Diffuse Cosmic X-Ray Flux from 0.2 to 2 keV

Abstract

Observations of the low-energy diffuse X-ray background have been made with a new detector system sensitive in the range from 0.2 to 2 keV. An electrostatic rejection system was used to eliminate electrons as a source of non-X-ray background. The spectrum above 2 keV agrees with that reported by other authors. Between 0.2 and 1.5 keV a good fit to the spectrum is given by JAT/dE E-' exp (-E/O.45) photons (cm S keV sterad)-'. The spatial distribution of the flux below 1 keV is complicated. Possible interpretations are discussed. The flux at 0.25 keV is basically in agreement with that obtained by other authors. In the region of sky covered by this observation, the variation of flux with galactic latitude implies a galactic origin for most of the diffuse soft X-rays.