High-Energy Gamma Rays from the Milky Way: Three-Dimensional Spatial Models for the Cosmic-Ray and Radiation Field Densities in the Interstellar Medium

TL;DR

This paper develops three-dimensional models of cosmic-ray sources and radiation fields in the Milky Way to better interpret high-energy gamma-ray data, improving upon previous two-dimensional models.

Contribution

It introduces new 3D spatial models for cosmic-ray sources and radiation fields, enhancing the accuracy of gamma-ray emission predictions in the Galaxy.

Findings

3D models better reproduce gamma-ray residual features

Different source distribution models offer plausible physical interpretations

Models align with local infrared observations

Abstract

High-energy gamma rays of interstellar origin are produced by the interaction of cosmic-ray (CR) particles with the diffuse gas and radiation fields in the Galaxy. The main features of this emission are well understood and are reproduced by existing CR propagation models employing 2D Galactocentric cylindrically symmetrical geometry. However, the high-quality data from instruments like the Fermi Large Area Telescope reveal significant deviations from the model predictions on few to tens of degree scales indicating the need to include the details of the Galactic spiral structure and thus require 3D spatial modelling. In this paper the high-energy interstellar emissions from the Galaxy are calculated using the new release of the GALPROP code employing 3D spatial models for the CR source and interstellar radiation field (ISRF) densities. Three models for the spatial distribution of CR sources are used that are differentiated by their relative proportion of input luminosity attributed to the smooth disc or spiral arms. Two ISRF models are developed based on stellar and dust spatial density distributions taken from the literature that reproduce local near- to far-infrared observations. The interstellar emission models that include arms and bulges for the CR source and ISRF densities provide plausible physical interpretations for features found in the residual maps from high-energy gamma-ray data analysis. The 3D models for CR and ISRF densities provide a more realistic basis that can be used for the interpretation of the non-thermal interstellar emissions from the Galaxy.