TY - JOUR
T1 - Positron transport and annihilation in the Galactic bulge
AU - Panther, Fiona Helen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the authors.
PY - 2018/3/21
Y1 - 2018/3/21
N2 - The annihilation of positrons in the MilkyWay Galaxy has been observed for ~50 years; however, the production sites of these positrons remains hard to identify. The observed morphology of positron annihilation gamma-rays provides information on the annihilation sites of these Galactic positrons. It is understood that the positrons responsible for the annihilation signal originate at MeV energies. The majority of sources of MeV positrons occupy the star-forming thin disk of the Milky Way. If positrons propagate far from their sources, we must develop accurate models of positron propagation through all interstellar medium (ISM) phases in order to reveal the currently uncertain origin of these Galactic positrons. On the other hand, if positrons annihilate close to their sources, an alternative source of MeV positrons with a distribution that matches the annihilation morphology must be identified. In this work, I discuss the various models that have been developed to understand the origin of the 511 keV line from the direction of the Galactic bulge, and the propagation of positrons in the ISM.
AB - The annihilation of positrons in the MilkyWay Galaxy has been observed for ~50 years; however, the production sites of these positrons remains hard to identify. The observed morphology of positron annihilation gamma-rays provides information on the annihilation sites of these Galactic positrons. It is understood that the positrons responsible for the annihilation signal originate at MeV energies. The majority of sources of MeV positrons occupy the star-forming thin disk of the Milky Way. If positrons propagate far from their sources, we must develop accurate models of positron propagation through all interstellar medium (ISM) phases in order to reveal the currently uncertain origin of these Galactic positrons. On the other hand, if positrons annihilate close to their sources, an alternative source of MeV positrons with a distribution that matches the annihilation morphology must be identified. In this work, I discuss the various models that have been developed to understand the origin of the 511 keV line from the direction of the Galactic bulge, and the propagation of positrons in the ISM.
KW - Astroparticle physics
KW - Gamma rays-ISM
KW - Nucleosynthesis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045108236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/galaxies6020039
DO - 10.3390/galaxies6020039
M3 - Comment/debate
SN - 2075-4434
VL - 6
JO - Galaxies
JF - Galaxies
IS - 2
M1 - 39
ER -