Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun

A. A. Abdo; M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; L. Baldini; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; K. Bechtol; R. Bellazzini; B. Berenji; E. Bonamente; A. W. Borgland; A. Bouvier; J. Bregeon; A. Brez; M. Brigida; P. Bruel; R. Buehler; S. Buson; G. A. Caliandro; R. A. Cameron; P. A. Caraveo; J. M. Casandjian; C. Cecchi; E. Charles; A. Chekhtman; J. Chiang; S. Ciprini; R. Claus; J. Cohen-Tanugi; J. Conrad; S. Cutini; A. De Angelis; F. De Palma; C. D. Dermer; S. W. Digel; E. Do Couto E Silva; P. S. Drell; R. Dubois; C. Favuzzi; S. J. Fegan; W. B. Focke; P. Fortin; M. Frailis; S. Funk; P. Fusco; F. Gargano; D. Gasparrini; N. Gehrels; S. Germani; N. Giglietto; F. Giordano; M. Giroletti; T. Glanzman; G. Godfrey; I. A. Grenier; L. Grillo; S. Guiriec; D. Hadasch; E. Hays; R. E. Hughes; G. Iafrate; G. Jóhannesson; A. S. Johnson; T. J. Johnson; T. Kamae; H. Katagiri; J. Kataoka; J. Knödlseder; M. Kuss; J. Lande; L. Latronico; S. H. Lee; A. M. Lionetto; F. Longo; F. Loparco; B. Lott; M. N. Lovellette; P. Lubrano; A. Makeev; M. N. Mazziotta; J. E. McEnery; J. Mehault; P. F. Michelson; W. Mitthumsiri; T. Mizuno; A. A. Moiseev; C. Monte; M. E. Monzani; A. Morselli; I. V. Moskalenko; S. Murgia; T. Nakamori; M. Naumann-Godo; P. L. Nolan; J. P. Norris; E. Nuss; T. Ohsugi; A. Okumura; N. Omodei; E. Orlando; J. F. Ormes; M. Ozaki; D. Paneque; V. Pelassa; M. Pesce-Rollins; M. Pierbattista; F. Piron; T. A. Porter; S. Rainò; R. Rando; M. Razzano; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; T. Reposeur; S. Ritz; H. F.W. Sadrozinski; T. L. Schalk; C. Sgrò; G. H. Share; E. J. Siskind; P. D. Smith; G. Spandre; P. Spinelli; M. S. Strickman; A. W. Strong; H. Takahashi; T. Tanaka; J. G. Thayer; J. B. Thayer; D. J. Thompson; L. Tibaldo; D. F. Torres; G. Tosti; A. Tramacere; E. Troja; Y. Uchiyama; T. L. Usher; J. Vandenbroucke; V. Vasileiou; G. Vianello; N. Vilchez; V. Vitale; A. E. Vladimirov; A. P. Waite; P. Wang; B. L. Winer; K. S. Wood; Z. Yang; M. Ziegler

