Abstract
The possible contribution of gamma-rays predicted within the universal cosmic-ray (CR) hypothesis to the energy range of CR spectrum above ‘black-body cutoff’ is calculated. These gamma-rays arise from the relativistic electromagnetic cascade generated in the field of microwave background radiation (MBR). The ultra-high energy photons and electrons that initiate the cascade are produced at the decay of π-mesons created in interactions of photons with the MBR. Simple analytic expression for cascade gamma-ray spectrum is obtained from the solution of kinetic equations for electrons and photons as well as for protons propagating in the MBR field. It is shown that at certain values of magnetic field and radio-wave density in the intergalactic space te flux of cascade gamma-rays may at least partly mask the ‘black-body cutoff’ in the CR spectrum.
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Deceased, August 13, 1989.
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Aharonian, F.A., Vardanian, V.V. & Kanevsky, B.L. Diffuse extragalactic gamma-radiation above ‘black-body cutoff’. Astrophys Space Sci 167, 111–124 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642067
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642067