Modification of gamma-ray spectrum in a photon field

• Published in: Astrophysics and space science Vol. 166; no. 1; pp. 17 - 33
• Main Authors: IVANENKO, I. P, SIZOV, V. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer 01.04.1990
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Elementary particle and nuclear processes; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental aspects of astrophysics; Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations; Particle field interaction; Gamma radiation; Propagation; High energy; Inverse Compton scattering; Pair creation; Synchrotron radiation
• ISSN: 0004-640X; 1572-946X
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00655603

The changes in the high-energy gamma-ray spectra due to electron-photon cascading in the photon field (e.g., microwave background radiation) are investigated. The propagation of gamma-rays with an initial power-law spectrum through an isotropic monoenergetic photon field is considered. Two processes of the cascade particle-photon field interaction are taken into account, namely, the photoproduction of electron-positron pairs and the inverse Compton effect. The effect of the synchrotron energy loss by cascade electrons in a magnetic field on the cascade gamma-quantum spectrum is studied. The results may be used to estimate the absorption and the variations in the shape of the spectrum of radiation from compact gamma-ray sources in the metagalaxy. The cascade characteristics have been obtained by numerically solving the cascade equations by the moment method. (Author)