Equilibrium spectra of secondary cosmic-ray positrons in the Galaxy and the spectrum of cosmic gamma-rays resulting from their annihilation.
Annihilation gamma ray spectra from equilibrium spectra of secondary galactic positrons
Stecker, F. W.↗
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A latitude-dependent analysis of the leptonic hypothesis for the Fermi Bubbles
The Fermi Bubbles are giant Galactic structures observed in both gamma-rays and microwaves. Recent studies have found support for the hypothesis that the gamma-ray and microwave emission can both be understood as arising from a hard cosmic ray electron population within the volume of the Bubbles, via inverse Compton scattering and synchrotron radiation, respectively. The relative rates of these processes are set by the relative energy density of the interstellar radiation field and the magnetic field within the Bubbles; consequently, under the hypothesis of a common origin, the combination of the gamma-ray and microwave measurements can be used to estimate the magnetic field within the Bubbles. We revisit the consistency of this hypothesis on a latitude-by-latitude basis, using data from Fermi, WMAP and Planck; estimate the variation of the electron spectrum within the Bubbles; and infer bounds on the magnetic field within the Bubbles as a function of distance from the Galactic plane. We find that while the microwave and gamma-ray spectra are generally consistent with the leptonic hypothesis for few-microGauss magnetic fields, there appears to be a preference for spectral hardening in the microwaves at mid-latitudes (especially in the $|b|$ ~ 25°–35° range) that is not mirrored in the gamma-rays. This result may hint at a non-leptonic contribution to the gamma-ray spectra; however, the discrepancy can be reconciled in purely leptonic models if the cut-off energy for the electrons is lower in this latitude range and the spectrum below the cut-off is harder.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Analysis of Gamma-Ray Data from Solar Flares in Cycles 21 and 22
One of our primary accomplishments under grant NAGW-35381 was the systematic derivation and compilation, for the first time, of physical parameters for all gamma-ray flares detected by the SMM GRS during its ten year lifetime. The flare parameters derived from the gamma-ray spectra include: bremsstrahlung fluence and best-fit power-law parameters, narrow nuclear line fluence, positron annihilation line fluence, neutron capture line fluence, and an indication of whether or not greater than 10 MeV emissions were present. We combined this compilation of flare parameters with our plots of counting rate time histories and flare spectra to construct an atlas of gamma-ray flare characteristics. The atlas time histories display four energy bands: 56-199 kev, 298526 keV, 4-8 MeV, and 10-25 MeV. These energy bands respectively measure nonrelativistic bremsstrahlung, trans-relativistic bremsstrahlung, nuclear de-excitation, and ultra-relativistic bremsstrahlung. The atlas spectra show the integrated high-energy spectra measured for all GRS flares and dissects them into electron bremsstrahlung, positron annihilation and nuclear emission components. The atlas has been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplements and is currently in press. The atlas materials were also supplied to the Solar Data Analysis Center at Goddard Space Flight Center and were made available through a web site at the University of New Hampshire. Since a uniform methodology was adopted for deriving the flare parameters, this atlas will be very useful for future statistical and correlative studies of solar flares-three independent groups are presently using it to correlate interplanetary energetic particle measurements with our gamma-ray measurements. A better model for the response of the GRS instrument to high energy radiation was also developed. A refined response model was needed because the old model was not adequate for predicting the first and second escape peaks associated with strong nuclear lines nor could it accurately describe the Compton continuum shape. The new response was developed using a GEANT based simulation code and tested against preflight calibration data. The refinement of the response model and the removal of systematic errors now allow more detailed spectral studies of the GRS gamma-ray measurements. This refined response function was supplied to the Solar DAC at Goddard and was also made available via a web site at the University of New Hampshire.
