Detection of gamma-ray lines from the direction of the Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula and its associated pulsar NP0531+21 were observed during a balloon flight of the Durham MK1 high resolution spectrometer on June 6, 1981. The data indicate two significant line features of energies of 404.7 and 1049.8 keV with intensities of (7.2 + or - 2.1) x 0.001 and (12.0 + or - 0.5) x 0.01/5. After subtracting instrumental resolution, the widths of these lines were determined to be (3.5 + or - 1.4) keV and (6.3 + or - 1.6) keV at 404.7 and 1049.8 keV respectively. A third line at 78.8 keV was detected as a transient event with a peak intensity of (1.1 + or - 0.3) x 0.01 photons sq cm/s and a width 1.5 keV. It is shown that all three line features are consistent with a point source located at the Crab.