Observation of High-Energy Gamma Rays from the Quasi-stellar Object CTA 102
Abstract
The quasar CTA 102 (QSO 2230+114) was observed 4 times in 1991-1992 by the EGRET high-energy gamma-ray telescope on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory satellite. In the 1992 January 23-February 6 observation, emission was detected at the level (2.4 +/- 0.5) x 10^-7^ photons cm^-2^ s^-1^ (E > 100 MeV). The other observations produced upper limits or detections with lower significance which are consistent with the same flux. The photon spectrum can be represented by a power law with a number index of 2.6 +/- 0.2, the softest so far observed by EGRET. The emitted gamma-ray luminosity, if isotropic, is 5 x 10^47^ ergs s^-1^ (H_0_=75 km s^-1^ Mpc^-1^,q_0_ = 0.5), although there are good reasons to believe that the gamma emission is strongly beamed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/173058
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...414...82N
- Keywords:
-
- Blazars;
- Gamma Ray Telescopes;
- High Energy Interactions;
- Quasars;
- Red Shift;
- Gamma Ray Observatory;
- Linear Polarization;
- Very Large Array (Vla);
- Astrophysics;
- GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS;
- GALAXIES: QUASARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: CTA 102