Energetic neutrons and gamma rays measured on the Aryabhata satellite |
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Authors: | S V Damle R R Daniel P J Lavakare |
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Institution: | (1) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 400005 Bombay;(2) Present address: Department of Electronics, Vigyan Bhavan Annexe, 110011 New Delhi |
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Abstract: | An experiment to measure energetic neutrons and gamma rays in space was launched in the first Indian scientific satellite,Aryobhata, on April 19, 1975. From this experiment, the first measurements in space of the Earth’s albedo fiux of neutrons of energy
between 20 and 500 MeV have been made; the values obtained for two mean geomagnetic vertical cut-off rigidities of 5.6 and
17.0 GV are (6.3±0.4)×10−2 and (1.4±0.3)×10−2 neutrons cm−2 sec−1 respectively. These measurements confirm that protons arising from cosmic ray albedo neutron decay, can adequately account
for the protons in the inner radiation belt. Observations on gamma rays of energy between 0.2 and 24 MeV have enabled the
determination of the total background gamma ray flux in space as a function of latitude. This in turn has permitted useful
information on the diffuse cosmic gamma rays. We have also observed four events that showed sudden increases in the gamma
ray counting rates between 0.2 and 4.0 MeV. Observational details of these events are given. |
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Keywords: | Energetic neutrons gamma rays Aryabhata Satellite |
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