The diffuse X-ray background spectrum from 3 to 50 keV

view Abstract Citations (384) References (30) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The diffuse X-ray background spectrum from 3 to 50 keV. Marshall, F. E. ; Boldt, E. A. ; Holt, S. S. ; Miller, R. B. ; Mushotzky, R. F. ; Rose, L. A. ; Rothschild, R. E. ; Serlemitsos, P. J. Abstract The spectrum of the extragalactic diffuse X-ray background has been measured with the GSFC Cosmic X-ray Experiment on HEAO 1 for regions of the sky away from known point sources and more than 20 deg from the galactic plane. A total exposure of 80 sq m-s-sr is available at present. Free-free emission from an optically thin plasma of 40 plus or minus 5 keV provides an excellent description of the observed spectrum from 3 to 50 keV. This spectral shape is confirmed by measurements from five separate layers of three independent detectors. With an estimated absolute precision of about 10%, the intensity of the emission at 10keV is 3.2 keV/keV/sq cm/s/sr, a value consistent with the average of previously reported spectra. A uniform hot intergalactic medium of approximately 36% of the closure density of the universe would produce such a flux, although nonuniform models indicating less total matter are probably more realistic. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1980 DOI: 10.1086/157601 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...235....4M Keywords: Cosmic Rays; Diffuse Radiation; Intergalactic Media; X Ray Astronomy; X Ray Spectra; Background Radiation; Emission Spectra; Galactic Clusters; Heao 1; Rarefied Plasmas; Spectral Line Width; Space Radiation full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2)