IC - starlight versus 3K

We know that

and

Thus ie 3K photons more important!

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version

Substituting the numerical values given and those we calculated on slide 42, we find that this ratio is about 1/100, ie the 3K photons are more important in producing X-rays via the Inverse Compton process than starlight.

This is especially true when we consider that the 3K microwave background is also external to our Galaxy.