The prompt gamma-ray emission of novae

Classical novae are potential gamma-ray emitters, because of the disintegration of some radioactive nuclei synthesized during the explosion. Some short-lived isotopes (such as 13N and 18F), as well as the medium-lived 22Na, decay emitting positrons, which annihilate with electrons and thus are responsible for the prompt emission of gamma-rays from novae. This emission consists of a 511 keV line plus a continuum between 20 and 511 keV, and is released before the maximum in visual luminosity, i.e., before the discovery of the nova. The main characteristics of this prompt emission, together with the related uncertainties (both of nuclear and hydrodynamical origin, with a particular emphasis on the influence of the envelope properties) and prospects for detectability are analyzed in this paper.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures (6 PS files), to appear in New Astronomy Reviews (Proceedings of the Ringberg Workshop "Astronomy with Radioactivities III"

A Search for Gamma-Ray Lines from the Decay of Fe-59 in Supernova 1987A

We have searched spectra of Supernova (SN) 1987A, accumulated during several 35-day intervals after the explosion by the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), for gamma-ray lines at 1.099 and 1.292 MeV from the decay of Fe-59 which may have been produced in the progenitor\u27s helium shell. We find no evidence for these lines, down to 3-sigma upper limits approximately = 7 x 10-4 gamma/sq cm/s for the 1.099 MeV line, or approximately = 4.5 x 10-4 gamma/sq cm/s for the 1.292 MeV line, in any 35-day interval. We derive a conservative 3-sigma upper limit on the mass fraction of Fe-59 in the helium shell of 2.9 x 10-3

Positron Annihilation Gamma Rays from Novae

The potential for observing annihilation gamma rays from novae is investigated. These gamma rays, a unique signature of the thermonuclear runaway models of novae, would result from the annihilation of positrons emitted by beta(+)-unstable nuclei produced near the peak of the runaway and carried by rapid convection to the surface of the nova envelope. Simple models, which are extensions of detailed published models, of the expansion of the nova atmospheres are evolved. These models serve as input into investigations of the fate of nearby Galactic fast novae could yield detectable fluxes of electron-positron annihilation gamma rays produced by the decay of N-13 and F-18. Although nuclear gamma-ray lines are produced by other nuclei, it is unlikely that the fluxes at typical nova distances would be detectable to present and near-future instruments

Gamma ray constraints on the Galactic supernova rate

We perform Monte Carlo simulations of the expected gamma ray signatures of Galactic supernovae of all types to estimate the significance of the lack of a gamma ray signal due to supernovae occurring during the last millenium. Using recent estimates of the nuclear yields, we determine mean Galactic supernova rates consistent with the historic supernova record and the gamma ray limits. Another objective of these calculations of Galactic supernova histories is their application to surveys of diffuse Galactic gamma ray line emission

Gamma ray constraints on the galactic supernova rate

Monte Carlo simulations of the expected gamma-ray signatures of galactic supernovae of all types are performed in order to estimate the significance of the lack of a gamma-ray signal due to supernovae occurring during the last millenium. Using recent estimates of nuclear yields, we determine galactic supernova rates consistent with the historic supernova record and the gamma-ray limits. Another objective of these calculations of galactic supernova histories is their application to surveys of diffuse galactic gamma-ray line emission

Three Dimensional Simulation of Gamma Ray Emission from Asymmetric Supernovae and Hypernovae

Hard X- and $\gamma$-ray spectra and light curves resulting from radioactive decays are computed for aspherical (jet-like) and energetic supernova models (representing a prototypical hypernova SN 1998bw), using a 3D energy- and time-dependent Monte Carlo scheme. The emission is characterized by (1) early emergence of high energy emission, (2) large line-to-continuum ratio, and (3) large cut-off energy by photoelectric absorptions in hard X-ray energies. These three properties are not sensitively dependent on the observer's direction. On the other hand, fluxes and line profiles depend sensitively on the observer's direction, showing larger luminosity and larger degree of blueshift for an observer closer to the polar ($z$) direction. Strategies to derive the degree of asphericity and the observer's direction from (future) observations are suggested on the basis of these features, and an estimate on detectability of the high energy emission by the {\it INTEGRAL} and future observatories is presented. Also presented is examination on applicability of a gray effective $\gamma$-ray opacity for computing the energy deposition rate in the aspherical SN ejecta. The 3D detailed computations show that the effective $\gamma$-ray opacity $\kappa_{\gamma} \sim 0.025 - 0.027$ cm$^{2}$ g$^{-1}$ reproduces the detailed energy-dependent transport for both spherical and aspherical (jet-like) geometry.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures. Figure 7 added in the accepted version. ApJ, 644 (01 June 2006 issue), in press. Resolution of figures lower than the published versio

Modulation of Variation by Response-Reward Spatial Proximity

There has been a recent surge in the experimental investigation of the control of behavioral variability. Currently, it is understood that variability in behavior is predictably modulated by reinforcement parameters (e.g., a probability of reward delivery and reward magnitude). In two experiments, we investigated how spatial proximity between response and reward locations impacts the production of behavioral variability in both response rate and lever press duration. Rats were trained to lever press on two levers in a standard operant chamber that only differed from one another in their proximity to a food niche (i.e., Near vs. Far); a second experimental factor, the probability of reward, was signaled by an auditory cue. In Experiment 1, trials with a high-probability stimulus terminated with reward on 100% of trials, while trials with a low-probability stimulus terminated with reward 25% of the time. We used a similar procedure in Experiment 2, but reduced the likelihood of reward on low-probability trials to 10% and collected data in a post-acquisition extinction test. Overall, proximity and probability were inversely related to variation of response rate, whereas only the probability factor affected variation in lever press duration. Proximity also interacted with probability to influence variation in response rate. These findings extend the factors modulating behavioral variability to include the spatial proximity between a response and reward

Search for Gamma-Ray Transients using the SMM Spectrometer

Observations for transient radiation made by the Gamma Ray Spectrometer on the SMM satellite are summarized. Spectra were obtained from 215 solar flares and 177 gamma-ray bursts. No narrow or moderately broadened lines were observed in any of the bursts. The rate of bursts is consistent with a constant over the mission but is weakly correlated with solar activity. No evidence was found for bursts of 511 keV line emission, unaccompanied by a strong continuum, at levels not less than 0.05 gamma/sq cm s for bursts lasting not more than 16 s. No evidence was found for broad features near 1 MeV from Cyg X-1, the Galactic center, or the Crab in 12-d integrations at levels not less than 0.006 gamma/sq cm s. No evidence was found for transient celestial narrow-line emission from 300 keV to 7 MeV on min-to-hrs-long time scales from 1984 to 1989