177 research outputs found
Gamma-Ray Spectral States of Galactic Black Hole Candidates
OSSE has observed seven transient black hole candidates: GRO J0422+32,
GX339-4, GRS 1716-249, GRS 1009-45, 4U 1543-47, GRO J1655-40, and GRS 1915+105.
Two gamma-ray spectral states are evident and, based on a limited number of
contemporaneous X-ray and gamma-ray observations, these states appear to be
correlated with X-ray states. The former three objects show hard spectra below
100 keV (photon number indices Gamma < 2) that are exponentially cut off with
folding energy ~100 keV, a spectral form that is consistent with thermal
Comptonization. This "breaking gamma-ray state" is the high-energy extension of
the X-ray low, hard state. In this state, the majority of the luminosity is
above the X-ray band, carried by photons of energy ~100 keV. The latter four
objects exhibit a "power-law gamma-ray state" with a relatively soft spectral
index (Gamma ~ 2.5-3) and no evidence for a spectral break. For GRO J1655-40,
the lower limit on the break energy is 690 keV. GRS 1716-249 exhibits both
spectral states, with the power-law state having significantly lower gamma-ray
luminosity. The power-law gamma-ray state is associated with the presence of a
strong ultrasoft X-ray excess (kT ~ 1 keV), the signature of the X-ray high,
soft (or perhaps very high) state. The physical process responsible for the
unbroken power law is not well understood, although the spectra are consistent
with bulk-motion Comptonization in the convergent accretion flow.Comment: 27 pages, 3 figures, uses aaspp.sty and psfig.st
SPI/INTEGRAL observation of the Cygnus region
We present the analysis of the first observations of the Cygnus region by the
SPI spectrometer onboard the Integral Gamma Ray Observatory, encompassing
600 ks of data. Three sources namely Cyg X-1, Cyg X-3 and EXO 2030+375
were clearly detected. Our data illustrate the temporal variability of Cyg X-1
in the energy range from 20 keV to 300 keV. The spectral analysis shows a
remarkable stability of the Cyg X-1 spectra when averaged over one day
timescale. The other goal of these observations is SPI inflight calibration and
performance verification. The latest objective has been achieved as
demonstrated by the results presented in this paper.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A (special
INTEGRAL volume
The Advanced Compton Telescope
The Advanced Compton Telescope (ACT), the next major step in gamma-ray astronomy, will probe the fires where chemical elements are formed by enabling high-resolution spectroscopy of nuclear emission from supernova explosions. During the past two years, our collaboration has been undertaking a NASA mission concept study for ACT. This study was designed to (1) transform the key scientific objectives into specific instrument requirements, (2) to identify the most promising technologies to meet those requirements, and (3) to design a viable mission concept for this instrument. We present the results of this study, including scientific goals and expected performance, mission design, and technology recommendations
MEGA: A Medium-Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy mission concept
The Medium Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy (MEGA) telescope concept will soon be proposed as a MIDEX mission. This mission would enable a sensitive all-sky survey of the medium-energy gamma-ray sky (0.4 - 50 MeV) and bridge the huge sensitivity gap between the COMPTEL and OSSE experiments on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the SPI and IBIS instruments on INTEGRAL, and the visionary Advanced Compton Telescope (ACT) mission. The scientific goals include, among other things, compiling a much larger catalog of sources in this energy range, performing far deeper searches for supernovae, better measuring the galactic continuum and line emissions, and identifying the components of the cosmic diffuse gamma-ray emission. MEGA will accomplish these goals using a tracker made of Si strip detector (SSD) planes surrounded by a dense high-Z calorimeter. At lower photon energies (below ⌠30 MeV), the design is sensitive to Compton interactions, with the SSD system serving as a scattering medium that also detects and measures the Compton recoil energy deposit. If the energy of the recoil electron is sufficiently high (\u3e 2 MeV) its momentum vector can also be measured. At higher photon energies (above âŒ10 MeV), the design is sensitive to pair production events, with the SSD system measuring the tracks of the electron and positron. A prototype instrument has been developed and calibrated in the laboratory and at a gamma-ray beam facility. We present calibration results from the prototype and describe the proposed satellite mission
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