Cosmic ray studies with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Large Area Telescope

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope provides both direct and indirect measurements of galactic cosmic rays (CR). The LAT high-statistics observations of the 7 GeV – 1 TeV electron plus positron spectrum and limits on spatial anisotropy constrain models for this cosmic-ray component. On a galactic scale, the LAT observations indicate that cosmic-ray sources may be more plentiful in the outer Galaxy than expected or that the scale height of the cosmic-ray diffusive halo is larger than conventional models. Production of cosmic rays in supernova remnants (SNR) is supported by the LAT γ-ray studies of several of these, both young SNR and those interacting with molecular clouds.

► The Fermi gamma-ray space telescope large area telescope measures cosmic rays. ► The electron spectrum and anisotropy limits constrain models. ► Cosmic-ray sources may be more plentiful in the outer Galaxy than expected. ► Production of cosmic rays in supernova remnants is supported by Fermi LAT data.