Vestrand, W. Thomas↗
( Fermi Fermi)/LAT study of gamma-ray emission in the direction of the Monoceros Loop supernova remnant
We present an analysis of the gamma-ray measurements by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in the region of the supernova remnant (SNR) Monoceros Loop (G205.5+0.5). The brightest gamma-ray peak is spatially correlated with the Rosette Nebula, which is a molecular cloud complex adjacent to the southeast edge of the SNR. After subtraction of this emission by spatial modeling, the gamma-ray emission from the SNR emerges, which is extended and fit by a Gaussian spatial template. The gamma-ray spectra are significantly better reproduced by a curved shape than a simple power law. The luminosities between 0.2 and 300 GeV are ∼4×10{sup 34} erg s{sup −1} for the SNR and ∼3×10{sup 34} erg s{sup −1} for the Rosette Nebula, respectively. We argue that the gamma-rays likely originate from the interactions of particles accelerated in the SNR. The decay of neutral pions produced in nucleon–nucleon interactions of accelerated hadrons with interstellar gas provides a reasonable explanation for the gamma-ray emission of both the Rosette Nebula and the Monoceros SNR.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Evidence for GeV cosmic rays from white dwarfs in the local cosmic ray spectra and in the gamma-ray emissivity of the inner Galaxy
Here, recent observations found that electrons are accelerated to ~10 GeV and emit synchrotron hard X-rays in two magnetic white dwarfs (WDs), also known as cataclysmic variables (CVs). In nova outbursts of WDs, multi-GeV gamma-rays were detected, implying that protons are accelerated to 100 GeV or higher. In recent optical surveys, the WD density is found to be higher near the Sun than in the Galactic disk by a factor ~2.5. The cosmic rays (CRs) produced by local CVs and novae will accumulate in the local bubble for 10 6 –10 7 yr. On these findings, we search for CRs from historic CVs and novae in the observed CR spectra. We model the CR spectra at the heliopause as sums of Galactic and local components based on observational data as much as possible. The initial Galactic CR electron and proton spectra are deduced from the gamma-ray emissivity, the local electron spectrum from the hard X-ray spectra at the CVs, and the local proton spectrum from gamma-ray spectra at novae. These spectral shapes are then expressed in a simple set of polynomial functions of CR energy and regressively fitted until the high-energy (>100 GeV) CR spectra near Earth and the Voyager-1 spectra at the heliopause are reproduced. We then extend the modeling to nuclear CR spectra and find that one spectral shape fits all local nuclear CRs, and that the apparent hardening of the nuclear CR spectra is caused by the roll-down of local nuclear spectra around 100–200 GeV. All local CR spectra populate a limited energy band below 100–200 GeV and enhance gamma-ray emissivity below ~10 GeV. Such an enhancement is observed in the inner Galaxy, suggesting the CR fluxes from CVs and novae are substantially higher there.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Prototype for Unclassified Algorithm
Continuing previous efforts to investigate and develop the Unclassified Radioisotope Algorithm, the goal of the FY19-FY20 effort was to develop a prototype detector system which uses the algorithm to confirm warhead attributes related to the presence of either weapons grade plutonium (WGPu) or highly enriched uranium (HEU). The final deliverable is a prototype attribute measurement system built with common, commercially available gamma radiation detector components, capable of confirming the presence of specific, complex radioactive sources of interest, without the collection and storage of gamma energy spectra. This is accomplished by processing each gamma pulse as it is received, applying weight values based on the energy and incrementing or decrementing scalar counters which can be compared with expected values to determine if the measured source is consistent with WGPu or HEU. This report documents the design of the prototype system as well as the development of the algorithm and performance testing results. While the previously conceptualized, simple algorithm resulted in a prohibitive amount of false positives, the goal for a simple attribute measurement system capable of verifying Ba-133 and Ra-226 (weapons grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium surrogate testing sources) at over 95% accuracy with sub 5% false positive rate was demonstrated.
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
Electron spin resonance of gamma-irradiated single crystals of 9-methyladenine.
