Limits on a variable source of 511 keV annihilation radiation near the Galactic center

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185776· OSTI ID:6439192

Share, G H; Leising, M D; Messina, D C; Purcell, W R ^[1]

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1. E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Washington, DC (USA) SFA, Inc., Landover, MD (USA) Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (USA)

The Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite (SMM) has observed a strong Galactic source of 511 keV annihilation radiation from its launch in 1980 to its reentry in 1989. These observations are consistent with an extended source having an intensity of about 0.002 gamma/sq cm/s averaged over the central radian of Galactic longitude. These data are searched for evidence of the variable Galactic center source of 511 keV line radiation which was reported to have reappeared in 1988 by Leventhal et al. The SMM data are consistent with, but do not require, a compact source emitting a time-averaged flux of about 0.0004 gamma/sq cm/s during about 3 month transits in 1987 and 1988; they are inconsistent with a compact source flux in excess of 0.0008 gamma/sq cm/s for each year. 14 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6439192
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 358; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANNIHILATION
ASTRONOMY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MILKY WAY
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SPECTROMETERS