1,721,192 research outputs found
Gamma rays from halos around stars and the sun
No full textInverse Compton (IC) scattering by relativistic electrons produces a major component of the diffuse emission from the Galaxy. The photon fields involved are the cosmic microwave background and the interstellar radiation field (ISRF) from stars and dust. Calculations of the inverse Compton distribution have usually assumed a smooth ISRF, but in fact a large part of the Galactic luminosity comes from the most luminous stars, which are rare. Therefore we expect the ISRF, and hence the inverse Compton emission, to be clumpy at some level, which could be detectable by instruments such as GLAST. Even individual nearby luminous stars could be detectable assuming just the normal cosmic-ray electron spectrum. We present the basic formalism required and give possible candidate stars to be detected and make predictions for GLAST. Then we apply the formalism to the OB associations and the Sun, showing that the IC emission produced is not negligible compared to the sensitivity of current or coming detectors. We estimate that the gamma-ray flux from the halo around the Sun contributes to the diffuse background emission at the few percent level
Gamma-ray emission from the solar halo and disk: a study with EGRET data
No full textContext. The Sun has recently been predicted to be an extended source of gamma-ray emission, produced by inverse-Compton (IC) scattering of cosmic-ray (CR) electrons on the solar radiation field. The emission was predicted to be extended and a confusing foreground for the diffuse extragalactic background even at large angular distances from the Sun. The solar disk is also expected to be a steady gamma-ray source. While these emissions are expected to be readily detectable in the future by GLAST, the situation for available EGRET data is more challenging. Aims. The theory of gamma-ray emission from IC scattering on the solar radiation field by Galactic CR electrons is given in detail. This is used as the basis for detection and model verification using EGRET data. Methods. We present a detailed study of the solar emission using the EGRET database, accounting for the effect of the emission from 3C 279, the moon, and other sources, which interfere with the solar emission. The analysis was performed for 2 energy ranges, above 300 MeV and for 100-300 MeV, as well as for the combination to improve the detection statistics. The technique was tested on the moon signal, with our results consistent with previous work. Results. Analyzing the EGRET database, we find evidence of emission from the solar disk and its halo. The observations are compared with our model for the extended emission. The spectrum of the solar disk emission and the spectrum of the extended emission have been obtained. The spectrum of the moon is also given. Conclusions. The observed intensity distribution and the flux are consistent with the predicted model of IC gamma-rays from the halo around the Sun
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Fermi Large Area Telescope Observations of the gamma-ray emission from the Quiescent Sun
No full textThe high energy gamma-ray emission from the Sun is due to the interactions of cosmic ray (CR) protons and electrons with matter and photons in the solar environment. Such interactions lead to two component gamma-ray emission: a disk-like emission due to the nuclear interactions of CR protons and nuclei in the solar atmosphere and a space extended emission due to the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons off solar photons in the whole heliosphere. The observation of these two solar emission components may give useful information about the evolution of the solar cycle by probing two different CR components (proton and electrons) in regions not directly accessible by direct observations. We present the results of the observations of the Sun with Fermi-LAT in the first 7 years on orbit, with the exception of the flaring periods. Significantly large photon statistics and improved processing performance allow us to explore both components of the emission in greater details and perform better comparisons of data with current models of the IC component. This allows us to probe CR electrons in the inner heliosphere which is not possible by other methods. Moreover, the longer period of observations allows us to study the variations of the emission between the maximum and the minimum of the solar cycle
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Observations of the gamma-ray emission from the Quiescent Sun with Fermi Large Area Telescope during the first 7 years in orbit
Full text linkThe high energy gamma-ray emission from the quiescent Sun is due to the interactions of cosmic ray (CR) protons and electrons with matter and photons in the solar environment. Such interactions lead to two component gamma-ray emission: a disk-like emission due to the nuclear interactions of CR protons and nuclei in the solar atmosphere and a space extended emission due to the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons off solar photons in the whole heliosphere. The observation of these two solar emission components may give useful information about the evolution of the solar cycle by probing two different CR components (proton and electrons) in regions not directly accessible by direct observations. We present the results of the observations of the Sun with Fermi-LAT in the first 7 years on orbit, with the exception of the flaring periods. Significantly large photon statistics and improved processing performance with respect to previous analysis allow us to explore both components of the emission in greater details and perform better comparisons of data with current models of the IC component. This allows us to probe CR electrons in the inner heliosphere which is not possible by other methods. Moreover, the longer period of observations allows us to study the variations of the emission between the maximum and the minimum of the solar cycle
The interstellar cosmic-ray electron spectrum from synchrotron radiation and direct measurements
No full textAims. We exploit synchrotron radiation to constrain the low-energy interstellar electron spectrum, using various radio surveys and connecting with electron data from Fermi-LAT and other experiments. Methods. The GALPROP programme for cosmic-ray propagation, gamma-ray and synchrotron radiation is used. Secondary electrons and positrons are included. Propagation models based on cosmic-ray and gamma-ray data are tested against synchrotron data from 22 MHz to 94 GHz. Results. The synchrotron data confirm the need for a low-energy break in the cosmic-ray electron injection spectrum. The interstellar spectrum below a few GeV has to be lower than standard models predict, and this suggests less solar modulation than usually assumed. Reacceleration models are more difficult to reconcile with the synchrotron constraints. We show that secondary leptons are important for the interpretation of synchrotron emission. We also consider a cosmic-ray propagation origin for the low-energy break. Conclusions. Exploiting the complementary information on cosmic rays and synchrotron gives unique and essential constraints on electrons, and has implications for gamma rays. This connection is especially relevant now in view of the ongoing Planck and Fermi missions
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