Origin of the 1 keV diffuse X-ray background

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160055· OSTI ID:5046688

Nousek, J A; Fried, P M; Sanders, W T; Kraushaar, W L

High galactic latitude data (b<-15/sup 0/) from the Wisconsin soft X-ray sky survey are used to constrain simple geometric models for the source of the diffuse X-ray background at energies near 1 keV. Two extended enhanced features are apparent in the intensity maps. One is in Eridanus and one is in the direction of the galactic center. Away from these features, the sky is relatively uniform. The observed degree of isotropy is consistent with the model that the 0.5--1.2 keV background consists of an isotropic extragalactic component plus a thick disk galactic component. If an 11E/sup -1.4/ photons cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/ sr/sup -1/ keV/sup -1/ spectrum is assumed for the extragalactic component, then a temperature of 2--3 x 10/sup 6/ K and an emission measure perpendicular to the galactic plane of 0.004 cm/sup -6/ pc are derived for the galactic component. A local and isotropically distributed source model is also consistent with the data, but is difficult to accommodate on physical grounds. Several other source distributions, such as a simple isotropic extragalactic component or a spherical galactic halo, are in conflict with the data.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• OSTI ID: 5046688
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 258:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAPS
MILKY WAY
RADIATIONS
SOFT X RADIATION
SPECTRA
X RADIATION
X-RAY SPECTRA