Electron spin resonance spectra of gamma irradiated single crystals of 9-methyladenine, analyzing H abstraction radical and temperature effects
Schmidt, J.↗
NaI Measurements of Plutonium & Other Sources with the INL Coin
This report is a presentation for the NEOD training course at SNL. Its purpose is to summarize the effects of the INL coin on gamma ray spectra for 60 Co, 137 Cs, and plutonium. Spectra recorded with and without the INL Coin illustrate how transmission plays a role in the dose-ratio factors written on the coin.
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
Guide for Employing High-Resolution Gamma Spectroscopy for 252Cf Source Age and Isotopic Composition
Californium-252 is commonly used as a calibration source for neutron coincidence and neutron multiplicity counting in nuclear safeguards. Accurate knowledge of the neutron emission rate, age, and isotopics of the source (i.e., “source term”) are important for ensuring the best possible accuracies in item assay results. Californium-252 sources are not usually measured using gamma spectrometry, because of the assumption that their gamma-ray spectra appear to provide little information. However, gamma-ray signatures produced from 252Cf spontaneous fission products and odd-numbered Cf isotopes can be useful in determining source age and Cf isotopic composition. We demonstrate the utility of high-resolution gamma spectrometry in determining the age and isotopics of Cf neutron sources. In this work, five 252Cf sources were measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The neutron flux was small enough that radiation damage from prolonged neutron exposure was not substantial. Spectra were collected in 2-hour increments for 42–48 hours for quality control. The 2-hour spectra were added together to create a single spectrum for each source, and peak analyses were performed. Source ages were determined using a method that involved experimentally measuring the ratio of the gamma-ray emission rate of the 661.657 keV from 137Cs relative to a short-lived fission product and exploiting the dependence of this ratio on the source age. Source age was solved for using emission rates from four different gamma lines from four short-lived spontaneous fission products. Analysis results from all four fission products returned statistically similar source ages, but two had uncertainties greater than 25% because of high spontaneous fission product yield uncertainties as nominally high as 63%. Choosing short-lived fission products with small yield uncertainties is most important for accurately calculating source age. Additionally, the calculated ages did not always match the time since 248Cm separation well, which is often assumed to be the source age on the technical data sheet provided by the manufacturer. Activity ratios of 249Cf to 251Cf, the only Cf gamma emitters present in a 252Cf source, also did not match between experimental data and data on the technical data sheet provided by the vendor. It is thus recommended that newly purchased Cf sources be examined using gamma spectrometry to determine the source age and confirm isotopic composition of a 252Cf calibration source.
Watson, Mara M.↗
Energy spectra of cosmic gamma-ray bursts
Spectral measurements of six cosmic gamma-ray bursts in the energy region of 0.1 to 1.2 MeV, made using a semi-omnidirectional X-ray detector on IMP-6 are reported. These measurements confirm the hard X-ray or gamma-ray nature of the bursts, as inferred from the original observations by Klebesadel et al., (1973), and show that their maximum energy release is in this several hundred keV region. Each burst consists of several 1 or 2-second pulses each with the characteristic spectrum of approximately 150-keV exponential, followed by a softer decay. There is no evidence of line structure in this energy region, or for a marked change in the energy spectrum within a given pulse. Event size spectra are estimated for galactic and extragalactic models; the total emission is consistent with present measurements of the diffuse background, and unlikely to account for any spectral feature in the few-MeV region.
