The Galactic Positron Annihilation Radiation & The Propagation of Positrons in the Interstellar Medium
J. C. Higdon (Claremont Colleges), R. E. Lingenfelter (UCSD), R. E., Rothschild (UCSD)
TL;DR
This paper demonstrates that positrons from radioactive decay in supernovae can explain the diffuse 511 keV gamma-ray emission observed in the galaxy, and predicts further measurable features to test this origin.
Contribution
It shows that supernova-produced positrons can account for galactic annihilation radiation and suggests new observable signatures for further validation.
Findings
Radioactive decay positrons match observed 511 keV emission
Predicted features can test positron origin
Provides insights into interstellar medium properties
Abstract
We consider positron propagation in the interstellar medium and show that the positrons from the beta-plus decay chains of the radioactive nuclei Ni-56, Ti-44, and Al-26, produced in Galactic supernovae, can fully account for all the features of the diffuse Galactic 511 keV annihilation radiation observed by INTEGRAL/SPI. We also predict additional measurable features that can further test the origin of positrons and provide new information on the nature of the interstellar medium.
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