{"id":16,"date":"2010-11-13T06:47:37","date_gmt":"2010-11-13T04:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/?p=16"},"modified":"2011-05-15T19:28:03","modified_gmt":"2011-05-15T16:28:03","slug":"16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/?p=16","title":{"rendered":"The Fermi Gamma Ray Bubbles: Evidence for the superwave cosmic ray propagation theory"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Gamma ray bubbles seen toward the Galactic center extracted by the Harvard team from Fermi telescope data<\/p><\/div>\n

MSNBC interview on how the superwave theory explains the recently announced Fermi bubbles: \u00a0http:\/\/www.msnbc.msn.com\/id\/21134540\/vp\/40152463#40152463<\/a><\/p>\n

The team of Harvard University scientists who discovered the Fermi bubbles (Su, Slatyer, and Finkbeiner), lean toward the interpretation that the gamma ray emission from the bubbles is synchrotron radiation created by ultra relativistic cosmic ray electrons emitted from the core of our Galaxy. \u00a0See the draft of their paper posted at:\u00a0http:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/1005.5480v3<\/a>. \u00a0In general, cosmic ray electrons that have energies high enough to produce gamma ray synchrotron radiation have relatively short lifetimes, meaning that they radiate away their energy in a period of time that is short by astronomical standards. \u00a0On this basis, the Harvard team estimates that these cosmic ray electrons have a \u201ccooling time\u201d of on the order of 10^5 \u2013 10^6 years. In other words, we may conclude that they have been in flight for no more than this long and possibly even a shorter period of time. \u00a0Thus the bubble would have an age less than this upper limit value, and as I show below, we may determine that the main bubble likely has an age of ~40,000 years.<\/p>\n

The Harvard team notes that the outer boundary of the bubble is quite sharply defined and that its interior surface brightness is relatively flat (i.e., uniform). \u00a0They state this indicates a sharp increase in cosmic ray intensity at the bubble walls. \u00a0They consider various formation mechanisms and as one likely mechanism have suggested that the emission is the result of a sudden outburst of cosmic ray electrons from our Galaxy\u2019s core; see p. 39 of their preprint. \u00a0They appear to consider a subrelativistic blast wave type model for the outward propagation of the cosmic rays to the bubble perimeter. \u00a0However, they note several difficulties in the explanation. \u00a0The short lifetimes of the cosmic ray electrons would require that they move relatively rapidly outward from the core and second the uniformity of the bubble emission suggests that little time has been available for the nonuniformities to develop in this cosmic ray \u201cwind\u201d due to diffusive effects.<\/p>\n

Both of these time limit difficulties are solved if the cosmic ray electrons are assumed to propagate radially away from the galactic core in all directions at very close to the speed of light. \u00a0In other words, the problems are solved if we assume that these cosmic rays propagate as a superwave<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Illustration of a Galactic superwave outburst excerpted from the video Earth Under Fire<\/p><\/div>\n

A sudden outburst propagating relativistically would also explain why the bubble maintains a sharp outer edge. \u00a0The synchrotron gamma ray emission we are seeing from the bubble would come from cosmic rays that had been scattered away from their rectilinear outward flight, either by collisions with photons, ionized gas, or due to being captured into spiral orbits around magnetic field lines. \u00a0In this way their emitted gamma ray synchrotron beams which are directed into very narrow cones aimed in the forward direction of travel (relativistic beaming effect) become visible to us at our near perpendicular viewing direction.<\/p>\n

