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| Paper: |
Cosmic rays in spiral galaxies |
| Volume: |
18, The Interpretation of Modern Synthesis Observations of Spiral Galaxies |
| Page: |
17 |
| Authors: |
Duric, Nebojsa |
| Abstract: |
This paper reports on an observational project aimed at evaluating the properties of the relativistic gas in the disks of spiral galaxies. It is shown that the propagation of relativistic electrons is sufficiently well constrained that the observed distribution may have direct bearing on the distribution of cosmic ray sources. Observations near 5 GHz trace cosmic ray electrons that propagate 1 to 3 kpc from their sources before losing their energy. This result is based on the diffusion model of cosmic ray propagation as applied to our Galaxy. The implication on the cosmic ray source distribution is discussed. It is concluded that supernova remnants are plausible candidates for cosmic ray production given their expected energy outputs and their surface number densities in galactic disks. |
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