Detection of nuclear gamma rays from Centaurus A

Details Detection of nuclear gamma rays from Centaurus A Detection of nuclear gamma rays from Centaurus A

Dec 1976

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976apj...210..631h&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, vol. 210, Dec. 15, 1976, pt. 1, p. 631-641.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

62

Elliptical Galaxies, Galactic Radiation, Gamma Rays, Radio Galaxies, X Ray Sources, X Ray Spectra, Balloon-Borne Instruments, Continuous Spectra, Energy Spectra, Line Spectra, Radiant Flux Density, Scintillation Counters

Scientific paper

Results are reported for an observation of nuclear gamma rays in the energy range between 0.033 and 12.25 MeV from Centaurus A using a balloon-borne actively collimated NaI(Tl) crystal scintillation counter. The observing procedure is outlined, no systematic errors are found in the data, and power-law fits to the source's energy spectrum are attempted. A power law of approximately 0.86E to the -1.9 power photon/sq cm/sec per keV is shown to give an acceptable fit to the continuum, and the detection of two gamma-ray lines at 1.6 and 4.5 MeV, respectively, is discussed. It is found that the low-energy gamma-ray luminosity of Cen A is 9.4 by 10 to the 43rd power erg/sec for a distance of 5 Mpc and that Cen A is apparently variable in low-energy gamma radiation. It is suggested that the broad feature detected at 1.6 MeV may be due to three blended lines (possibly excited Ne-20, Mg-24, and Si-28), the 4.5-MeV line is most likely due to deexcitation of excited C-12, and the nuclear excitation results from either cosmic-ray bombardment of Cen A's interstellar medium or nucleosynthesis within the source.

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