The Golactic Gamma-Ray Distribution and the Radial Cosmic Ray Gradient

Abstract

The authors have derived the radial distribution of gamma-ray emissivity and the cosmic ray intensity in the Galaxy using the final SAS-2 results, the recently corrected COS-B results, and recent CO surveys of the northern and southern galactic hemispheres. In addition to the "5 kpc ring" of enhanced emission, there is evidence for spiral features. The authors find a strong increase in the cosmic ray flux in the inner Galaxy, particularly in the 5 kpc region, in both halves of the plane.