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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1975

SAS-2 high-energy gamma-ray observations of the Vela pulsar

The Second Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-2) high-energy (in excess of 35 MeV) gamma-ray telescope has detected pulsed gamma-ray emission at the radio period from PSR 0833-45, the Vela pulsar, as well as an unpulsed flux from the Vela region. The pulsed emission consists of two peaks following the single radio peak by about 13 ms and 48 ms. The luminosity of the pulsed emission above 100 MeV from Vela is about 0.1 that of the pulsar NP 0532 in the Crab nebula, whereas the pulsed emission from Vela at optical wavelengths is less than 0.0002 that from the Crab. The relatively high intensity of the pulsed gamma-ray emission, and the double peak structure, compared with the single pulse in the radio emission, suggest that the high-energy gamma-ray pulsar emission may be produced under different conditions from those at lower energies.

Thompson, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations of low energy gamma-ray bursts with SAS-2

The present paper reports on the low-energy gamma-ray bursts observed by the plastic scintillator anticoincidence dome of the Small Astronomy Satellite-2 (SAS-2) gamma-ray telescope. SAS-2 detected two events observed by other satellites and discovered one which was subsequently confirmed by other satellite observations. Two events seen by other satellites were not detected by SAS-2, probably due to earth occultation. The event detection threshold for SAS-2 was almost two orders of magnitude lower than that of the Vela satellites.

Oegelman, H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Apollo 17 mission Report. Supplement 6: Calibration results for gamma ray spectrometer sodium iodide crystal

A major difficulty in medium energy gamma-ray remote sensing spectroscopy and astronomy measurements was the high rate of unwanted background resulting from the following major sources: (1) prompt secondary gamma-rays produced by cosmic-ray interactions in satellite materials; (2) direct charged-particle counts; (3) radioactivity induced in the detector materials by cosmic-ray and trapped protons; (4) radioactivity induced in detector materials by the planetary (e.g., earth or moon) albedo neutron flux; (5) radioactivity induced in the detector materials by the interaction of secondary neutrons produced throughout the spacecraft by cosmic-ray and trapped proton interactions; (6) radioactivity induced in spacecraft materials by the mechanisms outlined in 3, 4, and 5; and (7) natural radioactivity in spacecraft and detector materials. The purpose of this experiment was to obtain information on effects 3, 4, and 5, and from this information start developing calculational methods for predicting the background induced in the crystal detector in order to correct the Apollo gamma-ray spectrometer data for this interference.

Dyer, C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

SAS-2 observations of the diffuse gamma radiation in the galactic latitude interval from 10 to 90 deg in both hemispheres

An analysis of all the second Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-2) gamma-ray data for galactic latitudes higher than 10 deg in both hemispheres has shown that the intensity varies with galactic latitude, being larger near 10 deg than 90 deg. For energies above 100 MeV the gamma-ray data are consistent with a latitude distribution of the form I(b) = C1 + C2/sin b, with the second term being dominant. This result suggests that the radiation above 100 MeV is coming largely from local regions of the galactic disk. Between 35 and 100 MeV, a similar equation is also a good representation of the data, but here the two terms are comparable. These results indicate that the diffuse radiation above 35 MeV consists of two parts, one with a relatively hard galactic component and the other an isotropic steep spectral component which extrapolates back well to the low-energy (less than 10 MeV) diffuse radiation. The steepness of the diffuse isotropic component places significant constraints on possible theoretical models of this radiation.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The muon content of gamma-ray showers

The result of a calculation of the expected number of muons in gamma ray initiated and cosmic ray initiated air showers using a realistic model of hadronic collisions in an effort to understand the available experimental results and to assess the feasibility of using the muon content of showers as a veto to reject cosmic ray initiated showers in ultra-high energy gamma ray astronomy are reported. The possibility of observing very-high energy gamma-ray sources by detecting narrow angle anisotropies in the high energy muon background radiation are considered.

Edwards, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Observation of celestial high energy gamma rays from SAS-II

The Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS)-II, launched on Nov. 15, 1973, carried into orbit a 32-deck magnetic-core digitized-spark-chamber gamma-ray telescope to study celestial gamma radiation in the energy range above 30 MeV. As of May 21, 1973, SAS-II had viewed approximately half the sky, including the galactic center region, the galactic anti-center, and several regions off the galactic plane, and about one-third of the data from eight weeks of viewing has been analyzed. A finite diffuse flux for regions with galactic latitudes greater than 20 deg has been detected with a very steep energy spectrum. Combining this result with low-energy gamma-ray data yields a picture suggesting a cosmological origin for this radiation.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Infrared astronomy and high energy astrophysics

Observations of the diffuse far-infrared flux from the galactic plane, as well as far-infrared measurements of the properties of dense molecular clouds, when combined with recent high-energy gamma-ray measurements and radio observations of carbon monoxide, yield information about the total mass of molecular clouds, the large-scale structure of the inner galaxy, and the density of cosmic rays.

Fazio, G. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The high energy astronomy observatories

The forthcoming NASA project of orbiting High Energy Astronomy Observatories (HEAO's) designed to probe the universe by tracing celestial radiations and particles is outlined. Solutions to engineering problems concerning HEAO's which are integrated, yet built to function independently are discussed, including the onboard digital processor, mirror assembly and the thermal shield. The principle of maximal efficiency with minimal cost and the potential capability of the project to provide explanations to black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts are also stressed. The first satellite is scheduled for launch in April 1977.

Neighbors, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Instrumentation for the measurement of high energy phenomena on NASA spacecraft.

