Hybrid model of GeV-TeV gamma ray emission from Galactic Center

TL;DR

This paper proposes a hybrid lepton-hadron model to explain the GeV-TeV gamma-ray emission from the Galactic Center, attributing TeV gamma rays to hadronic interactions and GeV gamma rays to electron inverse Compton scattering, aligning with recent observations.

Contribution

It introduces a combined lepton-hadron model for Galactic Center gamma-ray emission, explaining spectral features through particle diffusion and interactions post-acceleration.

Findings

TeV gamma rays originate from hadronic cosmic ray interactions with gas.

GeV gamma rays result from electron inverse Compton scattering.

The model aligns with observed spectral shapes of gamma-ray emission.

Abstract

The observations of high energy $\gamma$-ray emission from the Galactic center (GC) by HESS, and recently by Fermi, suggest the cosmic ray acceleration in the GC and possibly around the supermassive black hole. In this work we propose a lepton-hadron hybrid model to explain simultaneously the GeV-TeV $\gamma$-ray emission. Both electrons and hadronic cosmic rays were accelerated during the past activity of the GC. Then these particles would diffuse outwards and interact with the interstellar gas and background radiation field. The collisions between hadronic cosmic rays with gas is responsible to the TeV $\gamma$-ray emission detected by HESS. With fast cooling in the strong radiation field, the electrons would cool down and radiate GeV photons through inverse Compton scattering off the soft background photons. This scenario provides a natural explanation of the observed GeV-TeV spectral shape of $\gamma$-rays.