We present estimates of the integrated contribution of extragalactic sources to the diffuse X-ray background in the 2–10 keV energy interval. It appears that classes of objects already detected as X-ray sources easily account for at least 10% of the background. Quasistellar objects, and possibly Seyfert and radio galaxies might contribute a larger fraction of the background intensity.

We also suggest that several of the unidentified X-ray sources in the UHURU catalogue at high galactic latitudes may be bright QSO's as yet unknown. The detection of a larger number of QSO's in the X-ray band may allow a decisive test for the cosmological interpretation of the redshifts of QSO's.

A survey of soft X-ray background observations in the 0.1–10 keV range is presented. In the region above 1 keV, recent results on point X-ray sources are discussed and their integrated contribution to the diffuse background is estimated. However, the average luminosity of various classes of extragalactic X-ray sources is still not sufficiently well known to permit this estimate to be made with any certainty. A discussion is given of recent observations at energies below 1 keV where the effects of interstellar absorption are important. It is argued that although some fraction of the background radiation in the 0.1–1 keV range must be galactic in origin, there is still substantial evidence for an extragalactic component. Proposed theories for generating both the galactic and extragalactic X-ray background are briefly reviewed.

The column densities of interstellar hydrogen to X-ray sources derived from their spectra are compared with those obtained from 21 cm radio observations. Referring to several observed results on Cyg X-2, Cygnus Loop etc., the interpretation of the low energy cut-off of the spectrum in terms of the interstellar absorption is subject to ambiguities due to a modification of the emission spectrum by Compton scattering in the sources and the contribution of emission lines.

The result of soft X-ray sky surveys indicates that the diffuse component of soft X-rays consists of the extragalactic and the galactic components. The former has a hard component with a power law spectrum and a soft component which may be represented by an exponential spectrum. The galactic component is so soft that its spectrum may also be explained by thermal bremsstrahlung of temperature of about 0.1 keV. Its generation rate may account for the heating and ionization of interstellar matter. It is suggested that galactic diffuse soft X-rays are produced by active stars of a rather high number density.

It is unclear whether evolutionary effects must be invoked to account for the intensity of the X-ray background, nor whether the background could all be due to unresolved X-ray sources of the types already known. Intensity fluctuations on small angular scales are probably on the threshold of detectability. Future studies of these fluctuations – with improved sensitivity – should help to elucidate the nature of the background. The interpretation of such studies is discussed.

Recent theories of the origins of diffuse-background X-rays are reviewed, with emphasis on theories of the soft flux in the galactic plane and at the poles. This is probably partly galactic and partly extragalactic in origin. Failure to observe absorption by the Small Magellanic Cloud and by galactic gas in neighboring directions may be due to sources in the Cloud and to statistical fluctuations in galactic emission and absorption. Several models for numerous low-luminosity sources in the Galaxy are available. True ‘diffuse’ emission seems unnecessary. Absorption by Galactic gas seems to agree roughly with theory. The soft extragalactic component may arise in a hot intergalactic medium.

The existence of a ‘diffuse’ galactic-plane excess in 1–100 keV is in some doubt. Low-luminosity sources may contribute to this as well.

For isotropic X-rays in 1 keV – 1 MeV, superposition theories involving clusters of galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, etc. over a cosmological path length are now roughly viable. Simple ‘metagalactic’ Compton theories seem excluded if the break at 40 keV is sharp, but this is now in doubt. A very hot intergalactic medium at T ≈ 3 × 108 K would give the possibility of a sharp break.

A recent upper limit on the line source strength of 100-MeV photons in the galactic plane may create some difficulties for cosmic-ray theory. The spectral shape of π-γ photons has become a matter of theoretical dispute.

The experimental situation in regard to the extra-galactic diffuse background of photons of energy above 30 keV is critically reviewed in the light of discussions at this Symposium.

There seems to be some doubt about the spectral break at 40 keV. There is an indication of a small bump around 2 MeV and of a shoulder around 20 MeV. The spectrum below 1 MeV (down to 30 keV) can perhaps be represented as 25 (E/1 keV)–2.1. This spectrum also gives, roughly, the OSO III upper limit at 100 MeV, though it lies well below the two bumps mentioned above. A good deal of the discussion centres on the problem of backgrounds in different types of experiments to measure the diffuse X- and γ-ray fluxes.

The origin of the gamma-radiation from the galactic plane and the region near the galactic center is still uncertain. However, during this meeting, several groups reported evidence for discrete sources of cosmic gamma-rays. Most of the sources are located near the galactic plane, and some are associated with X-ray sources. The galactic gamma-radiation may be due to these previously unresolved sources. Other sources detected may be associated with variable radio galaxies.

The Crab Nebula still remains the most investigated source at gamma-ray energies. Pulsed emission from NP0532 was detected in the 10 to 30 MeV region, but no continuous emission was observed. At the highest energies, pulsed emission was reported at ∼1012 eV. Continuous emission from the Crab Nebula was observed at ∼1011 eV; the radiation may be time variable.

The recent gamma-ray experiments on Apollo 15 and 16 and the ESRO satellite TD-1 are described, as well as future experiments on the satellites SAS-B, COS-B, and HEAO-B.