Cosmic ray-induced high energy gamma-ray emission: a background for WIMP annihilation and massive relic particle models of UHE CR

© Copernicus Gesellschaft 2001The possible discovery of a diffuse galactic halo in GeV gamma-rays has led to several possible dark matter explanations. An important consideration for these models is the uncertainty in the galactic diffuse gamma-ray background. For example, the predicted inverse Compton signal can vary significantly depending on the choice of cosmic ray halo size, or even on the electron injection spectral index. Using a self-consistent propagation model we calculate the distribution of galactic cosmic ray electrons and positrons. Diffuse gamma-ray spectra are obtained using the results of the propagation calculations. We show our results for different propagation model parameters and electron injection spectral indices.T. A. Porter and R. J. Prothero