SMM hard X-ray observations of the soft gamma-ray repeater 1806-20

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185029· OSTI ID:5294207

Kouveliotou, C; Norris, J P; Cline, T L; Dennis, B R; Desai, U D; Orwig, L E

Six bursts from the soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR) 1806-20 have been recorded with the SMM Hard X-ray Burst Spectrometer during a highly active phase in 1983. Rise and decay times of less than 5 ns have been detected. Time profiles of these events indicate low-level emission prior to and after the main peaks. The results suggest that SGRs are distinguished from classical gamma-ray bursts by repetition, softer nonvarying spectra, short durations, simple temporal profiles, and a tendency for source locations to correlate with Population I objects. SGR characteristics differ from those of type I X-ray bursts, but they appear to have similarities with the type II bursts from the Rapid Burster. 19 references.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5294207
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 322; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
COSMIC RADIATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HARD X RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ORIGIN
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
RADIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTROMETERS
X RADIATION