Ultrasoft x-ray background

Journal Article · Wed Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1976 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/154267· OSTI ID:7361386

Levine, A; Rappaport, S; Doxsey, R; Jernigan, G

The soft X-ray background has been studied down to energies of approx.90 eV. The spectrum is found to be extremely soft, though not as steeply rising toward very low energies as indicated by Yentis et al. The background is both softer and more intense at high northern galactic latitudes than at low latitudes. Measured pulse height spectra are analyzed under the assumption of different source models. The results are consistent with an origin of the background in a hot interstellar plasma with a temperature of -8 x 10/sup 5/ K and a hot electron density of approx.0.01 cm/sup -3/. Upper limits are set on the soft X-ray emission from several interesting stellar objects. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Physics Department and Center for Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• OSTI ID: 7361386
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 205:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
640103 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PHOTONS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SOFT X RADIATION
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
X RADIATION