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The origin of the cosmic X-ray background

Nature volume 353, pages 315–320 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

A high-resolution image from the Rosat X-ray satellite reveals many faint discrete sources in the 0.1–2-keV energy range. Optical spectroscopy of these sources performed at the Anglo-Australian Telescope shows that many of them are quasars, and the inferred density of quasars on the sky contributes at least 30% of the cosmic X-ray background at 1 keV.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    T. Shanks

  2. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, LEI 7RH, UK

    I. Georgantopoulos, G. C. Stewart & K. A. Pounds

  3. Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OHA, UK

    B. J. Boyle

  4. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA

    R. E. Griffiths

Authors
  1. T. Shanks
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  2. I. Georgantopoulos
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  3. G. C. Stewart
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  4. K. A. Pounds
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  5. B. J. Boyle
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  6. R. E. Griffiths
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Shanks, T., Georgantopoulos, I., Stewart, G. et al. The origin of the cosmic X-ray background. Nature 353, 315–320 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353315a0

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