Gamma-ray (Figure 1) (IMAGE)

Nagoya University

Gamma-ray (Figure 1)

Caption

Figure 1. Schematic images of gamma-ray production from cosmic-ray protons and electrons. Cosmic-ray protons interact with interstellar protons such as molecular and atomic hydrogen gas. The interaction creates neutral pion that quickly decays into two gamma-ray photons (hadronic process). Cosmic-ray electrons energize interstellar photons (mainly Cosmic Microwave Background; CMB) into gamma-ray energy via inverse Compton scattering (leptonic process).

Credit

Astrophysics Laboratory, Nagoya University

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