David L. Bertsch

The Third EGRET Catalog of High-Energy Gamma-Ray Sources

The third catalog of high-energy gamma-ray sources detected by the EGRET telescope on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory includes data from 1991 April 22 to 1995 October 3 (cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the mission). In addition to including more data than the second EGRET catalog and its supplement, this catalog uses completely reprocessed data (to correct a number of mostly minimal errors and problems). The 271 sources (E > 100 MeV) in the catalog include the single 1991 solar flare bright enough to be detected as a source, the Large Magellanic Cloud, five pulsars, one probable radio galaxy detection (Cen A), and 66 high-confidence identifications of blazars (BL Lac objects, flat-spectrum radio quasars, or unidentified flat-spectrum radio sources). In addition, 27 lower confidence potential blazar identifications are noted. Finally, the catalog contains 170 sources not yet identified firmly with known objects, although potential identifications have been suggested for a number of those. A figure is presented that gives approximate upper limits for gamma-ray sources at any point in the sky, as well as information about sources listed in the second catalog and its supplement, that do not appear in this catalog.

EGRET Detection of Pulsed Gamma Radiation from PSR B1951+32

We detected a sixth high-energy gamma-ray pulsar, PSR B1951+32, pulsating in gamma rays at E ≥ 100 MeV with the same 39.5 ms periodicity as in radio, using the data obtained during 1991 May to 1994 July by the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Although seen only as a weak source amidst the high background of galactic disk emission, the pulsation in high-energy gamma rays is clearly seen. The pulsed radiation has a photon spectral index of -1.74 ± 0.11. There is no evidence as yet for unpulsed emission from the object. The pulsar appears to have an efficiency of ~0.004 for converting its rotational energy loss into gamma rays at E ≥ 100 MeV.

High-Energy Gamma Rays from PKS 1406–076 and the Observation of Correlated Gamma-Ray and Optical Emission*

We report simultaneous observations of the optically violent variable (OVV) quasar PKS 1406-076 in the optical and gamma-ray regime. Gamma-ray emission is detected with very high significance. Both the gamma-ray and optical properties of PKS 1406-076 are typical for the group of gamma-bright active galactic nuclei detected by EGRET. During 1993 January the source was unusually bright in both frequency ranges. During this period we observed a rapid, symmetrical flare in the optical wavelength range which lasted for about 4 days. EGRET detected a similar rapid flare peaking about 22 hr after the optical outburst. Because such rapid flares are rare events, it is likely that the outbursts in the two frequency regimes are correlated. Correlated outbursts with similar profiles and a lag between the optical and gamma-ray maxima of 22 hr are inconsistent with simple versions of models suggested for the emission of high-energy radiation from blazars.

Nuclear composition and energy spectra in the 1969 April 12 solar-particle event.

Measurement of the charge composition for several of the multicharged nuclei and the energy spectra for hydrogen, helium, and medium (6 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 9) nuclei in the Apr. 12, 1969, solar-particle event. The energy/nucleon spectral shape of the medium nuclei was again the same as that of the helium nuclei, and the ratio of these two species was consistent with the present best average of 58 plus or minus 5. By combining the results obtained here with previous work, improved estimates of the Ne/O and Mg/O values of 0.16 plus or minus 0.03 and 0.056 plus or minus 0.014, respectively, were obtained. Silicon and sulfur abundances relative to O were determined to be 0.208 plus or minus 0.008 plus or minus 0.006, respectively, and 85% confidence upper limits for Ar and Ca relative to O of 0.017 and 0.010 were obtained. Previously, these last four nuclei had only been listed as a group.

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF IRON-GROUP NUCLEI IN SOLAR COSMIC RAYS.