Another difficulty that the Harvard team points out is their interpretation that the bubble is produced by cosmic ray jets emitted from the Galactic core. \u00a0The point is that you wouldn\u2019t expect to have two jets exactly diameterically opposed to one another. \u00a0The question they have is why is one jet opposed to the other? \u00a0This problem too is resolved by the superwave model. \u00a0The jet model assumes that cosmic rays are emitted as a confined beam in one direction whereas the superwave model assumes isotropic emission forming an spherical superwave shell that expands in diameter as the superwaves move outward. \u00a0The reason why we see two opposed bubbles is because the cosmic rays aimed upward and downward relative to the galactic plane escape more freely and with greater intensity due to the fact that the torroidal magnetic field surrounding the galactic core does not impede the outward flight of the cosmic rays; see diagram below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Illustration of the unimpeded propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy's polar direction.<\/p><\/div>\n

The diffuse gamma ray halo (see image below), which was discovered in 1997 and is seen at high galactic latitudes and in all directions around the galactic disc, is also generated by outward moving superwave cosmic rays.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Galactic map showing the Milky Way's diffuse gamma ray halo. Abscissa indicates galactic longitude. (courtesy of D. Dixon, D. Hartmann, E. Kolaczyk, and NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n

I had pointed this out in 2001 in an updated edition of my Ph.D. dissertation entitled Galactic Superwaves and their Impact on the Earth,<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

and had described this diffuse gamma emission halo as being additional evidence that we reside within a shell of outward propagating superwave cosmic rays. \u00a0In describing this emission, astrophysicists in 1997 had noted that the cosmic ray electrons producing this gamma emission have a relatively short lifetime and hence could not be propagating very far from their point of generation. \u00a0Yet no sources were readily apparent and so they wondered where did these high energy cosmic rays originate from. \u00a0Dr. Dixon, one of the discovery team stated:
\n“What is so curious about the newly discovered gamma-ray cloud is that the photons do not appear to be coming from any compact sources, like other galaxies or a black hole. \u00a0The reason this is interesting is that there isn’t any obvious source for these gamma rays, based on astronomical observations in other wavelengths of light. \u00a0That is, as far as we can tell using other telescopes, the space around our galaxy is rather empty of the kinds of things which we would expect to generate gamma rays in the observed brightness distribution.”<\/p>\n

In 2001 I believe I was the first to point out that the cosmic rays producing this diffuse gamma emission had a galactic core origin. \u00a0I had pointed out that the cosmic ray origin problem noted by the astronomers discovering the halo could be resolved if we assume that this gamma emission is produced by superwave cosmic rays that have been in flight on the order of 10^4 years or so.<\/p>\n

The Fermi bubble emission is part of this omnidirectional \u00a0diffuse gamma ray halo, but it is brighter than the rest due to the fact that the cosmic ray electrons traveling in the general direction of the Galaxy’s poles encounter less resistance from the Galaxy’s core magnetic field. \u00a0So in suggesting that the Fermi gamma ray bubbles might be produced by cosmic ray electrons recently emitted from the Galactic core, the Harvard team confirms my earlier proposal about the origin of the cosmic rays energizing the Galaxy’s gamma ray halo.<\/p>\n

The Harvard team also acknowledges the existence of fainter larger gamma ray bubbles outside the main inner gamma ray bubble, noting that this points to previous events. \u00a0They acknowledge that this indicates ongoing cyclic activity on a shorter timescale than had previously been\u00a0acknowledged. \u00a0This supports another aspect of the superwave theory that superwaves are recurrent. \u00a0I have proposed a rather short recurrence period, with major explosions of our galactic core occurring on cycles of 12,000\u00b11000 and 25,000 \u00b12000 years.<\/p>\n

To estimate an age of the gamma ray bubble on the basis of the superwave hypothesis, consider the diagram below.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Estimating the age of the bubbles on the basis of the superwave hypothesis.<\/p><\/div>\n

