Synchrotron Debate

• c. 1945-1955:

• What is crab emission (and diffuse galaxy, and “radio stars”)?

• What are cosmic rays?

• Russia vs. the World

• Scheuer, theorist: “Understanding the physics of synchrotron theory was extremely difficult, […] requiring an effort beyond what most radio astronomers were willing to invest.”

Synchrotron CygA

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Synchrotron spectrum

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Core

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