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun

A. A. Abdo, M. Ackermann, M. Ajello, L. Baldini, J. Ballet, G. Barbiellini, D. Bastieri, K. Bechtol, R. Bellazzini, B. Berenji, E. Bonamente, A. W. Borgland, A. Bouvier, J. Bregeon, A. Brez, M. Brigida, P. Bruel, R. Buehler, S. Buson, G. A. CaliandroR. A. Cameron, P. A. Caraveo, J. M. Casandjian, C. Cecchi, E. Charles, A. Chekhtman, J. Chiang, S. Ciprini, R. Claus, J. Cohen-Tanugi, J. Conrad, S. Cutini, A. De Angelis, F. De Palma, C. D. Dermer, S. W. Digel, E. Do Couto E Silva, P. S. Drell, R. Dubois, C. Favuzzi, S. J. Fegan, W. B. Focke, P. Fortin, M. Frailis, S. Funk, P. Fusco, F. Gargano, D. Gasparrini, N. Gehrels, S. Germani, N. Giglietto, F. Giordano, M. Giroletti, T. Glanzman, G. Godfrey, I. A. Grenier, L. Grillo, S. Guiriec, D. Hadasch, E. Hays, R. E. Hughes, G. Iafrate, G. Jóhannesson, A. S. Johnson, T. J. Johnson, T. Kamae, H. Katagiri, J. Kataoka, J. Knödlseder, M. Kuss, J. Lande, L. Latronico, S. H. Lee, A. M. Lionetto, F. Longo, F. Loparco, B. Lott, M. N. Lovellette, P. Lubrano, A. Makeev, M. N. Mazziotta, J. E. McEnery, J. Mehault, P. F. Michelson, W. Mitthumsiri, T. Mizuno, A. A. Moiseev, C. Monte, M. E. Monzani, A. Morselli, I. V. Moskalenko, S. Murgia, T. Nakamori, M. Naumann-Godo, P. L. Nolan, J. P. Norris, E. Nuss, T. Ohsugi, A. Okumura, N. Omodei, E. Orlando, J. F. Ormes, M. Ozaki, D. Paneque, V. Pelassa, M. Pesce-Rollins, M. Pierbattista, F. Piron, T. A. Porter, S. Rainò, R. Rando, M. Razzano, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, T. Reposeur, S. Ritz, H. F.W. Sadrozinski, T. L. Schalk, C. Sgrò, G. H. Share, E. J. Siskind, P. D. Smith, G. Spandre, P. Spinelli, M. S. Strickman, A. W. Strong, H. Takahashi, T. Tanaka, J. G. Thayer, J. B. Thayer, D. J. Thompson, L. Tibaldo, D. F. Torres, G. Tosti, A. Tramacere, E. Troja, Y. Uchiyama, T. L. Usher, J. Vandenbroucke, V. Vasileiou, G. Vianello, N. Vilchez, V. Vitale, A. E. Vladimirov, A. P. Waite, P. Wang, B. L. Winer, K. S. Wood, Z. Yang, M. Ziegler

School of Advanced Science and Engineering

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118 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the detection of high-energy γ-rays from the quiescent Sun with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (Fermi) during the first 18 months of the mission. These observations correspond to the recent period of low solar activity when the emission induced by cosmic rays (CRs) is brightest. For the first time, the high statistical significance of the observations allows clear separation of the two components: the point-like emission from the solar disk due to CR cascades in the solar atmosphere and extended emission from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons on solar photons in the heliosphere. The observed integral flux (≥100MeV) from the solar disk is (4.6 ± 0.2[statistical error] ^+1.0 _{- 0.8}[systematic error]) × 10 ^-7cm^-2s^-1, which is 7 times higher than predicted by the "nominal" model of Seckel etal. In contrast, the observed integral flux (≥100MeV) of the extended emission from a region of 20° radius centered on the Sun, but excluding the disk itself, (6.8 ± 0.7[stat.]^+0.5 _{- 0.4}[syst.]) × 10 ^-7cm^-2s^-1, along with the observed spectrum and the angular profile, is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the IC emission.

Original language	English
Article number	116
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	734
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116
Publication status	Published - 2011 Jun 10

Keywords

Sun: X-rays, gamma rays
Sun: atmosphere
Sun: heliosphere
astroparticle physics
cosmic rays
gamma rays: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

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Abdo, A. A., Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A. W., Bouvier, A., Bregeon, J., Brez, A., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., ... Ziegler, M. (2011). Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun. Astrophysical Journal, 734(2), Article 116. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

