Search for gamma-ray emission from star-forming galaxies with Fermi LAT

Understand

Recent studies have found a positive correlation between the star-formation rate of galaxies and their gamma-ray luminosity.

• Galaxies with a high star-formation rate are expected to produce a large amount of high-energy cosmic rays, which emit gamma-rays when interacting with the interstellar medium and radiation fields.
• We search for gamma-ray emission from a sample of galaxies within and beyond the Local Group with data from the LAT instrument onboard the Fermi satellite.
• We exclude recently detected galaxies (NGC 253, M82, NGC 4945, NGC 1068, NGC 2146, Arp 220) and use seven years of cumulative Pass 8 data from the LAT in the 100 MeV to 100 GeV range.