Spectral and intensity variations of Galactic

W. Wang
M. G. Lang
R. Diehl
H. Halloin
P. Jean
J. Knödlseder
K. Kretschmer
P. Martin
J. P. Roques
A. W. Strong
C. Winkler
X. L. Zhang

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Publication date

February 2009

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/200811175

Publisher

EDP Sciences

Abstract

Aims. Gamma-ray line emission from the radioactive decay of 26Al reflects nucleosynthesis in massive stars and supernovae. We use INTEGRAL 26Al measurements to characterize the distribution and characteristics of 26Al source regions throughout the Galaxy. Methods. The spectrometer SPI aboard INTEGRAL has accumulated over five years of data on 26Al gamma-ray emission from the Galactic plane. We analyzed these data using suitable instrumental-background models and adopted sky distribution models to produce high-resolution 26Al spectra of Galactic emission, spatially resolved along the Galaxy plane. Results. We detect the 26Al line from the inner Galaxy at ~$28\sigma$ significance. The line appears narrow, and we constrain broa...