Cline, T. L.↗
MODELING THE GAMMA-RAY EMISSION IN THE GALACTIC CENTER WITH A FADING COSMIC-RAY ACCELERATOR
Recent HESS observations of the ∼200 pc scale diffuse gamma-ray emission from the central molecular zone (CMZ) suggest the presence of a PeV cosmic-ray accelerator (PeVatron) located in the inner 10 pc region of the Galactic center. Interestingly, the gamma-ray spectrum of the point-like source (HESS J1745-290) in the Galactic center shows a cutoff at ∼10 TeV, implying a cutoff around 100 TeV in the cosmic-ray proton spectrum. Here we propose that the gamma-ray emission from the inner and the outer regions may be explained self-consistently by run-away protons from a single yet fading accelerator. In this model, gamma-rays from the CMZ region are produced by protons injected in the past, while gamma-rays from the inner region are produced by protons injected more recently. We suggest that the blast wave formed in a tidal disruption event (TDE) caused by the supermassive black hole (Sgr A*) could serve as such a fading accelerator. With typical parameters of the TDE blast wave, gamma-ray spectra of both the CMZ region and HESS J1745-290 can be reproduced simultaneously. Meanwhile, we find that the cosmic-ray energy density profile in the CMZ region may also be reproduced in the fading accelerator model when appropriate combinations of the particle injection history and the diffusion coefficient of cosmic rays are adopted.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
A spectrometer for ultrashort gamma-ray pulses with photon energies greater than 10 MeV
Herein we present a design for a pixelated scintillator based gamma-ray spectrometer for non-linear inverse Compton scattering experiments. By colliding a laser wakefield accelerated electron beam with a tightly focused, intense laser pulse, gamma-ray photons up to 100 MeV energies and with few femtosecond duration may be produced. To measure the energy spectrum and angular distribution, a 33 × 47 array of cesium-iodide crystals was oriented such that the 47 crystal length axis was parallel to the gamma-ray beam and the 33 crystal length axis was oriented in the vertical direction. Using an iterative deconvolution method similar to the YOGI code, modeling of the scintillator response using GEANT4 and fitting to a quantum Monte Carlo calculated photon spectrum, we are able to extract the gamma ray spectra generated by the inverse Compton interaction.
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
Hazma: a python toolkit for studying indirect detection of sub-GeV dark matter
With several proposed MeV gamma-ray telescopes on the horizon, it is of paramount importance to perform accurate calculations of gamma-ray spectra expected from sub-GeV dark matter annihilation and decay. We present hazma, a python package for reliably computing these spectra, determining the resulting constraints from existing gamma-ray data, and prospects for upcoming telescopes. For high-level analyses, hazma comes with several built-in dark matter models where the interactions between dark matter and hadrons have been determined in detail using chiral perturbation theory. Additionally, hazma provides tools for computing spectra from individual final states with arbitrary numbers of light leptons and mesons, and for analyzing custom dark matter models. hazma can also produce electron and positron spectra from dark matter annihilation, enabling precise derivation of constraints from the cosmic microwave background
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Constraining calculations of Pu 239 ( n , γ ) cross sections with multistep cascade γ -ray spectra measured at the DANCE facility
Measurements of multistep cascade gamma-ray spectra from several low-lying 1 + resonances in the Pu 239 ( n , γ ) reaction were made using the DANCE detector. The measured spectra are compared to spectra simulated using several models for the photon strength function and the nuclear level density, representing the first analysis of this nature on a fissile nucleus. In general, models of the photon strength function that included a strong M 1 “scissors mode” contribution coupled with a Gilbert-Cameron nuclear level density provided a reasonable description of the spectra. Simulations using photon strength functions and nuclear level densities specifically for Pu 240 , extracted by the Oslo method, resulted in a very good representation of the measured spectra. Neutron-capture cross section calculations that included the scissors mode provided a good estimate of the previously measured values, without additional normalization. However, the scissors-mode energy that produced the best description of the multistep cascade spectra was different from the value that best reproduced the capture cross section. In addition, the 〈 Γ γ 〉 inferred from the multistep cascade calculations was somewhat less than the tabulated value, which was determined from resonance analysis. Published by the American Physical Society 2025
Ullmann, J. L. (ORCID:0000000207784405)↗
Hazma meets HERWIG4DM: precision gamma-ray, neutrino, and positron spectra for light dark matter
