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26 Al Radioactivity in the Galaxy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
Abstract
26Al radioactivity is believed to originate predominantly from massive stars, ejected into interstellar medium in wind phases and/or supernova events. With its million-year decay time, penetrating γ-rays from 26Al decay measure the massive-star history averaged over a time scale of ≃million years, thus extending times cales accessible otherwise. The COMPTEL 1.809 MeV all-sky data from 5 years of observations show irregularities and features at intermediate latitudes, which may have a more local origin (≃ 1 kpc). We find that the large scale emission can be characterized by a Galactic scale height of ≃ 130 pc, and a Galactocentric scale radius of ≃ 5 kpc, with features from spiral structure. Catalogues from massive-star related objects do not significantly improve the description of COMPTEL data above this. Emission associated with nearby structures such as the Gould Belt, Loop I, or stellar aggregates, is indicated, yet cannot be clearly detected. Combined with our imaging results, this suggests that 26A1 yields from massive star ensembles depend on specifics of those stars and their history. Further 26A1 γ-ray studies are underway to help mapping of the massive star history in the solar vicinity.
- Type
- Part VI Distant Hot Gas, SXRB Fluctuations, Dust, Gamma-rays
- Information
- International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 166: The Local Bubble and Beyond , 1997 , pp. 393 - 396
- Copyright
- Copyright © Springer-Verlag 1998
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