Prediction of interstellar antiproton flux using a nonuniform galactic disk model

Abstract

In order to explain the observed antiproton data on the basis of the secondary production of interstellar antiprotons, a new propagation model of cosmic rays known as the nonuniform galactic disk model is established. The model is based on recent astronomical observations and galactic gamma-ray measurements. The predicted antiproton flux for this model is consistent with all the experimental data so far reported. From the prediction, it is found that the majority of the observed antiprotons should originate in the dense molecular hydrogen cloud region and should have suffered from the adiabatic deceleration during their propagation in the gradient region of matter density inside the disk.