Global Models of the Galactic Interstellar Medium: Comparison to X-Ray and H I Observations

Abstract

In a previous paper, we calculated numerical hydrodynamic models of the interstellar medium in the Galaxy, which suggested that hot gas (T $\ge$ 3 $\times$ 10${}^5$ K) has a filling factor near 50\% in the midplane (Rosen \& Bregman 1995, ApJ 440, 634). Here we extend the work to examine the X-ray emission characteristics of the best model and calculate a variety of observable measures for comparison with the observed soft X-ray background. We calculate the X-ray intensities, spectra, and hardness ratios in two soft X-ray bands as Galactic latitude and cool gas column are varied, and make comparisons with observational data. The observed distribution of N${}_{HI}$ is similar to that seen from one of the simulated bubbles, with the important exception that the minimum hydrogen column in the model is too low. Also, there are clear examples of anticorrelations between H I and X-ray emission as well as correlations between H I and X-rays, which is caused by an increased emission measure as a shock enters a cool gas region. Statistically, anticorrelations are slightly more common than correlations. X-ray spectra are calculated from the models and these reveal that for observations to have strong diagnostic power in probing the hot ISM, a spectral resolution of E/$\Delta$E $>$ 30 is required. This analysis demonstrates several shortcomings of our model, which may be solved by future simulations that include magnetic fields.

25 pages, To appear in Oct 20 1996 ApJ, AASTEX v4.0, 9 figures avaialable at http://www.astr.ua.edu/~rosen/los/los.html

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