SOLRAD 11 observations of the far-ultraviolet background
Abstract
Far-ultraviolet observations from the Solrad 11 satellite have established intensities of the 1220-1500 A far-ultraviolet diffuse background of 180 and 280 photons/s/sq cm/sr/A near the north and south galactic poles, respectively. Compared with these intensities, other reported measurements range from near agreement to several times greater. This variation probably results from spurious effects on the diffuse background measurement such as airglow, energetic particles, and instrumental background. For the present measurements, however, no corrections for instrumental or atmospheric effects are required. Calculated direct starlight is a correction of about 25 percent to the total observed flux. Scattering from interstellar grains probably accounts for only a few percent of the diffuse background; estimates of the integrated background from distant galaxies and quasars indicate a contribution of about 10 percent. For the assumed case of emission by galactic halo neutrinos, an intensity upper limit of about 10,000 photons/s/sq cm/sr and a decay lifetime lower limit of 3 x 10 to the 24th s result.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1086/161012
- Bibcode:
- 1983ApJ...268..899W
- Keywords:
-
- Airglow;
- Background Radiation;
- Far Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Neutrinos;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Energetic Particles;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Radioactive Decay;
- Astronomy