Cosmic-Ray Models of the Ridge-Like Excess of Gamma Rays in the Galactic Center

TL;DR

This paper evaluates cosmic-ray models, including flares and steady-state processes, to explain gamma-ray and radio emissions in the Galactic Center, finding that both can fit the data under different assumptions, with future observations needed for distinction.

Contribution

It compares flare and steady-state cosmic-ray models, analyzing their ability to explain multi-wavelength gamma-ray and radio data in the Galactic Center.

Findings

Flare models can fit GeV and radio data with energy-independent diffusion.

Two-flare models are needed if Kolmogorov turbulence is assumed.

Steady-state models with high gas densities can explain all data sets.

Abstract

The High-Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) has detected diffuse TeV emission correlated with the distribution of molecular gas along the Ridge at the Galactic Center. Diffuse, non-thermal emission is also seen by the Fermi large area telescope (Fermi-LAT) in the GeV range and by radio telescopes in the GHz range. Additionally, there is a distinct, spherically symmetric excess of gamma rays seen by Fermi-LAT in the GeV range. A cosmic ray flare, occurring in the Galactic Center, $10^4$ years ago has been proposed to explain the TeV Ridge. An alternative, steady-state model explaining all three data sets (TeV, GeV, and radio) invokes purely leptonic processes. We show that the flare model from the Galactic Center also provides an acceptable fit to the GeV and radio data, provided the diffusion coefficient is energy independent. However, if Kolmogorov-type turbulence is assumed for the diffusion coefficient, we find that two flares are needed, one for the TeV data (occurring approximately $10^4 $ years ago) and an older one for the GeV data (approximately $10^5$ years old). We find that the flare models we investigate do not fit the spherically symmetric GeV excess as well as the usual generalized Navarro-Frenk-White spatial profile, but are better suited to explaining the Ridge. We also show that a range of single-zone, steady-state models are able to explain all three spectral data sets. Large gas densities equal to the volumetric average in the region can be accommodated by an energy independent diffusion or streaming based steady-state model. Additionally, we investigate how the flare and steady-state models may be distinguished with future gamma-ray data looking for a spatial dependence of the gamma-ray spectral index.