CHARACTERIZING COSMIC-RAY PROPAGATION IN MASSIVE STAR-FORMING REGIONS: THE CASE OF 30 DORADUS AND THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 750; no. 2; pp. 126 - 10
• Main Authors: Murphy, E. J., Porter, T. A., Moskalenko, I. V., Helou, G., Strong, A. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP 10.05.2012; Institute of Physics (IOP)
• Subjects: Astronomy; Correlation; cosmic rays; Disk galaxies; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Galaxies; galaxies: individual (LMC); gamma rays: galaxies; H II regions; Infrared; infrared: galaxies; Magellanic clouds; Nuclei; radio continuum: galaxies; Star formation; stars: formation; Trends; Cosmic ray propagation; infrared: galaxies; GeV range; Cosmic radiation; Massive stars; Continuum; stars: formation; Star formation; Surface brightness; Cosmic radio sources; Diffusion coefficient; Age; Cosmic electrons; Gamma emission; Radio galaxies; gamma rays: galaxies - H II regions; Stellar formation region; Disk galaxies; galaxies: individual (LMC); HII regions; Phenomenological model; Gamma radiation; cosmic rays; Correlation analysis; Stellar population; Correlations; Infrared galaxies; Stellar activity; Large Magellanic Cloud; radio continuum: galaxies
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/126

Using infrared, radio, and gamma -ray data, we investigate the propagation characteristics of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons and nuclei in the 30 Doradus (30 Dor) star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using a phenomenological model based on the radio-far-infrared correlation within galaxies. We compare the values of the CR electron propagation length and surface brightness for 30 Dor and the LMC as a whole with those of entire disk galaxies. We find that the trend of decreasing average CR propagation distance with increasing disk-averaged star formation activity holds for the LMC, and extends down to single star-forming regions, at least for the case of 30 Dor.