The Spectral Index Distribution of EGRET Blazars: Prospects for GLAST

Journal Article · Thu Jul 12 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2757293· OSTI ID:21067211

Venters, Tonia M ^[1]; Pavlidou, Vasiliki ^[1]

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1. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 (United States)

We present a maximum-likelihood method of determining the intrinsic spectral index distribution (ISID) of a population of gamma-ray emitters which accounts for error in measurement of individual spectral indices, and we apply it to Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) blazars and simulated Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) blazars. We find that the most likely Gaussian ISID for EGRET blazars has a mean of 2.27 and a standard deviation of 0.20. We also test for systematic spectral index hardening associated with blazar variability for which we find no evidence.

• OSTI ID: 21067211
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 921; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
DISTRIBUTION
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA SPECTRA
INDEXES
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
PHOTON EMISSION