Low-energy gamma rays produced in air and in lead by cosmic rays

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ067i005p01731· OSTI ID:4829837

Vette, J. I.

Measurements were made at 40.5'N geomagnetic latitude of gamma rays produced in lead and in air within the energy range 25-1060 kev up to altitudes of 5.4 g/cm² by means of balloon-borne scintillation counters, The gamma rays of atmospheric origin exhibit a transition curve that peaks at 70 g/cn² and is similar to transition curves measured wtth other omnidirectional detectors. The measurements give a flux of 17.3 photons/cm²/sec at the peak of the transition curve; extrapolation to the top of the atmosphere gives an albedo of 5.7 photons/cm²/sec, The spectra of the photons produced in lead and in air are very similar, and the production per gram of lead is found to be about 2.7 times that per gram of air. The power contained in gamma rays up to 1 Mev is estimated to be 7% of the incoming power from primary cosmic rays. Because of this large intensity the origin of the photons is difficult to explain in terms of the nucleonic component but is compatible with an explanation based on an electromagnetic origin.

• Research Organization: General Dynamics/Astronautics, San Diego, Calif.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-019664
• OSTI ID: 4829837
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 67; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ABSORPTION
AIR
BALLOONS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIATION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH
ENERGY
ENERGY RANGE
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA RADIATION
GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES
KEV RANGE
LEAD
LEVELS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
NUCLEONS
PHOTONS
PRODUCTION
REFLECTION
SCATTERING
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
STRATOSPHERE