The Diffuse gamma-ray background, light element abundances, and signatures of early massive star formation

May 12, 1992
6 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J.Lett. 393 (1992) L9-L11
Report number:
  • CFPA-TH-92-11,
  • FERMILAB-PUB-92-115-A

Citations per year

19941997200020032005102
Abstract: (ADS)
Attention is drawn to a potentially observable flux of diffuse extragalactic gamma rays produced by inelastic cosmic-ray interactions that is inevitably a by-product of spallation-synthesized Be. The epoch of cosmic ray-induced Population II light element nucleosynthesis is constrained to be at redshift greater than 0.5. A spectral feature in the diffuse extragalactic gamma-ray background with amplitude 0.1 above 10 MeV is predicted if the Be is synthesized at z less than 10. The possibility is discussed that the cosmic-ray flux responsible for Population II Be and B synthesis may be associated with a precursor hypothesized Population III.
  • galaxy
  • photon: cosmic radiation
  • cosmic radiation: flux
  • flux: cosmic radiation
  • beryllium: production
  • production: beryllium
  • boron: production
  • production: boron
  • pi0: radiative decay
  • radiative decay: pi0