Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Gamma rays from Cygnus X-1: New diagnostics for a black hole

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6799392
New gamma ray observations of Cygnus X-1, especially those with the HEAO-3 satellite, have revealed a transient bump in the 0.4 - few move region. Its successful interpretation in terms of the optically thin emission from a compact cloud of semi-relativistic plasma close to the black horizon has shed new light on the structure and dynamics of the accretion flow. Detailed spectral and temporal analyses of the HEAO and other gamma ray data may thus provide an important new diagnostic of black holes not obtainable with x-ray observations. This has important implications for both the theory and strategies of future high energy observation of black holes. 33 refs., 8 figs., 1 tabs.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6799392
Report Number(s):
UCRL-99411; CONF-8804192-1; ON: DE88016275
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English