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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
The sky distribution of positronium annihilation continuum emission measured with SPI/INTEGRAL
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 450, No. 3, Year 2006
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Description
We present a measurement of the sky distribution of positronium (Ps) annihilation continuum emission obtained with the SPI spectrometer on board ESA's INTEGRAL observatory. The only sky region from which significant Ps continuum emission is detected is the Galactic bulge. The Ps continuum emission is circularly symmetric about the Galactic centre, with an extension of about 8° FWHM. Within measurement uncertainties, the sky distribution of the Ps continuum emission is consistent with that found by us for the 511 keV electron-positron annihilation line using SPI. Assuming that 511 keV line and Ps continuum emission follow the same spatial distribution, we derive a Ps fraction of 0.92±0.09. These results strengthen our conclusions regarding the origin of positrons in our Galaxy based on observations of the 511 keV line. In particular, they suggest that the main source of Galactic positrons is associated with an old stellar population, such as Type Ia supernovae, classical novae, or low-mass X-ray binaries. Light dark matter is a possible alternative source of positrons. © ESO 2006.
Authors & Co-Authors
Weidenspointner, Georg
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Shrader, Chris R.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
Kn̈odlseder, Jürgen
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Jean, Pierre
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Lonjou, Vincent
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Guessoum, Nidhal
United Arab Emirates, Sharjah
American University of Sharjah
Diehl, Roland D.
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Gillard, William
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Harris, Michael J.
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Skinner, Gerald K.
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
von Ballmoos, Peter
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Vedrenne, Gilbert
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Roques, Jean Pierre
France, Toulouse
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie Irap
Schanne, Stéphane
France, Gif-sur-yvette
Cea Saclay
Sizun, P. Y.
France, Gif-sur-yvette
Cea Saclay
Teegarden, Bonnard J.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
Schönfelder, Volker
Germany, Garching Bei Munchen
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Winkler, Christoph
Netherlands, Noordwijk Aan Zee
Estec - European Space Research and Technology Centre
Statistics
Citations: 98
Authors: 18
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1051/0004-6361:20054046
ISSN:
00046361
e-ISSN:
14320746
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study