A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background

A. Moretti; C. Pagani; G. Cusumano; S. Campana; M. Perri; A. Abbey; M. Ajello; A. P. Beardmore; D. Burrows; G. Chincarini; O. Godet; C. Guidorzi; J. E. Hill; J. Kennea; J. Nousek; J. P. Osborne; G. Tagliaferri

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:200811197

A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background

A. Moretti, C. Pagani, G. Cusumano, S. Campana, M. Perri, A. Abbey, M. Ajello, A. P. Beardmore, D. Burrows, G. Chincarini, O. Godet, C. Guidorzi, J. E. Hill, J. Kennea, J. Nousek, J. P. Osborne, G. Tagliaferri

Astronomy & Astrophysics

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137 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims. We present a new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) in the 1.5-7 keV energy band, performed by exploiting the Swift X-ray telescope (XRT) data archive. We also present a CXRB spectral model in a wider energy band (1.5-200 keV), obtained by combining these data with the recently published Swift-BAT measurement. Methods. From the XRT archive we collect a complete sample of 126 high Galactic latitude gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up observations. This provides a total exposure of 7.5 Ms and a sky-coverage of ∼7 square degrees which represents a serendipitous survey, well suited for a direct measurement of the CXRB in the 1.5-10 keV interval. Our work is based on a complete characterization of the instrumental background and an accurate measurement of the stray-light contamination and vignetting calibration. Results. We find that the CXRB spectrum in the 1.5-7 keV energy band can be equally well fitted by a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.47 ± 0.07 or a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.41 ± 0.06 and an exponential roll-off at 4.1 keV. The measured flux in the 2-10 keV energy band is 2.1.8 ± 0.13 × 10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1 deg^-2 in the 2-10 keV band. Combining Swift-XRT with Swift-BAT (15-200 keV) we find that, in the 15-200 keV band, the CXRB spectrum can be well described by two smoothly-joined power laws with the energy break at 29.0 ± 0.5 keV corresponding to a vF_v peak located at 22.4 ± 0.4 keV. Conclusions. Taking advantage of both the Swift high energy instruments (XRT and BAT), we produce an analytical description of the CXRB spectrum over a wide (1.5-200 keV) energy band. This model is marginally consistent with the HEAO1 measurement (∼10% higher) at energies higher than 20 keV, while it is significantly (30%) higher at low energies (2-10 keV).

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	501-509
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	493
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200811197
State	Published - Jan 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1051/0004-6361:200811197

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Moretti, A., Pagani, C., Cusumano, G., Campana, S., Perri, M., Abbey, A., Ajello, M., Beardmore, A. P., Burrows, D., Chincarini, G., Godet, O., Guidorzi, C., Hill, J. E., Kennea, J., Nousek, J., Osborne, J. P., & Tagliaferri, G. (2009). A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 493(2), 501-509. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200811197

@article{08376526116f4148afb76593868955af,

title = "A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background",

abstract = "Aims. We present a new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) in the 1.5-7 keV energy band, performed by exploiting the Swift X-ray telescope (XRT) data archive. We also present a CXRB spectral model in a wider energy band (1.5-200 keV), obtained by combining these data with the recently published Swift-BAT measurement. Methods. From the XRT archive we collect a complete sample of 126 high Galactic latitude gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up observations. This provides a total exposure of 7.5 Ms and a sky-coverage of ∼7 square degrees which represents a serendipitous survey, well suited for a direct measurement of the CXRB in the 1.5-10 keV interval. Our work is based on a complete characterization of the instrumental background and an accurate measurement of the stray-light contamination and vignetting calibration. Results. We find that the CXRB spectrum in the 1.5-7 keV energy band can be equally well fitted by a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.47 ± 0.07 or a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.41 ± 0.06 and an exponential roll-off at 4.1 keV. The measured flux in the 2-10 keV energy band is 2.1.8 ± 0.13 × 10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 deg-2 in the 2-10 keV band. Combining Swift-XRT with Swift-BAT (15-200 keV) we find that, in the 15-200 keV band, the CXRB spectrum can be well described by two smoothly-joined power laws with the energy break at 29.0 ± 0.5 keV corresponding to a vFv peak located at 22.4 ± 0.4 keV. Conclusions. Taking advantage of both the Swift high energy instruments (XRT and BAT), we produce an analytical description of the CXRB spectrum over a wide (1.5-200 keV) energy band. This model is marginally consistent with the HEAO1 measurement (∼10% higher) at energies higher than 20 keV, while it is significantly (30%) higher at low energies (2-10 keV).",

author = "A. Moretti and C. Pagani and G. Cusumano and S. Campana and M. Perri and A. Abbey and M. Ajello and Beardmore, {A. P.} and D. Burrows and G. Chincarini and O. Godet and C. Guidorzi and Hill, {J. E.} and J. Kennea and J. Nousek and Osborne, {J. P.} and G. Tagliaferri",

year = "2009",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361:200811197",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "493",

pages = "501--509",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background

AU - Moretti, A.

