Synchrotron Spectral Curvature from 22 MHz to 23 GHz

Abstract

We combine surveys of the radio sky at frequencies 22 MHz to 1.4 GHz with data from the ARCADE-2 instrument at frequencies 3 to 10 GHz to characterize the frequency spectrum of diffuse synchrotron emission in the Galaxy. The radio spectrum steepens with frequency from 22 MHz to 10 GHz. The projected spectral index at 23 GHz derived from the low-frequency data agrees well with independent measurements using only data at frequencies 23 GHz and above. Comparing the spectral index at 23 GHz to the value from previously published analyses allows extension of the model to higher frequencies. The combined data are consistent with a power-law index beta = -2.64 +/- 0.03 at 0.31 GHz, steepening by an amount Delta beta = 0.07 every octave in frequency. Comparison of the radio data to models including the cosmic ray energy spectrum suggests that any break in the synchrotron spectrum must occur at frequencies above 23 GHz.