Gamma-ray observations of NGC 253 and M82 with OSSE

D. Bhattacharya; L. S. The; J. D. Kurfess; D. D. Clayton; N. Gehrels; M. D. Leising; D. A. Grabelsky; W. N. Johnson; G. V. Jung; R. L. Kinzer; W. R. Purcell; M. S. Strickman; M. P. Ulmer

doi:10.1086/174985

Gamma-ray observations of NGC 253 and M82 with OSSE

D. Bhattacharya^*, L. S. The, J. D. Kurfess, D. D. Clayton, N. Gehrels, M. D. Leising, D. A. Grabelsky, W. N. Johnson, G. V. Jung, R. L. Kinzer, W. R. Purcell, M. S. Strickman, M. P. Ulmer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics and Astronomy

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Abstract

Gamma-ray observations of the nearby starburst galaxies NGC 253 and M82 over the energy range (0.05-10) MeV have been obtained with the OSSE spectrometer on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The priority of these galaxies as OSSE targets had been established on the grounds that the average supernova rate may be high in starbursts as indicated by infrared and radio observations, and at distances of ∼3 Mpc a significant chance of supernova γ-ray line detection exists. NGC 253 was detected in continuum emission up to 165 keV with a total significance of 4.4 σ and an estimated luminosity of 3 × 10⁴⁰ ergs s^-1. The spectrum is best fit by a power law of photon index ∼2.5. We consider the possible contribution of different emission mechanisms, including inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, discrete sources, and Type Ia/Ib supernova continuum to the measured flux. No significant continuum flux was observed from M82. A search for the γ-ray line from the decay of the most abundant radioactive element produced in supernovae (⁵⁶Ni → ⁵⁶Co → ⁵⁶Fe) yielded no significant detection: the 3 σ upper limits to the line fluxes at 0.158, 0.812, 0.847, and 1.238 MeV for both galaxies are obtained.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	173-178
Number of pages	6
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	437
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/174985
State	Published - Dec 10 1994

Keywords

Galaxies: individual (NGC 253, M82)
Galaxies: starburst
Gamma rays: observations
Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/174985

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@article{f318a9c5088e4d3981ae6d1bd831c2e3,

title = "Gamma-ray observations of NGC 253 and M82 with OSSE",

abstract = "Gamma-ray observations of the nearby starburst galaxies NGC 253 and M82 over the energy range (0.05-10) MeV have been obtained with the OSSE spectrometer on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The priority of these galaxies as OSSE targets had been established on the grounds that the average supernova rate may be high in starbursts as indicated by infrared and radio observations, and at distances of ∼3 Mpc a significant chance of supernova γ-ray line detection exists. NGC 253 was detected in continuum emission up to 165 keV with a total significance of 4.4 σ and an estimated luminosity of 3 × 1040 ergs s-1. The spectrum is best fit by a power law of photon index ∼2.5. We consider the possible contribution of different emission mechanisms, including inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, discrete sources, and Type Ia/Ib supernova continuum to the measured flux. No significant continuum flux was observed from M82. A search for the γ-ray line from the decay of the most abundant radioactive element produced in supernovae (56Ni → 56Co → 56Fe) yielded no significant detection: the 3 σ upper limits to the line fluxes at 0.158, 0.812, 0.847, and 1.238 MeV for both galaxies are obtained.",

keywords = "Galaxies: individual (NGC 253, M82), Galaxies: starburst, Gamma rays: observations, Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal",

author = "D. Bhattacharya and The, {L. S.} and Kurfess, {J. D.} and Clayton, {D. D.} and N. Gehrels and Leising, {M. D.} and Grabelsky, {D. A.} and Johnson, {W. N.} and Jung, {G. V.} and Kinzer, {R. L.} and Purcell, {W. R.} and Strickman, {M. S.} and Ulmer, {M. P.}",

year = "1994",

month = dec,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/174985",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "437",

pages = "173--178",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Gamma-ray observations of NGC 253 and M82 with OSSE

AU - Bhattacharya, D.

AU - The, L. S.

AU - Kurfess, J. D.

AU - Clayton, D. D.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Leising, M. D.

AU - Grabelsky, D. A.

AU - Johnson, W. N.

AU - Jung, G. V.

AU - Kinzer, R. L.

AU - Purcell, W. R.

AU - Strickman, M. S.

AU - Ulmer, M. P.

PY - 1994/12/10

Y1 - 1994/12/10

N2 - Gamma-ray observations of the nearby starburst galaxies NGC 253 and M82 over the energy range (0.05-10) MeV have been obtained with the OSSE spectrometer on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The priority of these galaxies as OSSE targets had been established on the grounds that the average supernova rate may be high in starbursts as indicated by infrared and radio observations, and at distances of ∼3 Mpc a significant chance of supernova γ-ray line detection exists. NGC 253 was detected in continuum emission up to 165 keV with a total significance of 4.4 σ and an estimated luminosity of 3 × 1040 ergs s-1. The spectrum is best fit by a power law of photon index ∼2.5. We consider the possible contribution of different emission mechanisms, including inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, discrete sources, and Type Ia/Ib supernova continuum to the measured flux. No significant continuum flux was observed from M82. A search for the γ-ray line from the decay of the most abundant radioactive element produced in supernovae (56Ni → 56Co → 56Fe) yielded no significant detection: the 3 σ upper limits to the line fluxes at 0.158, 0.812, 0.847, and 1.238 MeV for both galaxies are obtained.

AB - Gamma-ray observations of the nearby starburst galaxies NGC 253 and M82 over the energy range (0.05-10) MeV have been obtained with the OSSE spectrometer on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The priority of these galaxies as OSSE targets had been established on the grounds that the average supernova rate may be high in starbursts as indicated by infrared and radio observations, and at distances of ∼3 Mpc a significant chance of supernova γ-ray line detection exists. NGC 253 was detected in continuum emission up to 165 keV with a total significance of 4.4 σ and an estimated luminosity of 3 × 1040 ergs s-1. The spectrum is best fit by a power law of photon index ∼2.5. We consider the possible contribution of different emission mechanisms, including inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, discrete sources, and Type Ia/Ib supernova continuum to the measured flux. No significant continuum flux was observed from M82. A search for the γ-ray line from the decay of the most abundant radioactive element produced in supernovae (56Ni → 56Co → 56Fe) yielded no significant detection: the 3 σ upper limits to the line fluxes at 0.158, 0.812, 0.847, and 1.238 MeV for both galaxies are obtained.

KW - Galaxies: individual (NGC 253, M82)

KW - Galaxies: starburst

KW - Gamma rays: observations

KW - Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

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ER -

Gamma-ray observations of NGC 253 and M82 with OSSE

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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