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Stecker, F. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Stecker, F. W..

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Shaped scintillation detector systems for measurements of gamma ray flux anisotropy

The detection efficiencies of cylindrical detectors for various gamma ray photon angular distributions were studied in the energy range from .10 Mev to 15 Mev. These studies indicate that simple detector systems on small satellites can be used to measure flux anisotropy of cosmic gamma rays and the angular distribution of albedo gamma rays produced in planetary atmospheres. The results indicate that flat cylindrical detectors are most suitable for measuring flux anisotropy because of their angular response function. A general method for calculating detection efficiencies for such detectors is presented.

Trombka, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Distortion of the Microwave Blackbody Background Radiation Implied by the Baryon-symmetric Cosmology of Omnes and the Galaxy Formation Theory of Stecker and Puget

Theories on the evolution of the universe are evaluated. Particular attention was given to Omnes and Stecker and Puget theories. Data cover distortion of the microwave black body background energy distribution at red shifts between 10,000 and 1.000, and black body distortion due to antimatter and annihilation reactions.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Simple model for scanning-angle distribution of planetary albedo gamma-rays.

The planetary atmosphere is scanned from a satellite located at a point at an altitude of 500 km from the subsatellite point on the surface (the altitude of the satellite OSO-3). Results point out the possibility that by scanning a planet from the subsatellite point to the limb with a high resolution gamma ray detector on an orbiting satellite, the mean total baryonic scale height may be unfolded from the angular distribution of the gamma-ray flux without having to determine chemical composition and temperature.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Neutral-pion-decay gamma rays from the galaxy and the interstellar gas content

Knowledge of the total gamma ray production rate per H atom from the decay of pion(0) produced in interstellar cosmic ray interactions is essential for determining the possible amount of interstellar H2. This production rate is recalculated using the latest accelerator data on pion(0) production in pp interactions up to approximately 300 GeV. A simple but accurate approximation resolves the past disagreement over the magnitude of this rate. An upper limit is obtained of (1.51 + or - 0.23) x 10 to the minus 25th power/sec. consistent with the observed upper limit of 1.6 x 10 to the minus 25th power/sec.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Diffuse cosmic gamma rays - Present status of theory and observations.

Theoretical interpretations are proposed for recent positive diffuse gamma-ray flux findings with energy measurements up to the 100 MeV range. Several models of isotropic gamma ray production are considered. Diagrams are plotted to compare the observed background spectrum with (1) an electron bremsstrahlung model, (2) a two-component model involving neutral pion production and decay in cosmic-ray interactions at redshifts up to 100, and (3) a theoretical model involving matter-antimatter annihilation. New results on the diffuse flux from the galaxy are viewed as supporting the pion-decay origin hypothesis for gamma-radiation above 100 MeV.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Gamma-ray astrophysics

Conference papers on gamma ray astrophysics are summarized. Data cover the energy region from about 0.3 MeV to a few hundred GeV and theoretical models of production mechanisms that give rise to both galactic and extragalactic gamma rays.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mechanisms for production of the diffuse gamma-ray continuum radiation

Basic mechanisms involved in the production of cosmic gamma radiation are outlined. They include Compton interactions with low energy protons, bremsstrahlung interactions, cosmic ray induced neutral pion production, and matter-antimatter annihilation. Detailed data are given on diffuse continuum radiation. Comparative data results are given in tables and graphs.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A comparison of the recently observed soft gamma-ray bursts with solar bursts and the stellar super-flare hypothesis

The possibility that soft gamma ray bursts are versions of X-ray bursts typically seen in solar flares and not products of supernovae events is investigated. Results show that the bursts have longer time scales that those predicted for supernovae events. It was suggested that the bursts result from the acceleration of electron bremsstrahlung to high energies in a stellar flare event.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Distortion of the microwave blackbody background radiation implied by the baryon-symmetric cosmology of omnes and the galaxy formation theory of Stecker and Puget

Theories on the distortion of microwave black body spectrum are presented. Data suggest that continuous annihilation of matter-antimatter, during all stages of universe evolution cause distortion by thermal energy distribution at red shifts less than 10,000. Data also show distortions in the Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum are caused by energy depositions at red shifts between 10,000 and 1,000 while those in the Wien spectrum are due to energy deposition at lower red shifts after the cosmic gas cools to its atomic state and thermalization does not take place properly.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Cosmic gamma-rays from pion decay

The production of gamma rays from the decay of neutral pions produced in interstellar cosmic ray interactions was studied, limited to the total gamma ray intensity. Using the upper-limit gamma ray production, an upper-limit is obtained consistent with that obtained by Kraushaar. It is shown that whatever the shape of the gamma ray spectrum, the normalization has to be consistent with data of the total cross sections.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The ultrahigh energy photon spectrum

Results are made of a numerical calculation of the ultrahigh energy photon spectrum. After assuming that the ultrahigh energy cosmic-ray nucleons are universal, calculations are made without resorting to the previously employed delta function approximation.

Stecker, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Diffuse cosmic gamma rays: Present status of theory and observation

Positive diffuse gamma ray flux measurements now exist for energies up to the 100 MeV range. The totality of the observations in the 0.001 to 100 MeV range follow an E to the minus 2nd power trend in the differential isotropic photon spectrum but significant features appear. Possible theoretical interpretations of these features are discussed. New results on the diffuse flux from the galaxy substantiate the pion-decay origin hypothesis for gamma radiation above 100 MeV.

Stecker, F. W.↗