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Galactic gamma rays from the superposition of X-ray sources

Abstract

SATELLITE observations1–3 show an enhanced flux of high energy photons (>30MeV) along the galactic plane. The intensity has a broad and flat maximum extended 60° around the galactic centre. The average value of the flux in the central region is (1.1±0.3)× 10−4 photons (cm2 sr)−1 in the anticentre direction it is about a factor of five less. The energy spectrum in the range (35–210)MeV is quite flat and possibly indicates that the gamma rays arise from decay of π° mesons.

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FUSCO-FEMIANO, R. Galactic gamma rays from the superposition of X-ray sources. Nature 254, 125–126 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254125b0

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