The Galactic background radiation from 0.2 to 13.8 MHz

The radio frequency receivers of the WAVES instrument on the WIND spacecraft are used to determine the direction of maximum intensity of the Galactic noise background in the frequency range 0.2 to 13.8 MHz. The observations are made with dipole antennas spinning in the ecliptic plane, hence provide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2001-06, Vol.372 (2), p.663-666
Main Authors: Manning, R., Dulk, G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Galaxy: general
ISM
ISM: general
radio continuum: general
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Summary:The radio frequency receivers of the WAVES instrument on the WIND spacecraft are used to determine the direction of maximum intensity of the Galactic noise background in the frequency range 0.2 to 13.8 MHz. The observations are made with dipole antennas spinning in the ecliptic plane, hence provide information on the large scale distribution of intensity. The main results are: (1) the direction of maximum brightness at the higher frequencies is close to that of the Galactic center, (2) in an intermediate range around 3-4 MHz the brightness appears isotropic, and (3) at frequencies of 3 MHz and lower the maximum brightness is at the ecliptic longitude nearest the Galactic poles. On the basis of previous observations these results are not unexpected, but this is the first time that a precise spectrum has been made over this large frequency range.
ISSN:0004-6361
1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361:20010516