The present decade is opening new frontiers in high-energy astrophysics. After the X-ray satellites in the 1980's, including Einstein, Tenma, EXOSAT and Ginga, several satellites are, or will soon be, simultaneously in orbit offering spectacular advances in X-ray imaging at low energies (ROSATj Yohkoh) as well as at high energies (GRANAT), in spectroscopy with increased bandwidth (ASCAj SAX), and in timing (XTE). While these satellites allow us to study atomic radiation from hot plasmas or energetic electrons, other satellites study nuclear radiation at gamma-ray energies (CGRO) associated with radioactivity or spallation reactions. These experiments show that the whole universe is emitting radiation at high energies, hence we call it the "hot universe. " The hot universe, preferentially emitting X- and gamma-rays, provides us with many surprises and much information. A symposium "The Hot Universe" was held in conjunction with the XXIIIrd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, at Kyoto on August 26-30 in 1997. The proceedings are organized as follows. Synthetic view of "the hot universe" is discussed in Section 1, "Plasma and Fresh Nucleosynthesis Phenomena". Timely discussions on the strategy for future missions "Future Space Program" are found in Section 2. Then the contents are divided into two major subjects: the compact objects and thin hot diffuse plasmas. Section 3 is devoted to the category of compact objects which includes white dwarfs, neutron stars, and gravitationally collapsed objects: stellar mass black holes or active galactic nuclei.

Klappentext

The present decade opens new frontiers in high energy astrophysics. After the Einstein, Temma, EXOSAT and Ginga X-ray satellites of the 1980s, several satellites are simultaneously in orbit, offering spectacular advances in X-ray imaging at low energies (ROSAT; Yohkoh), as well as at high energies (GRANAT), in spectroscopy with increased bandwidth (ASCA; SAX), and in timing (XTE). While these satellites allow us to study atomic radiation from hot plasmas or energetic electrons, other satellites study nuclear radiation at gamma-ray energies (CGRO), associated with radioactivity or spallation reactions. All these experiments show that the whole universe, from the sun to clusters of galaxies, is emitting X- and gamma rays. This symposium is dedicated to highlighting high energy phenomena, in particular those seen in X- and gamma rays, and is intended to bring together the most recent results, and to discuss and deepen our insight into high energy astrophysics.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of the 188th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union, held in Kyoto, Japan, August 26-30, 1997

Inhalt
Preface. Session 1: Plasma and Fresh Nucleosynthesis Phenomena. 1.1. Sun and Stars. 1.2. Supernovae, Supernova Remnants and Galactic Hot Plasma. 1.3. Galaxies and Their Clusters. Session 2: Future Space Programs. Session 3: Diagnostics of High Gravity Objects with X- and Gamma Rays. 3.1. White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars. 3.2. Black Hole Binaries. 3.3. AGNs. 3.4. Gamma-Ray Bursts. Session 4: Large Scale Hot Plasmas and Their Relation with Dark Matter. Contributed Papers. Session 1: Plasma and Fresh Nucleosynthesis Phenomena. 1.1. Sun and Stars. 1.2. Supernovae, Supernova Remnants and Galactic Hot Plasma. 1.3. Galaxies and Their Clusters. Session 2: Future Space Programs. Session 3: Diagnostics of High Gravity Objects with X- and Gamma Rays. 3.1. White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars. 3.2. Black Hole Binaries. 3.3. AGNs. 3.4. Gamma-Ray Bursts. Session 4: Large Scale Hot Plasmas and Their Relation with Dark Matter.