Einstein Observations of the Soft X-Ray Background Close to the Galactic Plane
Abstract
A map of the soft X-ray emission along a Galactic meridian within + or - 3 deg of the Galactic plane is presented. An excess of diffuse M-band emission is found at low latitudes which exhibits a resolved, double-peaked profile that is roughly symmetric about b = 0 deg with a half-width about 1-2 deg. The integrated intensity derived for that band for this component is roughly 3-4 times the dip in intensity expected due to absorption of the extragalactic background in the plane at these energies. Assuming that this excess is characteristic of the whole Galactic plane, model fits are performed so as to derive constraints on the scale height and volume emissivity of the X-ray emitting material. The present results are compared with those inferred from observations of the harder 2-10 keV background.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1986
- DOI:
- 10.1086/164265
- Bibcode:
- 1986ApJ...305..526K
- Keywords:
-
- Background Radiation;
- Cosmic X Rays;
- Heao 2;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- X Ray Sources;
- Astronomical Maps;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Diffuse Radiation;
- Emission Spectra;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Astrophysics;
- X-RAYS: GENERAL;
- X-RAYS: SOURCES