Abstract
A BALLOON-BORNE γ-ray telescope was flown on 10–11 May 1976 from Alamogordo, New Mexico to search for celestial γ-ray lines in the energy range 100 keV–5.0 MeV. We report here evidence for a line feature from the Crab Nebula at 400±1 keV. Although the counting statistics do not allow us to make an incontestible claim, the fact that it occurs at a reasonable energy to be gravitationally redshifted positron annihilation radiation occurring at the surface of the Crab Pulsar, and in all respects seems to be a real astronomical line, has encouraged us to bring this to the attention of the astronomical community.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Walraven, G. D. et al. Astrophys. J. 202, 502 (1975).
Carpenter, G. F., Coe, M. J. & Engle, A. R. Nature 259, 99 (1976).
Jacobson, A. S. et al. Nucl. Instr. Meth. 127, 115 (1975).
Womack, E. A. & Overbeck, J. W. J. geophys. Res. 75, 1811 (1970).
Ramaty, R., Borner, G. & Cohen, J. M. Astrophys. J. 181, 891 (1973).
Ruderman, M. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 10, 427 (1972).
Borner, G. & Cohen, J. M. Astrophys. J. 185, 959 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LEVENTHAL, M., MACCALLUM, C. & WATTS, A. Possible γ-ray line from the Crab Nebula. Nature 266, 696–698 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266696a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/266696a0
This article is cited by
-
Hard X-Ray/Soft Gamma-Ray Experiments and Missions: Overview and Prospects
Space Science Reviews (2017)
-
Re-ignition of dead pulsars by passages of interstellar comets through the magnetosphere: Possible nature of cosmic gamma-ray bursts
Astrophysics and Space Science (1990)
-
Positrons in cosmic rays and the galactic gamma radiation associated with them
Astrophysics (1983)
-
Expansion of neutron star matter and its final nuclear composition
Astrophysics and Space Science (1980)
-
Search for the 1.2 MeV γ-ray line of Walraven and Haymes
Nature (1978)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
