view Abstract Citations (107) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The High-Energy Diffuse Cosmic Gamma-Ray Background Radiation from Blazars Stecker, F. W. ; Salamon, M. H. ; Malkan, M. A. Abstract We predict the spectrum and flux of the high-energy diffuse cosmic γ-ray background radiation produced by blazars. Our calculations are based on the Compton Observatory EGRET observations of high-energy gamma-rays from these objects, the Whipple observation of TeV γ- rays from Mrk 421, and radio population studies of flat-spectrum radio sources. Our statistical analysis gives the result Lgamma_ is proportional to L_radio_^1.2+/-0.1^, consistent with a linear correlation. We then use the radio luminosity function and redshift evolution to calculate the γ-ray background. We find that blazars cannot account for the flux level or steep spectrum of the background observed by SAS 2 in the sub-GeV range, but could likely provide the dominant background component in the multi-GeV energy range and above. We predict a differential photon spectral index for this component of ~2 up to ~10 GeV. Above that energy, the spectrum should gradually steepen owing to pair production by interactions of the γ-rays with intergalactic infrared photons. Using the calculations of this effect by Stecker, de Jager, & Salamon, we estimate a spectral index of ~3.5 for energies above a TeV. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: June 1993 DOI: 10.1086/186882 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...410L..71S Keywords: Background Radiation; Blazars; Diffuse Radiation; Energetic Particles; Galactic Cosmic Rays; Gamma Ray Astronomy; Active Galaxies; Quasars; Astrophysics; GAMMA RAYS: THEORY; GALAXIES: ACTIVE; GALAXIES: QUASARS: GENERAL full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (5) NED (1)