Abdo, AA, Ackermann, M, Ajello, M, Baldini, L, Ballet, J, Barbiellini, G, Bastieri, D, Bechtol, K, Bellazzini, R, Berenji, B, Bonamente, E, Borgland, AW, Bouvier, A, Bregeon, J, Brez, A, Brigida, M, Bruel, P, Buehler, R, Buson, S, Caliandro, GA, Cameron, RA, Caraveo, PA, Casandjian, JM, Cecchi, C, Charles, E, Chekhtman, A, Chiang, J, Ciprini, S, Claus, R, Cohen-Tanugi, J, Conrad, J, Cutini, S, De Angelis, A, De Palma, F, Dermer, CD, Digel, SW, Do Couto E Silva, E, Drell, PS, Dubois, R, Favuzzi, C, Fegan, SJ, Focke, WB, Fortin, P, Frailis, M, Funk, S, Fusco, P, Gargano, F, Gasparrini, D, Gehrels, N, Germani, S, Giglietto, N, Giordano, F, Giroletti, M, Glanzman, T, Godfrey, G, Grenier, IA, Grillo, L, Guiriec, S, Hadasch, D, Hays, E, Hughes, RE, Iafrate, G, Jóhannesson, G, Johnson, AS, Johnson, TJ, Kamae, T, Katagiri, H, Kataoka, J, Knödlseder, J, Kuss, M, Lande, J, Latronico, L, Lee, SH, Lionetto, AM, Longo, F, Loparco, F, Lott, B, Lovellette, MN, Lubrano, P, Makeev, A, Mazziotta, MN, McEnery, JE, Mehault, J, Michelson, PF, Mitthumsiri, W, Mizuno, T, Moiseev, AA, Monte, C, Monzani, ME, Morselli, A, Moskalenko, IV, Murgia, S, Nakamori, T, Naumann-Godo, M, Nolan, PL, Norris, JP, Nuss, E, Ohsugi, T, Okumura, A, Omodei, N, Orlando, E, Ormes, JF, Ozaki, M, Paneque, D, Pelassa, V, Pesce-Rollins, M, Pierbattista, M, Piron, F, Porter, TA, Rainò, S, Rando, R, Razzano, M, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Reposeur, T, Ritz, S, Sadrozinski, HFW, Schalk, TL, Sgrò, C, Share, GH, Siskind, EJ, Smith, PD, Spandre, G, Spinelli, P, Strickman, MS, Strong, AW, Takahashi, H, Tanaka, T, Thayer, JG, Thayer, JB, Thompson, DJ, Tibaldo, L, Torres, DF, Tosti, G, Tramacere, A, Troja, E, Uchiyama, Y, Usher, TL, Vandenbroucke, J, Vasileiou, V, Vianello, G, Vilchez, N, Vitale, V, Vladimirov, AE, Waite, AP, Wang, P, Winer, BL, Wood, KS, Yang, Z & Ziegler, M 2011, 'Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 734, no. 2, 116. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

@article{25d1639f67f1401dbc198848173190d8,

title = "Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun",

abstract = "We report the detection of high-energy γ-rays from the quiescent Sun with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (Fermi) during the first 18 months of the mission. These observations correspond to the recent period of low solar activity when the emission induced by cosmic rays (CRs) is brightest. For the first time, the high statistical significance of the observations allows clear separation of the two components: the point-like emission from the solar disk due to CR cascades in the solar atmosphere and extended emission from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons on solar photons in the heliosphere. The observed integral flux (≥100MeV) from the solar disk is (4.6 ± 0.2[statistical error] +1.0 - 0.8[systematic error]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, which is 7 times higher than predicted by the {"}nominal{"} model of Seckel etal. In contrast, the observed integral flux (≥100MeV) of the extended emission from a region of 20° radius centered on the Sun, but excluding the disk itself, (6.8 ± 0.7[stat.]+0.5 - 0.4[syst.]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, along with the observed spectrum and the angular profile, is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the IC emission.",

keywords = "Sun: X-rays, gamma rays, Sun: atmosphere, Sun: heliosphere, astroparticle physics, cosmic rays, gamma rays: general",

