Positronium origin of 476 keV galactic feature

Journal Article · Mon Aug 27 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · Nature (London) Phys. Sci., v. 244, no. 139, pp. 137-138

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/physci244137b0· OSTI ID:4381705

Clayton, D D

Reference is made to the findings of Leventhal (to be published in Astrophys. J.) regarding a galactic feature at 476 plus or minus 24 keV. Leventhal calculates that an observed peak in the positronium spectrum will lie at 490 keV. The present author calculates that if the positroniuna spectrum lies atop a steeply falling continuum due to other sources then the apparent peak can fall near 476 keV, where it was observed, and shows that explosive nucleosynthesis is a plausable source of the positrons. Furthermore the actual data on the observed feature look like a positronium feature. The primary sources of positrons from supernova explosive nucleosynthesis could be /sup 56/ Co, the progenitor of /sup 56/Fe with a half-life of 77d, and /sup 44/Sc, the daughter of 48 yr /sup 44/Ti and progenitor of /sup 44/ Ca. Either or both could be the source of sufficient positrons to account for the observed feature. (UK)

• Research Organization: Rice Univ., Houston, TX
• NSA Number: NSA-29-013341
• OSTI ID: 4381705
• Journal Information: Nature (London) Phys. Sci., v. 244, no. 139, pp. 137-138, Journal Name: Nature (London) Phys. Sci., v. 244, no. 139, pp. 137-138; ISSN NPSCA
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*NUCLEOSYNTHESIS-- POSITRONS
*POSITRONIUM-- PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
*POSITRONS-- PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
*PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION-- ORIGIN
*SUPERNOVAE-- NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
COBALT 56
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTRA
KEV RANGE 100-1000
MILKY WAY
N56100* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Cosmic Radiation
PEAKS
SCANDIUM 44