Constraints on a dense hot intergalactic medium

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/155405· OSTI ID:7214306

Field, G B; Perrenod, S C

We propose a model in which exploding galaxies heat the intergalactic gas (IGG) to 10/sup 8/--10/sup 9/ K. The thermal bremsstrahlung from the model agrees with spectral measurements of the X-ray background (XRB). We show that recent submillimeter measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are consistent with a spectrum distorted from blackbody by Compton scattering on the same IGG. We also show that the isotropy and intensity of the XRB rule out its origin from discrete gas clouds. Because of the large energy requirement of heat the IGG and other considerations, we must regard the existence of a cosmologically significant amount of hot IGG as uncertain. We conclude that the amount of hot IGG is ..cap omega../sub I/9 or approx. =1.0.

• Research Organization: Center for Astrophysics, Harvard College Observatory
• OSTI ID: 7214306
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 215:3; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
DEUTERIUM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GASES
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INTERGALACTIC SPACE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
SPACE
STABLE ISOTOPES