High Energy Astrophysics Group

OSO-3

Orbiting Solar Observatory-3

Scientific Results

The diffuse x-ray component was measured in five energy channels between 10 and 100 keV, and accurate intensity measurements established the existence of a spectral break at about 40 keV as well as an overall normalization of 16.7 photons/cm2-s-keV-ster. Upper limits on any extended galactic plane emission were set at 2 x 10^44 photons/keV-s for 2-pi emission at 10 keV. A 2% upper limit was inferred for the fraction of the diffuse x-ray component arising from the galactic halo or the local supercluster. An upper limit of 800 km/s was set for any motion of the earth relative to the diffuse x-ray flux. At least 100,000 distant discrete sources are involved if the diffuse x-ray flux is the product of an integrated flux from these objects. Upper limits for the flux from M31, the LMC, and the SMC were found. (Ph.D. thesis of D. A. Schwarts, 1969)

Sco X-1 was studied with simultaneous optical coverage, and positive correlations between x-ray and optical flux were seen during flares, but not during lower level x-ray variations. The imprecise nature of the x-ray measurements, however, precluded detailed modeling of the emission region or regions. (Ph.D. thesis of R.M. Pelling, 1971)

OSO-3 Information

Mission Objectives
Spacecraft
X-Ray Telescope
Scientific Results
Publications