3° to 0.1° with energy. Because of the limited photon statistics, a model of the interstellar emission is needed in order to determine accurate positions for gamma-ray point sources as well as to distinguish them from unresolved interstellar clouds. The model will depend on surveys of neutral and ionized gas and of continuum emission from the infrared through the optical. We describe the issues for the development of the model and what might be learned from LAT data about the interstellar medium and radiation field of the Milky Way and cosmic-ray origin and propagation.
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