Publication Date:
2013-10-12
Description:
We suggest an explanation of a sharp increase in the abundance of cosmogenic radiocarbon found in tree rings dated AD 775. The increase could originate from high-energy irradiation of the atmosphere by a Galactic gamma-ray burst. We argue that, unlike a cosmic ray event, a gamma-ray burst does not necessarily result in a substantial increase in long-lived 10 Be atmospheric production. At the same time, the 36 Cl nuclide would be generated in the amounts detectable in the corresponding ice-core samples from Greenland and Antarctica. These peculiar features allow experimental discrimination of nuclide effects caused by gamma-ray bursts and by powerful proton events.
Print ISSN:
0035-8711
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2966
Topics:
Physics
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