On the diffuse gamma radiation at ultra-high energies, E(gamma) greater than about 10 to the 14th eV

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168348· OSTI ID:6918102

Berezinskii, V S; Kudriavtsev, V A ^[1]

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1. Institut Iadernykh Issledovanii, Moscow (USSR)

The diffuse fluxes of ultra-high-energy gamma radiation are calculated. The following sources are considered: scattering of Galactic cosmic rays in the interstellar gas, the interaction of metagalactic cosmic rays with the microwave background radiation followed by Compton scattering of electrons on microwave photons, interactions of metagalactic cosmic rays followed by decays, and point extragalactic sources. It is shown that the flux of diffuse gamma radiation from the Galactic center at energies greater than 10 to the 14th eV is 6.6 x 10 to the -13th/sq cm/s/sr, and therefore it can be detected by the existing extensive air shower (EAS) arrays. A considerable flux of isotropic gamma radiation is produced as a result of the interactions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the microwave background radiation if cosmic rays observed at E greater than 10 to the 18th eV are metagalactic protons. This flux dominates in the direction perpendicular to the Galactic plane. 16 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6918102
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 349; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FLUIDS
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GASES
INTERACTIONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ORIGIN
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PHOTONS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
RELICT RADIATION
SPACE