Positron annihilation in the Galactic center: ''Cheshire cat'' compton scattering and ''excess continuum''

Conference · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7194165

Bildsten, M L; Zurek, W H

Two separate observations of the ..gamma..-ray spectrum originating from the Galactic Center were made by HEAO-3 in the fall of 1979 and in the spring of 1980. The 2..gamma.. 511 KeV annihilation line flux decreased by a factor of three over the corresponding six month period, whereas the excess ..gamma..-ray continuum below the 511 KeV line, often interpreted as 3..gamma.. decay of orthopositronium, barely changed. This apparent discrepancy in the temporal behavior makes it difficult to associate the bulk of the excess continuum with the 3..gamma.. decay of positronium. We will show that Compton scattering of the line and high energy radiation provides a natural explanation for the surprisingly small change seen in the excess continuum.

• Research Organization: Cornell University, Department of Physics. Ithaca, nY 14853
• OSTI ID: 7194165
• Report Number(s): CONF-8610211-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 155:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COMPTON EFFECT
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC POSITRONS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GAMMA SPECTRA
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 100-1000
LEPTONS
MILKY WAY
ORIGIN
POSITRONS
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SPECTRA