High energy γ rays from Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) carry direct information about the spatial and energy distributions of Galactic Cosmic Rays (CRs). The recently released catalogs of GMCs contain sufficiently massive clouds to be used as barometers for probing, through their γ-ray emission, the density of CRs throughout the Galactic Disk. Based on the data of Fermi-LAT , we report the discovery of γ-ray signals from nineteen GMCs located at distances up to 12.5 kpc. The galactocentric radial distribution of the CR density derived from the γ-ray and CO observations of these objects, as well as from some nearby clouds that belong to the Gould Belt complex, unveil a homogeneous "sea" of CRs with a constant density and spectral shape close to the flux of directly (locally) measured CRs. We found noticeable deviations from the "sea level" only in some locations characterized by enhanced CR density in the galactocentric 4-6 kpc ring. Furthermore, we found a hint for fluctuations of the CR density in different locations within the same 4-6 kpc ring. The confirmation of this result with the next-generation γ-ray detectors based on the higher quality data and denser coverage of galactocentric distances, would have dramatic implications for the understanding of the origin of Galactic CRs.PACS numbers: 95.85.Ry; 98.70.Sa

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are bright flashes of gamma rays from extragalactic sources followed by fading afterglow emission, are associated with stellar core collapse events. We report the detection of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays from the afterglow of GRB 190829A, between 4 and 56 hours after the trigger, using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The low luminosity and redshift of GRB 190829A reduce both internal and external absorption, allowing determination of its intrinsic energy spectrum. Between energies of 0.18 and 3.3 tera–electron volts, this spectrum is described by a power law with photon index of 2.07 ± 0.09, similar to the x-ray spectrum. The x-ray and VHE gamma-ray light curves also show similar decay profiles. These similar characteristics in the x-ray and gamma-ray bands challenge GRB afterglow emission scenarios.

We report the analysis of the Fermi-Large Area Telescope data from six nearby giant molecular clouds (MCs) belonging to the Gould Belt and the Aquila Rift regions. The high statistical γ-ray spectra above 3 GeV well described by power laws make it possible to derive precise estimates of the cosmic-ray (CR) distribution in the MCs. The comparison of γ-ray spectra of Taurus, Orion A, and Orion B clouds with the model expected from Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) CR measurements confirms these clouds as passive clouds, immersed in an AMS-02-like CR spectrum. A similar comparison of Aquila Rift, Rho Oph, and Cepheus spectra yields significant deviation in both spectral indices and absolute fluxes, which can imply an additional acceleration of CRs throughout the entire clouds. Besides, the theoretical modeling of the excess γ-ray spectrum of these clouds, assuming π 0-decay interaction of CRs in the cloud, gives a considerable amount of an enhanced CR energy density and it shows a significant deviation in spectral shapes compared to the average AMS-02 CR spectrum between 30 GeV and 10 TeV. We suggest that this variation in the CR spectrum of Cepheus could be accounted for by an efficient acceleration in the shocks of winds of OB associations, while in Rho Oph, similar acceleration can be provided by multiple T-Tauri stars populated in the whole cloud. In the case of Aquila Rift, the excess in absolute CR flux could be related to an additional acceleration of CRs by supernova remnants or propagation effects in the cloud.

Recurrent novae are repeating thermonuclear explosions in the outer layers of white dwarfs, due to the accretion of fresh material from a binary companion. The shock generated when ejected material slams into the companion star’s wind can accelerate particles. We report very-high-energy (VHE, ≳ 100  GeV ) gamma rays from the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi, up to a month after its 2021 outburst, observed using the High Energy Stereoscopic System. The VHE emission has a similar temporal profile to lower-energy GeV emission, indicating a common origin, with a two-day delay in peak flux. These observations constrain models of time-dependent particle energization, favoring a hadronic emission scenario over the leptonic alternative. Shocks in dense winds provide favorable environments for efficient acceleration of cosmic-rays to very high energies.

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