Abstract
We have developed in detail the theory of X-ray line and continuum production due to atomic interactions of accelerated ions, incorporating in our calculations information from a broad range of laboratory measurements. We applied our calculations to the Orion region from which nuclear gamma-ray line observations with the COMPTEL instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) were reported. The accelerated particles which produce this gamma-ray emission via nuclear reactions also produce X-ray lines via atomic interactions. We predict strong, relatively broad line emission in the range from 0.5 to 1 keV, mainly due to de-excitations in fast O ions. Current ROSAT observations of Orion do not provide unambiguous signatures for X-ray production by accelerated ions. However, if future X-ray observations with high spectral resolution would confirm the predicted X-rays, the combined analysis of the X-ray and gamma-ray data will set important constraints on the origin of the accelerated particles and their interaction model.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 874-888 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 504 |
Issue number | 2 PART I |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1998 |
Keywords
- Acceleration of particles
- Amma rays: theory
- ISM: individual (Orion)
- Line: formation
- Tomic processes
- X-rays: general