Herein we present a new open-source package, Hazma 2, that computes accurate spectra relevant for indirect dark matter searches for photon, neutrino, and positron production from vector-mediated dark matter annihilation and for spin-one dark matter decay. The tool bridges across the regimes of validity of two state of the art codes: Hazma 1, which provides an accurate description below hadronic resonances up to center-of-mass energies around 250 MeV, and Herwig4DM, which is based on vector meson dominance and measured form factors, and accurate well into the few GeV range. The applicability of the combined code extends to approximately 1.5 GeV, above which the number of final state hadrons off of which we individually compute the photon, neutrino, and positron yield grows exceedingly rapidly. We provide example branching ratios, particle spectra and conservative observational constraints from existing gamma-ray data for the well-motivated cases of decaying dark photon dark matter and vector-mediated fermionic dark matter annihilation. Finally, we compare our results to other existing codes at the boundaries of their respective ranges of applicability. Hazma 2 is freely available on GitHub athttps://github.com/LoganAMorrison/Hazma.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Probing the birth of post-merger millisecond magnetars with X-ray and gamma-ray emission
There is growing evidence that a stable magnetar could be formed from the coalescence of double neutron stars. In previous papers, we investigated the signature of formation of stable millisecond magnetars in radio and optical/ultraviolet bands by assuming that the central rapidly rotating magnetar deposits its rotational energy in the form of a relativistic leptonized wind. We found that the optical transient PTF11agg could be the first evidence for the formation of post-merger millisecond magnetars. To enhance the probability of finding more evidence for the post-merger magnetar formation, it is better to extend the observational channel to other photon energy bands. In this paper, we propose to search the signature of post-merger magnetar formation in X-ray and especially gamma-ray bands. We calculate the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission of the reverse shock powered by post-merger millisecond magnetars. We find that the SSC component peaks at 1 GeV in the spectral energy distribution and extends to ≳10 TeV for typical parameters. These energy bands are quite suitable for Fermi Large Area Telescope and Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), which, with their current observational sensitivities, can detect the SSC emission powered by post-merger magnetars up to 1 Gpc. NuSTAR, which is sensitive in X-ray bands, can detect the formation of post-merger millisecond magnetars at redshift z∼1. Future improvements in the sensitivity of CTA can also allow us to probe the birth of post-merger millisecond magnetars at redshift z∼1. However, because of the γ−γ collisions, strong high-energy emission is clearly predicted only for ejecta masses lower than 10{sup −3} M{sub ⊙}.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Light curve and SED modeling of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856: Constraints on the orbital geometry and relativistic flow
We present broadband spectral energy distributions and light curves of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856 measured in the X-ray and the gamma-ray bands. We find that the orbital modulation in the low-energy gamma-ray band is similar to that in the X-ray band, suggesting a common spectral component. However, above a GeV the orbital light curve changes significantly. We suggest that the GeV band contains significant flux from a pulsar magnetosphere, while the X-ray to TeV light curves are dominated by synchrotron and Compton emission from an intrabinary shock (IBS). We find that a simple one-zone model is inadequate to explain the IBS emission, but that beamed Synchrotron-self Compton radiation from adiabatically accelerated plasma in the shocked pulsar wind can reproduce the complex multiband light curves, including the variable X-ray spike coincident with the gamma-ray maximum. Furthermore, the model requires an inclination of ~50° and an orbital eccentricity of ~0.35, consistent with the limited constraints from existing optical observations. This picture motivates searches for pulsations from the energetic young pulsar powering the wind shock.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
A New Approach to the GeV Flare of PSR B1259-63/LS2883
PSR B1259-63/LS2883 is a binary system composed of a pulsar and a Be star. The Be star has an equatorial circumstellar disk (CD). The Fermi satellite discovered unexpected gamma-ray flares around 30 days after the last two periastron passages. The origin of the flares remains puzzling. In this work, we explore the possibility that the GeV flares are consequences of inverse Compton scattering of soft photons by the pulsar wind. The soft photons are from an accretion disk around the pulsar, which is composed of the matter from the CD captured by the pulsar’s gravity at disk-crossing before the periastron. At the other disk-crossing after the periastron, the density of the CD is not high enough, so accretion is prevented by the pulsar wind shock. This model can reproduce the observed spectrum energy distributions and light curves satisfactorily.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