author = "Abdo, {A. A.} and M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and L. Baldini and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and K. Bechtol and R. Bellazzini and B. Berenji and E. Bonamente and Borgland, {A. W.} and A. Bouvier and J. Bregeon and A. Brez and M. Brigida and P. Bruel and R. Buehler and S. Buson and Caliandro, {G. A.} and Cameron, {R. A.} and Caraveo, {P. A.} and Casandjian, {J. M.} and C. Cecchi and E. Charles and A. Chekhtman and J. Chiang and S. Ciprini and R. Claus and J. Cohen-Tanugi and J. Conrad and S. Cutini and {De Angelis}, A. and {De Palma}, F. and Dermer, {C. D.} and Digel, {S. W.} and {Do Couto E Silva}, E. and Drell, {P. S.} and R. Dubois and C. Favuzzi and Fegan, {S. J.} and Focke, {W. B.} and P. Fortin and M. Frailis and S. Funk and P. Fusco and F. Gargano and D. Gasparrini and N. Gehrels and S. Germani and N. Giglietto and F. Giordano and M. Giroletti and T. Glanzman and G. Godfrey and Grenier, {I. A.} and L. Grillo and S. Guiriec and D. Hadasch and E. Hays and Hughes, {R. E.} and G. Iafrate and G. J{\'o}hannesson and Johnson, {A. S.} and Johnson, {T. J.} and T. Kamae and H. Katagiri and J. Kataoka and J. Kn{\"o}dlseder and M. Kuss and J. Lande and L. Latronico and Lee, {S. H.} and Lionetto, {A. M.} and F. Longo and F. Loparco and B. Lott and Lovellette, {M. N.} and P. Lubrano and A. Makeev and Mazziotta, {M. N.} and McEnery, {J. E.} and J. Mehault and Michelson, {P. F.} and W. Mitthumsiri and T. Mizuno and Moiseev, {A. A.} and C. Monte and Monzani, {M. E.} and A. Morselli and Moskalenko, {I. V.} and S. Murgia and T. Nakamori and M. Naumann-Godo and Nolan, {P. L.} and Norris, {J. P.} and E. Nuss and T. Ohsugi and A. Okumura and N. Omodei and E. Orlando and Ormes, {J. F.} and M. Ozaki and D. Paneque and V. Pelassa and M. Pesce-Rollins and M. Pierbattista and F. Piron and Porter, {T. A.} and S. Rain{\`o} and R. Rando and M. Razzano and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and T. Reposeur and S. Ritz and Sadrozinski, {H. F.W.} and Schalk, {T. L.} and C. Sgr{\`o} and Share, {G. H.} and Siskind, {E. J.} and Smith, {P. D.} and G. Spandre and P. Spinelli and Strickman, {M. S.} and Strong, {A. W.} and H. Takahashi and T. Tanaka and Thayer, {J. G.} and Thayer, {J. B.} and Thompson, {D. J.} and L. Tibaldo and Torres, {D. F.} and G. Tosti and A. Tramacere and E. Troja and Y. Uchiyama and Usher, {T. L.} and J. Vandenbroucke and V. Vasileiou and G. Vianello and N. Vilchez and V. Vitale and Vladimirov, {A. E.} and Waite, {A. P.} and P. Wang and Winer, {B. L.} and Wood, {K. S.} and Z. Yang and M. Ziegler",

year = "2011",

month = jun,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116",

language = "English",

volume = "734",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun

AU - Abdo, A. A.

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Baldini, L.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Bechtol, K.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Berenji, B.

AU - Bonamente, E.

AU - Borgland, A. W.

AU - Bouvier, A.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Brez, A.

AU - Brigida, M.

AU - Bruel, P.

AU - Buehler, R.

AU - Buson, S.

AU - Caliandro, G. A.

AU - Cameron, R. A.

AU - Caraveo, P. A.

AU - Casandjian, J. M.

AU - Cecchi, C.

AU - Charles, E.

AU - Chekhtman, A.

AU - Chiang, J.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Claus, R.

AU - Cohen-Tanugi, J.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Cutini, S.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - De Palma, F.

AU - Dermer, C. D.

AU - Digel, S. W.

AU - Do Couto E Silva, E.

AU - Drell, P. S.

AU - Dubois, R.

AU - Favuzzi, C.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Focke, W. B.

AU - Fortin, P.

AU - Frailis, M.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Fusco, P.

AU - Gargano, F.

AU - Gasparrini, D.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Germani, S.

AU - Giglietto, N.

AU - Giordano, F.

AU - Giroletti, M.

AU - Glanzman, T.

AU - Godfrey, G.

AU - Grenier, I. A.

AU - Grillo, L.

AU - Guiriec, S.

AU - Hadasch, D.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Hughes, R. E.

AU - Iafrate, G.

AU - Jóhannesson, G.

AU - Johnson, A. S.

AU - Johnson, T. J.

AU - Kamae, T.

AU - Katagiri, H.

AU - Kataoka, J.

AU - Knödlseder, J.

AU - Kuss, M.

AU - Lande, J.

AU - Latronico, L.

AU - Lee, S. H.

AU - Lionetto, A. M.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - Loparco, F.

AU - Lott, B.

AU - Lovellette, M. N.

AU - Lubrano, P.

AU - Makeev, A.

AU - Mazziotta, M. N.

AU - McEnery, J. E.

AU - Mehault, J.