AU - Pagani, C.

AU - Cusumano, G.

AU - Campana, S.

AU - Perri, M.

AU - Abbey, A.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Beardmore, A. P.

AU - Burrows, D.

AU - Chincarini, G.

AU - Godet, O.

AU - Guidorzi, C.

AU - Hill, J. E.

AU - Kennea, J.

AU - Nousek, J.

AU - Osborne, J. P.

AU - Tagliaferri, G.

PY - 2009/1

Y1 - 2009/1

N2 - Aims. We present a new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) in the 1.5-7 keV energy band, performed by exploiting the Swift X-ray telescope (XRT) data archive. We also present a CXRB spectral model in a wider energy band (1.5-200 keV), obtained by combining these data with the recently published Swift-BAT measurement. Methods. From the XRT archive we collect a complete sample of 126 high Galactic latitude gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up observations. This provides a total exposure of 7.5 Ms and a sky-coverage of ∼7 square degrees which represents a serendipitous survey, well suited for a direct measurement of the CXRB in the 1.5-10 keV interval. Our work is based on a complete characterization of the instrumental background and an accurate measurement of the stray-light contamination and vignetting calibration. Results. We find that the CXRB spectrum in the 1.5-7 keV energy band can be equally well fitted by a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.47 ± 0.07 or a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.41 ± 0.06 and an exponential roll-off at 4.1 keV. The measured flux in the 2-10 keV energy band is 2.1.8 ± 0.13 × 10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 deg-2 in the 2-10 keV band. Combining Swift-XRT with Swift-BAT (15-200 keV) we find that, in the 15-200 keV band, the CXRB spectrum can be well described by two smoothly-joined power laws with the energy break at 29.0 ± 0.5 keV corresponding to a vFv peak located at 22.4 ± 0.4 keV. Conclusions. Taking advantage of both the Swift high energy instruments (XRT and BAT), we produce an analytical description of the CXRB spectrum over a wide (1.5-200 keV) energy band. This model is marginally consistent with the HEAO1 measurement (∼10% higher) at energies higher than 20 keV, while it is significantly (30%) higher at low energies (2-10 keV).

AB - Aims. We present a new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) in the 1.5-7 keV energy band, performed by exploiting the Swift X-ray telescope (XRT) data archive. We also present a CXRB spectral model in a wider energy band (1.5-200 keV), obtained by combining these data with the recently published Swift-BAT measurement. Methods. From the XRT archive we collect a complete sample of 126 high Galactic latitude gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up observations. This provides a total exposure of 7.5 Ms and a sky-coverage of ∼7 square degrees which represents a serendipitous survey, well suited for a direct measurement of the CXRB in the 1.5-10 keV interval. Our work is based on a complete characterization of the instrumental background and an accurate measurement of the stray-light contamination and vignetting calibration. Results. We find that the CXRB spectrum in the 1.5-7 keV energy band can be equally well fitted by a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.47 ± 0.07 or a single power-law with photon index Γ = 1.41 ± 0.06 and an exponential roll-off at 4.1 keV. The measured flux in the 2-10 keV energy band is 2.1.8 ± 0.13 × 10-11 erg cm-2 s-1 deg-2 in the 2-10 keV band. Combining Swift-XRT with Swift-BAT (15-200 keV) we find that, in the 15-200 keV band, the CXRB spectrum can be well described by two smoothly-joined power laws with the energy break at 29.0 ± 0.5 keV corresponding to a vFv peak located at 22.4 ± 0.4 keV. Conclusions. Taking advantage of both the Swift high energy instruments (XRT and BAT), we produce an analytical description of the CXRB spectrum over a wide (1.5-200 keV) energy band. This model is marginally consistent with the HEAO1 measurement (∼10% higher) at energies higher than 20 keV, while it is significantly (30%) higher at low energies (2-10 keV).

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JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

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A new measurement of the cosmic X-ray background

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