A search for high energy gamma-ray bursts from primordial black holes or other astronomical objects
Open Access
- 1 June 1978
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Vol. 183 (2) , 205-210
- https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/183.2.205
Abstract
Two systems of separated atmospheric Cerenkov detectors have been used to search for bursts of high energy γ-rays which have been predicted theoretically from primordial black holes of about 1015 g in mass. In one experiment four 1.5-m reflectors were used with maximum separation 2.5 km. In another, two reflectors each of 70–80 m2 in area, and separated by 400 km, were used in coincidence. Detection sensitivities for the latter were about 10−10 erg/cm2 for bursts of less than 1 μs in duration, and γ-ray energies greater than 200 MeV. Using the Hagedorn nuclear model an upper limit of 0.04 events/pc3yr is set for the rate of black hole explosions in the Galaxy. Information can also be obtained on bursts of longer duration, which may occur if other nuclear models hold. The upper limits found are considerably larger than that for the Hagedorn model.Keywords
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