Skip to main content

The Origin of the X-ray and Gamma-ray Backgrounds

  • Chapter
  • 139 Accesses

Part of the book series: Saas-Fee Advanced Courses ((SAASFEE,volume 23))

Abstract

In this chapter, we tackle the origin of the extragalactic X and γ-ray background radiation which has recently been reviewed in detail by Fabian and Barcons (1992). As was emphasised in Sections 1.9 and 1.10, it is important to remember that the X- and γ-ray backgrounds span about 7 decades in energy compared with, say, the half decade of the optical waveband. It is now clear that each decade has its own individuality and the principal contributors to the background intensity are likely to be different in different energy ranges. Let us begin with the one region of the high energy background spectrum which we can account for by discrete sources with a high degree of confidence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References — Chapter 5

  • Antonucci, R.R. and Miller, J.S. (1985). ApJ, 297, 621.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ballet, J. (1993). In The Frontiers of Space and Ground-based Astronomy, 27th ESLAB Symposium, (eds. W. Wamsteker, M.S. Longair and Y. Kondo), (in press). Dordrecht: Kluwer Scientific Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabian, A.C. and Barcons, X. (1992). ARA&A, 30, 429.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fabian, A.C, George, I.M., Miyoshi, S. and Rees, M.J. (1990). MNRAS, 242, 14P.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hasinger, G., Burg, R., Giacconi, R., Hartner, G., Schmidt, M., Trümper, J. and Zamorani, G. (1993). A&A, 275, 1.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kniffen, D. (1993). In The Frontiers of Space and Ground-based Astronomy, 27th ESLAB Symposium, (eds. W. Wamsteker, M.S. Longair and Y. Kondo), (in press). Dordrecht: Kluwer Scientific Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightman, A.P. and White, T.R. (1988). ApJ, 335, 57.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Longair, M.S. (1992). High Energy Astrophysics. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madau, P., Ghisellini, G. and Fabian, A.C. (1993). ApJ, 410, 7.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mather, J. (1993). In The Extragalactic Background Radiation, (eds. M. Livio, M. Fall, D. Calzetti and P. Madau), (in press). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, F.E., Boldt, E.A., Holt, S.S., Miller, R.B., Mushotzky, R.F., Rose, L.A., Rothschild, R.E. and Serlemitsos, P.J. (1980). ApJ, 235, 4.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Padovani, P., Ghisellini, G., Fabian, A.C. and Celotti, A. (1993). MNRAS, 260, L21.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pounds, K.A. (1990). MNRAS, 242, 20P.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pounds, K.A., Nandra, K., Stewart, G.C., George, I.M. and Fabian, A.C. (1990). Nat, 344, 132.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramana-Murthy, P.V. and Wolfendale, A.W. (1993). Gamma-Ray Astronomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M.J. (1993). In The Extragalactic Background Radiation, (eds. M. Livio, M. Fall, D. Calzetti and P. Madau), (in press). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Setti, G. and Woltjer, L. (1979). A&A, 76, L1.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Stecker, F.W. (1989). In Cosmic Gamma Rays, Neutrinos and Related Astrophysics, (eds M.M. Shapiro and J.P. Wefel), 85. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stecker, F.W., Salamon, M.H. and Malkan, M.A. (1993). ApJ, 410, 71.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sunyaev, R.A. (1980). Sov. Astron. Lett., 6, 213.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sunyaev, R.A. (1993). In The Extragalactic Background Radiation, (eds. M. Livio, M. Fall, D. Calzetti and P. Madau), (in press). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunyaev, R.A. and Zeldovich, Ya.B. (1970). Astrophys. Sp. Sci., 7, 20.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G.B. and Wright, E.L. (1989). ApJ, 339, 619.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Zdziarski, A.A., Zycki, P.T., Svensson, R. and Boldt, E. (1993). ApJ, 405, 125.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(1995). The Origin of the X-ray and Gamma-ray Backgrounds. In: The Deep Universe. Saas-Fee Advanced Courses, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31635-3_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31635-3_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-58913-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31635-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics