Gamma Ray Astronomy In Perspective Of Future Space Experiments

The research program in gamma-ray astronomy focuses on increasing our knowledge of the nature and origin of galactic and extragalactic gamma rays, and understanding high-energy processes in the Sun, celestial objects, interstellar medium, and extragalactic space. This book not only provides an overview of the latest research and future plans for space-borne and ground-based experiments dedicated to the observation of the gamma-ray sky, but also addresses the topic of variable gamma-ray sources from the perspective of their identification and counterparts at different wavelengths. It further gives an overview of the theory related to the most qualified emission processes that take place in these sources and of the nature of their variability. Sample Chapter(s). Integral: 4 Years in Orbit (767 KB). Contents: The Suzaku Mission (K Yamaoka); Gamma-Ray Astrophysics with AGILE (F Longo et al.); The GLAST Mission (J E McEnery); Recent Results from CANGAROO (M Mori); VERITAS: Status and Performance (J Holder); Gamma Ray Pulsars in the GLAST Era (M Razzano); Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Burst (M Della Valle); Solving GRBs and SGRs Puzzles by Precessing Jets (D Fargion et al.); Multiwavelength Observations and Theories of Blazars (G Tosti); Gamma Ray Bursts (L Amati); X-Rays and GeV Flares in GRB Light Curves (A Galli et al.); The Online Monitor for the GLAST Calibration Unit Beam Test (L Baldini et al.); Gamma-Ray Burst Physics with GLAST (N Omodei); The Global Fit Approach to Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of GRBs (A Chernenko); and other papers. Readership: Gamma-ray astronomers; astrophysicists; students and researchers involved in gamma-ray astronomy, both theoretical and experimental; researchers in the development of new gamma-ray detectors.

This book contains the invited and contributed lectures presented at a meeting organised in the context of the XVIII general assembly ofthe IAU, held in Patras, August 19, 1982. Roughly one hundred scientists attended this meeting, the discussions were livel- sometimes heated - and the original time span allocated to the meeting was as a result, comfortably exceeded by about 50 % . The aim of this meeting was to determine the role of galactic gamma-ray astronomy within the general concept of galactic astrophysics. The timing, at the end of the COS-B mission, was regarded as opportune, because it gives interested astrophysicists the possibility for interdisciplinary studies using the existing gamma-ray data base (e.g. comparison with infrared, radio, X-ray, etc. astronomies), as well as for theoretical studies. The next generation of gamma-ray detectors will probably not be in operation for another 5 to 10 years, and therefore it is hoped that the proceeding of this meeting can be used (in the intermediate time) as a basis for further studies, as a stimulation for more theoretical work and as an important contribution for defining the aims and operation of future gamma-ray missions. The interrelationship with other branches of astronomy, the astrophysical implications and the study of relevant physical processes using available measurements in the near-Earth environment were important results of the meeting. Many persons contributed to the success of the meeting, in particular all those who either presented a contribution and/or took part in the discussions.

The contributions in this volume provide a snapshot of the latest research and future plans for space-borne and ground-based experiments dedicated to the observation of the gamma-ray sky. The articles are authored by both seasoned veterans of the first dedicated gamma-ray missions, and young scientists entering the fascinating field of gamma-ray astrophysics.With the advent of gamma-ray instrumentation on spacecraft and large and sensitive ground-based detectors, new and unexpected phenomena have been discovered, such as gamma-ray bursts and gamma-ray emission from blazars. The immense vitality of the field in the current ?post-EGRET era? is witnessed by the numerous ongoing and forthcoming gamma-ray experiments documented here, complementary to various cosmic-ray, neutrino, astroparticle and X-ray projects.

Since their discovery was first announced in 1973, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been among the most fascination objects in the universe. While the initial mystery has gone, the fascination continues, sustained by the close connection linking GRBs with some of the most fundamental topics in modern astrophysics and cosmology. Both authors have been active in GRB observations for over two decades and have produced an outstanding account on both the history and the perspectives of GRB research.