Abstract
Diffuse cosmic X-rays in the energy range 20–125 keV were measured in four balloon flights from Hyderabad, India during 1968–70 using almost identical X-ray telescopes mounted on oriented platforms. The results from these flights show that the spectrum of the diffuse cosmic X-rays can be represented by the form dN/dE=29E −2.1±0.3 photons/(cm2 sr s keV) in 20–125 keV interval after corrections for photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering effects in the atmosphere. The best fit spectrum of all published results in the energy interval 20–200 keV can be represented by the form dN/dE=36E −2.1±0.1 photons/(cm2 sr s keV) after similar corrections are effected, and there is no need for a change of spectral index in this energy interval. The intensity at 20 keV obtained from the above spectrum agrees well with that given by the spectral form dN/dE=10E −1.7±0.1 photons/(cm2 sr s keV) in the energy interval 1–20 keV in several rocket experiments. Therefore it is concluded that if there is a break in the spectrum, it occurs between 10 and 20 keV with a change of spectral index by about 0.5, or the index is continuously changing from 1.7±0.1 to 2.1±0.1 in 10–20 keV interval. The implications of the results are briefly discussed.
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Manchanda, R.K., Biswas, S., Agrawal, P.C. et al. The spectrum of diffuse cosmic X-rays in the 20–125 keV range. Astrophys Space Sci 15, 272–283 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00649921
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00649921