Abstract
The ESA satellite COS-B viewed the Cyg-X region 7 times between November 1975 and March 1982. A search for periodic gamma-ray emission (E > 70 MeV) from Cyg X-3 at the characteristic ∼4.8 h period did not reveal the source. Combining all observations, the 2σ upperlimit (E > 70 MeV) on the flux for the phase interval in which X-ray emission has been detected is 1.0 × 10-6 ph cm-2 s-1 and for the phase intervals in which ultra-high-energy (E ≳ 500 GeV) gamma-ray emission has been reported ∼1.0 × 10-7 ph cm-2 s-1. This is about one and two orders of magnitude, repectively, below the flux reported earlier by the SAS-2 team. A comparison of the spatial gamma-ray distribution in the Cyg-X region measured by SAS-2 and COS-B with the total-interstellar-gas distribution leads to the conclusion that in both cases, COS-B and SAS-2, no source has been detected at the position of Cyg X-3 in addition to the diffuse gamma-ray emission expected from the total-gas distribution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bennett, K., Bignami, G.F., Hermsen, W., Mayer-Hasselwander, H.A., Paul, J.A., and Scarsi, L.: 1977, Astron. Astrophys. 59, 273
Galper, A.M., Kirillov-Ugryumov, V.G., Kurochkin, A.V., Leikov, N.G., Luchkov, B.I., and Yurkin, Yu.T.: 1976, Sov. Astron. Letters 2, No. 6, 206–208
Hermsen, W.: 1983, Space Science Reviews 36, 61–92
Hermsen, W. et al. (Caravane Collaboration): 1985, in preparation for Astron. Astrophys.
Lamb, R.C., Fichtel, C.E., Hartman, R.C., Kniffen, D.A., and Thompson, D.J.: 1977, Astron. J. Letters 212, L63–66
Lebrun, F. Paul, J.A.: 1983, Astrophys. J. 266, 276
Lloyd-Evans, J., Coy, R.N., Lambert, A., Lapikens, J., Patel, M., Reid, R.J.O., and Watson, A.A.: 1983, Nature 305, 784–787
Mayer-Hasselwander, H.A., Bennett, K., Bignami, G.F., Buccheri, R., Caraveo, P.A., Hermsen, W., Kanbach, G., Lebrun, F., et al.: 1982, Astron. Astrophys. 105, 164–175
Özel, M.E., and Mayer-Hasselwander, H.A.: 1984, Astron. Astrophys. in press
Pollock, A.M.T., Bennett, K., Bignami, G.F., Bloemen, J.B.G.M., Buccheri, R., Caraveo, P.A., Hermsen, W., Kanbach, G., et al.: 1984, Astron. Astrophys. in press
Samorski, M., and Stamm, W.: 1983, Astrophys. J. 268, L17–21
Swanenburg, B.N., Bennett, K., Bignami, G.F., Buccheri, R., Caraveo, P., Hermsen, W., Kanbach, G., Lichti, G.G., et al.: 1981, Astrophys. J. Letters 243, L69-L73
Thompson, D.J., Fichtel, C.E.: 1982, Astron. Astrophys. 109, 352
Van der Klis, M., and Bonnet-Bidaud, J.M.: 1981, Astron. Astrophys. 95, L5-L7
Additional information
The Caravane Collaboration for the COS-B satellite: Laboratory for Space Research Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands Istituto di Fisica Cosmica del CNR, Milano, Italy Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Informatica del CNR, Palermo, Italy Max Planck Institut für Physik und Astrophysik, Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching-bei-München, Germany Service d'Astrophysique, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay, France Space Science Department of the European Space Agency, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hermsen, W. Cyg X-3 not seen at high-energy gamma rays. Space Sci Rev 40, 313–316 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212904
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212904