COS-B measurements of high-latitude gamma rays and evidence for a component not related to the gas.
Caraveo, P. A.; Bignami, G. F.; Strong, A. W.; Hermsen, W.; Lebrun, F.; Bennett, K.; Buccheri, R.; Mayer-Hasselwander, H. A.; Bloemen, J. B. G. M.; Ozel, M. E.
Italy, Netherlands, France, Germany
Abstract
The gamma ray latitude distribution for absolute value of b between 10 deg and 90 deg measured by COS-B is compared with the expected emission from cosmic-ray/gas interactions. An additional component is found which is unrelated to the gas, and which may be interpreted as a gamma-ray 'halo'. The possibility of an inverse-Compton origin is discussed using diffuse X-ray data.