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From 10K to 10 TK: Insights on the Interaction Between Cosmic Rays and Gas in Starbursts

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Cosmic Rays in Star-Forming Environments

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP,volume 34))

Abstract

Recent work has both illuminated and mystified our attempts to understand cosmic rays (CRs) in starburst galaxies. I discuss my new research exploring how CRs interact with the ISM in starbursts. Molecular clouds provide targets for CR protons to produce pionic gamma rays and ionization, but those same losses may shield the cloud interiors. In the densest molecular clouds, gamma rays and 26Al decay can provide ionization, at rates up to those in Milky Way molecular clouds. I then consider the free-free absorption of low frequency radio emission from starbursts, which I argue arises from many small, discrete H II regions rather than from a “uniform slab” of ionized gas, whereas synchrotron emission arises outside them. Finally, noting that the hot superwind gas phase fills most of the volume of starbursts, I suggest that it has turbulent-driven magnetic fields powered by supernovae, and that this phase is where most synchrotron emission arises. I show how such a scenario could explain the far-infrared radio correlation, in context of my previous work. A big issue is that radio and gamma-ray observations imply CRs also must interact with dense gas. Understanding how this happens requires a more advanced understanding of turbulence and CR propagation.

Note by the Editors: This paper has been chosen for the Young Scientist Award of the Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics.

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Acknowledgements

I am supported by a Jansky Fellowship from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is operated by Associated Universities, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. I would like to acknowledge discussions and comments with Todd Thompson, Padelis Papadopolous, Jim Condon, Rainer Beck, and Diego Torres.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jansky Fellow of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Institute for Advanced Study, Astronomy, Einstein Drive, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

    Brian C. Lacki

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  1. Brian C. Lacki
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Correspondence to Brian C. Lacki .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , (IEEC-CSIC) Campus UAB, Fac. de Ciències, ICREA & Institute of Space Sciences, Torre C5, parell, 2a planta, Barcelona, 08193, Spain

    Diego F. Torres

  2. , Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Astro- und Teilchenphysik, Technikerstraße 25/8, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria

    Olaf Reimer

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Lacki, B.C. (2013). From 10K to 10 TK: Insights on the Interaction Between Cosmic Rays and Gas in Starbursts. In: Torres, D., Reimer, O. (eds) Cosmic Rays in Star-Forming Environments. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 34. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35410-6_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35410-6_29

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