Gamma-ray astronomy began in the mid-1960s with balloon satellite, and, at very high photon energies, also with ground-based instruments. However, the most significant progress was made in the last decade of the 20th century, when the tree satellite missions SIGMA, Compton, and Beppo-Sax gave a completely new picture of our Universe and made gamma-ray astronomy an integral part of astronomical research. This book, written by well-known experts, gives the first comprehensive presentation of this field of research, addressing both graduate students and researchers. Gamma-ray astronomy helps us to understand the most energetic processes and the most violent events in the Universe. After describing cosmic gamma-ray production and absorption, the instrumentation used in gamma-ray astronomy is explained. The main part of the book deals with astronomical results, including the somewhat surprising result that the gamma-ray sky is continuously changing.

Klappentext

After describing cosmic gamma-ray production and absorption, the instrumentation used in gamma-ray astronomy is explained. The main part of the book deals with astronomical results, including the somewhat surprising result that the gamma-ray sky is continuously changing.

Inhalt

1 Introduction.- 2 Gamma-Ray Production and Absorption Processes.- 3 Instruments.- 4 Summary of the Gamma-Ray Sky.- 5 The Sun as a Gamma-Ray Source.- 6 Gamma-Ray Pulsars.- 7 X-Ray Binaries as Gamma-Ray Sources.- 8 Continuum Gamma Ray Emission from Supernova Remnants.- 9 Diffuse Galactic Continuum Gamma-Rays.- 10 Nucleosynthesis.- 11 Nuclear Interaction Gamma-Ray Lines.- 12 Gamma-Ray Emission of Active Galaxies.- 13 Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources.- 14 The Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Background.- 15 Gamma-Ray Bursts.