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Steepening of the γ-ray background spectrum from local γ-ray production

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Abstract

BECAUSE the Solar System lies in a spiral arm of our Galaxy, much of the γ-ray flux arriving at large angles to the galactic plane is of local origin. We have tried to calculate this contribution to the flux, and find that the effect is particularly pronounced for γ rays of energy > 100 MeV. This implies a steeper spectrum for extragalactic γ rays than has been hitherto expected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Reine und Angewandte Kernphysik, Universität Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40–60, 2300, Kiel, 1, FRG

    R. SCHLICKEISER & K. O. THIELHEIM

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  1. R. SCHLICKEISER
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  2. K. O. THIELHEIM
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SCHLICKEISER, R., THIELHEIM, K. Steepening of the γ-ray background spectrum from local γ-ray production. Nature 261, 478–479 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261478a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261478a0

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