Iron group nuclei abundance relative to oxygen determined for solar cosmic ray event of 2 September 1966

Pion decay and nuclear line emissions from the 1991 June 11 flare

We reexamined the issue of continuous acceleration vs. trapping in the 1991 June 11 flare using a much broader data set than was available previously. We consider updated EGRET spark chamber data, high energy continuum and nuclear line data from EGRET/TASC, and 2.22 MeV line data from COMPTEL covering an extended time period. We find that the data indicate the existence of at least three distinct emission phases characterized by changes in the ion spectrum during transitions from phase to phase. By combining the 2.22 MeV and 4.44 MeV line fluxes with the pion decay emission flux in the first two phases, we show that ion spectrum hardened during the transition from the first to the second phase. We derive the ion spectrum in the third phase from a detailed spectral analysis of the EGRET spark chamber data and show that this spectrum is consistent with the 2.22 MeV line‐to‐pion decay flux ratio in this phase. The ion spectrum in the third phase is softer than that in the second phase. Concerning variability...

Solar cosmic ray composition above 10 MeV/nucleon and its energy dependence in the 4 August 1972 event

Observations of the proton, helium, (C, N, O) and Fe-group nuclei fluxes made during the large 4 August 1972 solar particle event are presented. The results show a small, but significant variation of the composition of multiply-charged nuclei as a function of energy in the energy region above 10 MeV nucleon−1. In particular, the He/(C, N, O) abundance ratio varies by a factor ∼ 2 between 10 and 50 MeV nucleon−1 and the Fe-group/(C, N, O) ratio suggests a similar variation. Abundance ratios from the 4 August 1972 event are compared as a function of energy with ratios measured in other solar events to show that several of the earlier results are consistent with an energy variation like that observed in August 1972, while certain other events must have had a substantially different dependence of composition on energy. At energies ≳50 MeV nucleon−1, the He/(C, N, O) abundance ratio for August 1972 is consistent with all earlier measurements made above that energy which suggests that variations may vanish at high energies.

EGRET gamma-ray sources: GRO J0744+54 and GRO J0957+65 (= BL Lacertae object 0954+658)

EGRET detected an unidentified source, GRO J0744+54, at a significance of 6.5 sigma, during its observations from 1993 June 28 to July 12. The source was seen again in the following 2 week viewing period and was weakly evident in the earlier phase 1 of the EGRET observations. Considering the variability of its gamma-ray flux, and its location at high Galactic latitude, GRO J0744+54 is likely to be a previously undetected blazar. Its most likely identification is with the radio source 87GB 073840.5+545138. A second source, GRO J0957+65, was seen by EGRET during the same two viewing periods at a combined significance of 5.7 sigma. The most probable counterpart of GRO J0957+65 is the BL Lacertae object 0954+658. The spectra, time variability, and positions of the two sources are presented. Multiwavelength observations of 0954+658 are also presented.

Observations of medium-energy gamma-ray emission from the galactic center region

Measurements of the gamma-ray emission in the medium energy range between 15 and 100 MeV, obtained during two ballon flights from Brazil, are presented. The importance of this energy region in determining whether ..pi../sup 0/ - decay of electron bremsstrahlung is the most likely dominant source mechanism is discussed along with the implications of such observations. Specifically, the data from this experiment suggest that emission from the galactic plane is similar to theoretical spectrum calculations including both source mechanisms, but with the bremsstrahlung component enhanced by a factor of about 2. A spectral distribution of gamma-rays produced in the residual atmosphere above the instrument is also presented and compared with other data. A rather smooth spectral variation from high to low energies is found for the atmospheric spectrum.

Measurements of the iron-group abundance in energetic solar particles.

The abundance of Fe-group nuclei in the energetic solar particles was measured twice in the 24 January 1971 event and once in the 2 September 1971 event. Including earlier results from the 2 September 1966 event, the Fe-group abundance was found to be in the range from 3% to 6% of the oxygen nuclei in the energy interval from 21 to 50 MeV/nucleon, in those events where the Fe-group abundance could be measured. Fe-nuclei have a different charge-to-mass ratio from that of the C, N, O nuclei, so small variations in the Fe abundance in solar particles are expected. In the three exposures where the statistics were adequate to construct an energy spectrum, the Fe-group nuclei were seen to have an energy/nucleon spectrum similar to that of the C, N, O nuclei; however, the energy/nucleon range was limited. The abundance for the Fe-group nuclei is consistent with the present solar spectroscopic abundance estimates.