3 ms·

Thanks for mentioning Chandra (RIP), it shook me out of this weird hypnotic fog that had me almost believe the Van Allen belts are important absorbers of gamma

Thanks for mentioning Chandra (RIP), it shook me out of this weird hypnotic fog that had me almost believe the Van Allen belts are important absorbers of gamma rays. However, Chandra I know something about: it needs densities over three orders of magnitude larger than what is found in the Van Allen belt to even detect absorption lines, so that the belt would do anything important at all to the gamma ray continuum is just impossible.

defrost 3y ago
I didn't say important at all, check the qualifiers, they absorb some gamma events .. how much would ideally show up in Chandra calibration procedures (if at all) .. it's the thinner outer belt that it rose and fell through after all, not the denser inner belt.
- SiempreViernes 3y ago
  Hitomi did exquisite X-ray spectra from LEO before its accident, so you're writing a lot of speculation about an effect that is truly unimportant.