AU - Michelson, P. F.

AU - Mitthumsiri, W.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Moiseev, A. A.

AU - Monte, C.

AU - Monzani, M. E.

AU - Morselli, A.

AU - Moskalenko, I. V.

AU - Murgia, S.

AU - Nakamori, T.

AU - Naumann-Godo, M.

AU - Nolan, P. L.

AU - Norris, J. P.

AU - Nuss, E.

AU - Ohsugi, T.

AU - Okumura, A.

AU - Omodei, N.

AU - Orlando, E.

AU - Ormes, J. F.

AU - Ozaki, M.

AU - Paneque, D.

AU - Pelassa, V.

AU - Pesce-Rollins, M.

AU - Pierbattista, M.

AU - Piron, F.

AU - Porter, T. A.

AU - Rainò, S.

AU - Rando, R.

AU - Razzano, M.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Reposeur, T.

AU - Ritz, S.

AU - Sadrozinski, H. F.W.

AU - Schalk, T. L.

AU - Sgrò, C.

AU - Share, G. H.

AU - Siskind, E. J.

AU - Smith, P. D.

AU - Spandre, G.

AU - Spinelli, P.

AU - Strickman, M. S.

AU - Strong, A. W.

AU - Takahashi, H.

AU - Tanaka, T.

AU - Thayer, J. G.

AU - Thayer, J. B.

AU - Thompson, D. J.

AU - Tibaldo, L.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Tosti, G.

AU - Tramacere, A.

AU - Troja, E.

AU - Uchiyama, Y.

AU - Usher, T. L.

AU - Vandenbroucke, J.

AU - Vasileiou, V.

AU - Vianello, G.

AU - Vilchez, N.

AU - Vitale, V.

AU - Vladimirov, A. E.

AU - Waite, A. P.

AU - Wang, P.

AU - Winer, B. L.

AU - Wood, K. S.

AU - Yang, Z.

AU - Ziegler, M.

PY - 2011/6/10

Y1 - 2011/6/10

N2 - We report the detection of high-energy γ-rays from the quiescent Sun with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (Fermi) during the first 18 months of the mission. These observations correspond to the recent period of low solar activity when the emission induced by cosmic rays (CRs) is brightest. For the first time, the high statistical significance of the observations allows clear separation of the two components: the point-like emission from the solar disk due to CR cascades in the solar atmosphere and extended emission from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons on solar photons in the heliosphere. The observed integral flux (≥100MeV) from the solar disk is (4.6 ± 0.2[statistical error] +1.0 - 0.8[systematic error]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, which is 7 times higher than predicted by the "nominal" model of Seckel etal. In contrast, the observed integral flux (≥100MeV) of the extended emission from a region of 20° radius centered on the Sun, but excluding the disk itself, (6.8 ± 0.7[stat.]+0.5 - 0.4[syst.]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, along with the observed spectrum and the angular profile, is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the IC emission.

AB - We report the detection of high-energy γ-rays from the quiescent Sun with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (Fermi) during the first 18 months of the mission. These observations correspond to the recent period of low solar activity when the emission induced by cosmic rays (CRs) is brightest. For the first time, the high statistical significance of the observations allows clear separation of the two components: the point-like emission from the solar disk due to CR cascades in the solar atmosphere and extended emission from the inverse Compton (IC) scattering of CR electrons on solar photons in the heliosphere. The observed integral flux (≥100MeV) from the solar disk is (4.6 ± 0.2[statistical error] +1.0 - 0.8[systematic error]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, which is 7 times higher than predicted by the "nominal" model of Seckel etal. In contrast, the observed integral flux (≥100MeV) of the extended emission from a region of 20° radius centered on the Sun, but excluding the disk itself, (6.8 ± 0.7[stat.]+0.5 - 0.4[syst.]) × 10 -7cm-2s-1, along with the observed spectrum and the angular profile, is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the IC emission.

KW - Sun: X-rays, gamma rays

KW - Sun: atmosphere

KW - Sun: heliosphere

KW - astroparticle physics

KW - cosmic rays

KW - gamma rays: general

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79958271049&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79958271049&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/734/2/116

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79958271049

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 734

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

M1 - 116

ER -

Fermi large area telescope observations of two gamma-ray emission components from the quiescent sun

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