A.M. Gal’per,
B.I. Luchkova,
O.F. Prilutskii aMoscow State Engineering Physics Institute (State University), Kashirskoe shosse 31, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation
The observations and theoretical interpretations of galactic $\gamma$ rays in the energy region 10$^7$--10$^{10}$ eV are reviewed. Galactic $\gamma$ rays consist of a diffuse component and radiation from discrete sources. The diffuse component, which is formed as the result of interaction of cosmic rays with interstellar gas, reflects the large-scale structure of the Galaxy. Recent observations have revealed the existence of a belt of molecular hydrogen at a distance 4--8 kpc from the Galactic Center and indicate a nonuniformity of the distribution of cosmic rays over the disk and in the halo of the Galaxy. Information on the small-scale structure of the Galaxy in the $\gamma$ region is obtained from the discrete $\gamma$-ray sources, of which more than twenty have now been observed. The best known of these are the pulsars in the Crab Nebula, Vela-X, Cygnus X-3, and the region of the Galactic Center. Possible mechanisms for the $\gamma$ radiation of discrete sources are discussed.
PACS: 98.50.Eb, 98.70.Qy, 98.40.-p DOI:10.1070/PU1979v022n06ABEH005574 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1979/6/d/ Citation: Gal’per A M, Luchkov B I, Prilutskii O F "Gamma rays and the structure of the Galaxy" Sov. Phys. Usp.22 456–473 (1979)
@article{Gal’per:1979,author = {A. M. Gal’per and B. I. Luchkov and O. F. Prilutskii},title = {Gamma rays and the structure of the Galaxy},publisher = {Physics-Uspekhi},year = {1979},journal = {Phys. Usp.},volume = {22},number = {6},pages = {456-473},url = {https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1979/6/d/},doi = {10.1070/PU1979v022n06ABEH005574}}