Knowing that the outer edge of the bubbles extend 50\u00b0 above and below the Galactic plane, and knowing that we lie ~23,000 light years from the Galactic center, geometry tells us that the outer edges of the bubbles lie about 27,000 light years from the Galactic plane. \u00a0The hypotenuse distance from the upper edge to us calculates to be 36,000 light years. \u00a0So Adding 27,000 years for the superwaves speed of light flight upward, plus 36,000 years for the generated gamma emission to reach us gives that the outburst left the core 63,000 years ago. \u00a0Considering that the same superwave took 23,000 years to reach us, we conclude that the superwave event associated with this gamma ray bubble passed us 40,000 years ago (63k \u2013 23k). When we look at the beryllium-10 ice core record from Vostok, Antarctica, we see that one of the largest magnitude and longest lasting Be-10 peaks is centered at 40,000 years before present; see posted diagram below. In terms of cosmic ray output, it greatly surpasses the smaller ones that passed us at the end of the ice age around 11,000 to 16,000 years ago, these more recent lower magnitude events presumably being responsible for bringing the ice age to a close.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Earth's cosmic ray exposure based on the Vostok beryllium-10 deposition rate record<\/p><\/div>\n

We see a similar double lobe phenomenon going on in other galaxies. \u00a0For example,\u00a0X-ray and radio emission lobes are also seen flanking the core of radio galaxy Centaurus A, the closest galaxy to us exhibiting activity in its core; see the photo below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Edge on active galaxy Centaurus A showing double lobes of X-ray and radio synchrotron emission<\/p><\/div>\n

Emission lobes are also seen flanking the galactic core of the edge-on spiral M82; see the Hubble Space Telescope photo below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The galaxy M82 showing double emission lobes<\/p><\/div>\n

The discovery of the Voorwerp gas cloud also supports the superwave theory that core explosions can turn on and off relatively rapidly, i.e. within tens or hundreds of years. \u00a0In this case the Voorwerp is observed to be illuminated by light from a quasar in the core of the background spiral galaxy IC 2497 which currently is seen to have a quiescent core; see photo below. \u00a0Estimates of the light travel time from the galaxy’s core to Voorwerp and then from this cloud to us suggest that galaxy’s core quasar shut off and returned to quiescence sometime within the past 70,000 years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Voorwerp cloud in the foreground is illuminated by light from a quasar in the core of background spiral galaxy IC 2497 that has since shut off. (photo courtesy of WIYN\/William Keel\/Anna Manning)<\/p><\/div>\n

See story at: http:\/\/www.physorg.com\/news\/2010-11-cosmic-curiosity-reveals-ghostly-dead.html<\/a><\/p>\n

The shells imaged recently in galaxy NGC 474 also are evidence of recurrent superwaves propagating isotropically from the cores of active galaxies; see photo below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Galaxy NGC 474 with surrounding luminous shells. (Courtesy of Mischa Schirmer)<\/p><\/div>\n

In conclusion, I believe that the discovery of the gamma ray bubble provides strong confirmatory evidence for the superwave theory and is corroborated by the ice core evidence.<\/p>\n

For information on past confirmations of the superwave model of relativistic, rectilinear cosmic ray propagation see:
\nhttp:\/\/starburstfound.org\/predictions-part-1\/
\n<\/a> (Prediction No. 2).<\/p>\n

Also see the press release at:
\nhttp:\/\/starburstfound.org\/findings-validate-radial-model-galactic-center-cosmic-ray-propagation\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(You will notice I don\u2019t use the word \u201cblack hole\u201d but instead use the more theory-neutral term \u201cgalactic core.\u201d I state my opinion about black holes at the following link:\u00a0http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/mother-star-gravity-well\/<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Paul LaViolette, Ph.D.
\nThe Starburst Foundation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MSNBC interview on how the superwave theory explains the recently announced Fermi bubbles: \u00a0http:\/\/www.msnbc.msn.com\/id\/21134540\/vp\/40152463#40152463 The team of Harvard University scientists who discovered the Fermi bubbles (Su, Slatyer, and Finkbeiner), lean toward the interpretation that the gamma ray emission from the bubbles is synchrotron radiation created by ultra relativistic cosmic ray \u2026 Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16\/revisions\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/starburstfound.org\/superwaveblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}