Gamma-ray emission from the galactic anticenter at MeV energies

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160539· OSTI ID:6150810

Graser, U; Schoenfelder, V

An image of the anticenter region of the Galaxy between right ascension 50/sup 0/ and 110/sup 0/ and between declination +10/sup 0/ and +50/sup 0/ in the energy range 1.1--10 MeV is derived from data obtained during a balloon flight with the MPI Compton telescope. The telescope has a field of view of 40/sup 0/--50/sup 0/ (FWHM) and a 1 sigma angular resolution of about 4/sup 0/ within this field. A significantly enhanced ..gamma..-ray emission is observed along the galactic plane from l/sup II/ = 160/sup 0/ to l/sup II/ = 197/sup 0/. Part of the emission is due to the Crab Nebula. The energy spectrum of the pulsed and total Crab emission is determined. Because of the limited angular resolution of the telescope it is not possible to decide whether the remainder of the emission is diffuse in nature or due to unresolved sources. No significantly enhanced ..gamma..-ray emission is observed from the direction of the high-energy ..gamma..-ray source Geminga (2CG 195+04) or from the Seyfert galaxy MCG 8--11--11, which recently was reported to be a soft ..gamma..-ray source. An upper limit to the diffuse galactic ..gamma..-ray emission is determined, which leads to restrictions of the spectrum of interstellar cosmic ray electrons at MeV energies.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik
• OSTI ID: 6150810
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 263:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
DATA ANALYSIS
GALAXIES
GAMMA SPECTRA
MATHEMATICS
MILKY WAY
NEBULAE
SEYFERT GALAXIES
SPECTRA
STATISTICS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
TELESCOPES