Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The extragalactic background light (EBL), a diffuse radiation field produced by all galaxies throughout cosmic history, plays a crucial role in the propagation of high-energy gamma-rays through photon–photon interactions. These interactions lead to characteristic absorption features in the observed TeV gamma-ray spectrum. Motivated by these effects, we analyze observations of GRB 221009A, the most energetic gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever detected by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, to investigate the EBL via gamma–gamma absorption signatures imprinted on the TeV spectrum. To minimize potential effects from Lorentz invariance violation and axion-like particles, we restrict our analysis to gamma rays with energies below 8 TeV. By comparing the modeled intrinsic spectra with the observed data, we constrain the spectral energy distribution of the EBL in the wavelength range of 0.1–40 μ m. Our results are consistent with existing EBL models and observational limits derived from galaxy counts and infrared surveys. Furthermore, the inferred cosmic emissivity, which represents the integrated light from galaxies, is found to be primarily dominated by spiral-type galaxies.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Authors: Longhua Qin, Jiancheng Wang, Chuyuan Yang, Quangui Gao, Huaizhen Li, Ju Ma, Weiwei Na, Ao Wang, Xu Zhang, Baoyu Ma, Tingfeng Yi, Zunli Yuan, Chunxia Gu
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
OpenAlex ID: W4415902335