High energy astrophysical observations will be conducted primarily from the Small Astronomy Satellites (SAS) and the High Energy Astronomy Observatories (HEAO). The first satellite (SAS A) will carry a set of collimated proportional counters to conduct a high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, all sky survey for X-ray sources. The objective of SAS B will be to search for celestial gamma-ray sources and regions and to measure the flux and energy spectrum of any sources located. A wire grid digitized spark chamber will be the prime detection instrument. The instrumentation of SAS C will consist of modulation collimators, slot collimators, and proportional counters.

Opp, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The High Energy Astronomical Observatory.

The High Energy Astronomical Observatory (HEAO) is an earth satellite platform designed specifically around the very large and heavy instruments now required to make a significant advance in high-energy astrophysics. This new field of astronomy includes X-ray, gamma-ray, and cosmic-ray studies. The state of knowledge in high-energy astrophysics is discussed, giving attention to X rays, gamma rays, the diffuse component, emission mechanisms, and particle astrophysics. The observational objectives of the HEAO are considered together with the HEAO configuration and the experiments under study for the first HEAO, the HEAO-B, and the HEAO-C. HEAO-A is to be placed in orbit in 1975.-

Peterson, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Gamma ray astronomy

The various source mechanisms for celestial gamma rays are reviewed. The gamma-ray data are examined as a source of information about the processes and source locations for the production of charged particle cosmic rays, galactic structure, explosive nucleosynthesis in supernovae, regions of confinement for cosmic rays, regions where matter-antimatter annihilation occurs, and the general condition in cosmological space both in the past and present. Topics include gamma rays from pi mesons by nuclear interactions, nuclear and supernovae lines, diffuse emission and discrete sources, interstellar absorption and detection of gamma rays, and others. A brief view of the available gamma-ray detection systems and techniques is presented.

Fichtel, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

SAS-2 observations of celestial diffuse gamma radiation above 30 MeV

The small astronomy satellite, SAS-2, used a 32-deck magnetic core digitized spark chamber to study gamma rays with energies above 30 MeV. Data for four regions of the sky away from the galactic plane were analyzed. These regions show a finite, diffuse flux of gamma rays with a steep energy spectrum, and the flux is uniform over all the regions. Represented by a power law, the differential energy spectrum shows an index of 2.5 + or - 0.4. The steep SAS-2 spectrum and the lower energy data are reasonably consistent with a neutral pion gamma-ray spectrum which was red-shifted (such as that proposed by some cosmological theories). It is concluded that the diffuse celestial gamma ray spectrum observed presents the possibility of cosmological studies and possible evidence for a residual cosmic ray density, and supports the galactic superclusters of matter and antimatter remaining from baryon-symmetric big bang.

Thompson, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Neutron and proton activation measurements from Skylab

Radioactivity induced by high-energy protons and secondary neutrons (from nuclear interactions) in various samples returned from different locations in Skylab was measured directly by gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements of decay gamma rays from the samples. Incident fluxes were derived from the activation measurements, using known nuclear cross-section. Neutron and proton flux values were found to range from 0.2 to 5 particles/sq cm-sec, depending on the energy range and location in Skylab. The thermal neutron flux was less than 0.07 neutrons/sq cm-sec. The results are useful for data analysis and planning of future high-energy astronomy experiments.

Fishman, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Instrumental technique in X-ray astronomy

A detailed review of the development of instruments for X-ray astronomy is given with major emphasis on nonfocusing high-sensitivity counter techniques used to detect cosmic photons in the energy range between 0.20 and 300 keV. The present status of X-ray astronomy is summarized together with significant results of the Uhuru observations, and photon interactions of importance for the detection of X-rays in space are noted. The three principal devices used in X-ray astronomy (proportional, scintillation, and solid-state counters) are described in detail, data-processing systems for these devices are briefly discussed, and the statistics of nuclear counting as applied to X-ray astronomy is outlined analytically. Effects of the near-earth X-ray environment and atmospheric gamma-ray production on X-ray detection by low-orbit satellites are considered. Several contemporary instruments are described (proportional-counter systems, scintillation-counter telescopes, modulation collimators), and X-ray astronomical satellite missions are tabulated.

Peterson, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gamma rays and large scale galactic structure

Gamma ray astronomy is now beginning to provide a new look at the galactic structure and the distribution of cosmic rays, both electrons and nucleons, within the galaxy. The observations are consistent with a galactic spiral-arm model in which the cosmic rays are linearly coupled to the interstellar gas on the scale of the spiral arms. The agreement between the predictions of the model and the observations for regions of the plane where both 21-cm and 2.6-mm CO surveys exist emphasizes the need to extend these observations to include the entire plane. Future gamma-ray observations with more sensitivity and better angular resolutions, combined with these radio surveys, should shed new light on the distribution of cosmic rays, the nature of the galaxy, and the location and intensity of the spiral arms.

Kniffen, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Apollo-Soyuz pamphlet no. 2: X-rays, gamma-rays

The nature of high energy radiation and its penetration through earth's atmosphere is examined with emphasis on X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic radiation and the instruments used in their detection. The history of radio astronomy and the capabilities of the Uhuru satellite are summarized. The ASTP soft X-ray experiment (MA-048) designed to study the spectra in the range from 0.1 to 10 keV and survey the background over a large section of the sky is described, as well as the determination of SMC C-1 as an X-ray pulsar. The crystal activation experiment (MA-151) used to measure the radioactive isotopes created by cosmic rays in crystals used for gamma ray detectors is also discussed.

Page, L. W.↗