GALPROP: modeling cosmic ray propagation and associated interstellar emissions

TL;DR

GALPROP is a comprehensive numerical model that simulates cosmic ray propagation and related interstellar emissions, aiding research in astrophysics and dark matter studies by providing detailed predictions aligned with observational data.

Contribution

This paper reviews recent developments and results of GALPROP, a state-of-the-art numerical code for modeling cosmic ray propagation and diffuse interstellar emissions.

Findings

GALPROP effectively models cosmic ray spectra and gamma-ray emissions.

Recent updates improve accuracy and computational efficiency.

GALPROP supports interpretation of observational data across multiple astrophysical missions.

Abstract

Research in many areas of modern physics and astrophysics such as, e.g., indirect searches for dark matter (DM), particle acceleration in SNR shocks, and the spectrum and origin of extragalactic gamma-ray background, rely heavily on studies of cosmic rays (CRs) and associated diffuse emissions. New or improved instrumentation to explore these open issues is ready or under development. A fleet of ground-based, balloon-borne, and spacecraft instruments measures many CR species, gamma rays, radio, and synchrotron emission. Exploiting the data collected by the scientific missions to the fullest requires reliable and detailed calculations using a numerical model. GALPROP is the current state-of-the-art numerical CR propagation code that has become a standard analysis tool in CR and diffuse gamma-ray research. It uses astrophysical information, nuclear and particle data as input to self-consistently predict CRs, gamma rays, synchrotron emission and other observables. This paper reviews recent GALPROP developments and results.