Diffuse gamma rays with energies greater than 1 x 10 to the 14th eV observed in the Southern Hemisphere

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166161· OSTI ID:7222699

Suga, K; Toyoda, Y; Kamata, K; Murakami, K; Lapointe, M

The data of extensive air showers with a low content of muons and hadrons, observed in the period 1964-1966 at Mount Chacaltaya in Bolivia, have been reanalyzed. Arrival directions of those showers selected so as to favor small initiation depths in the atmosphere (to enhance the contribution from gamma-ray-initiated showers) reveal a 3.8 sigma peak above an expected background from the region of alpha = 180-210 deg in the band of delta = 0 to -40 deg. The integral flux of diffuse gamma-rays above 1 x 10 to the 14th eV estimated from this excess is about 6.0 x 10 to the -12th/sq cm per sec per sr. In order to explain this very high flux, the possible contribution of gamma-rays from Loop 1 as well as the inverse Compton photons produced in the 2.7 K photon background as progeny of gamma-rays from Cyg X-3-like sources. 24 references.

• Research Organization: Meisei Univ., Hino (Japan); Kobe Univ. (Japan); Tokyo Univ. (Japan); Nagoya Univ. (Japan); Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7222699
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 326; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC MUONS
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC SHOWERS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
FERMIONS
FLUX QUANTIZATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MUONS
PHOTONS
POINT SOURCES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY COSMIC RADIATION
SHOWERS
TEV RANGE
TEV RANGE 100-1000