English

Galactic Free-free and H-alpha Emission

Astrophysics 2007-05-23 v2

Abstract

This document provides a brief summary estimate of Galactic free-free emission and H-alpha emission and their relationship. Particular emphasis is placed on estimating the potential free-free emission in the region of significant confusion for CMB anisotropy measurements. Existing x-ray, ultraviolet and Hα\alpha emission provide limits on the radio free-free emission and vice versa. These limits are generally somewhat smaller than the observed ``free-free'' (signal proportional to frequency^{-2.15}) microwave signal. If this remains true, then some previously neglected source may be present. Physics argues that H-alpha emission is still the best tracer for Galactic free-free emission and thus a tool for diagnosing if there is a previously neglected emssion source.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9801121,
  title  = {Galactic Free-free and H-alpha Emission},
  author = {George F. Smoot},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9801121},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

10 pages including 3 figures

R2 v1 2026-07-22T09:37:50.833Z