Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2000
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000exun.conf..119h&link_type=abstract
EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE A Festschrift in Honor of R Giacconi . Held October 1997 in Rome, Italy. Edited by H Gursky (Naval Resear
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
In this article we review the measurements and understanding of the X-ray background (XRB), discovered by Giacconi and collaborators 35 years ago. We start from the early history and the debate whether the XRB is due to a single, homogeneous physical process or to the summed emission of discrete sources, which was finally settled by COBE and ROSAT. We then describe in detail the progress from ROSAT deep surveys and optical identifications of the faint X-ray source population. In particular we discuss the role of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) as dominant contributors for the XRB, and argue that so far there is no need to postulate a hypothesized new population of X-ray sources. The recent advances in the understanding of X-ray spectra of AGN is reviewed and a population synthesis model, based on the unified AGN schemes, is presented. This model is so far the most promising to explain all observational constraints. Future sensitive X-ray surveys in the harder X-ray band will be able to unambiguously test this picture.
Hasinger Guenter
Zamorani Gianni
No associations
LandOfFree
The X-Ray Background and the ROSAT Deep Surveys does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The X-Ray Background and the ROSAT Deep Surveys, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The X-Ray Background and the ROSAT Deep Surveys will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1384760