Very High Energy Cosmic Gamma Radiation: A Crucial Window On The Extreme Universe A Crucial Window on the Extreme Universe

Aharonian (Max-Planck-Institut fur Kemphysik) notes that the time of saying a window is opening in the field of gamma ray domains in cosmic radiation is over; with maps of the gamma-ray sky and other rapidly-progressing research the window is wide open. Aharonian shows how this exploration of non-thermal phenomena has advanced in recent years, especially in theories of the origin of cosmic rays, the physics and astrophysics of relativistic jets, and the results of observational gamma-ray cosmology. He examines cosmic gamma rays in terms of production and absorption, their presence in supernova remnants, pulsars, pulsar winds and plerions, and their role in microquasars, as nonthermal phenomena in clusters of galaxies, TeV blazars and cosmic background radiation. He also examines high energy gamma rays as carriers of unique cosmological information. Appendices include background information in gamma-ray technology" Gamma ray astronomy, the branch of high energy astrophysics that studies the sky in energetic [symbol]-ray photons, is destined to play a crucial role in the exploration of nonthermal phenomena in the Universe in their most extreme and violent forms. The great potential of this discipline offers impressive coverage of many "hot topics" of modern astrophysics and cosmology, such as the origin of galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays, particle acceleration and radiation processes under extreme astrophysical conditions, and the search for dark matter. The recent observational results and exciting theoretical predictions provide a strong rationale for a deep study of cosmic radiation with forthcoming satellite-borne and ground-based detectors in the so-called very high energy domain of the electromagnetic spectrum above 1010 eV. This invaluable book presents the motivations and highlights the principal objectives of the field, as well as demonstrates its intrinsic links to other branches of high energy astrophysics. Preference is given to three topical areas: (i) origin of cosmic rays; (ii) physics and astrophysics of relativistic jets; (iii) observational gamma ray cosmology. Also, an essential part of the book is devoted to the discussion of the principal mechanisms of production and absorption of energetic [symbol]-rays in different astrophysical environments, as well as to the description of the detection methods of high energy cosmic [symbol]-radiation Gamma ray astronomy, the branch of high energy astrophysics that studies the sky in energetic γ-ray photons, is destined to play a crucial role in the exploration of nonthermal phenomena in the Universe in their most extreme and violent forms. The great potential of this discipline offers impressive coverage of many “hot topics” of modern astrophysics and cosmology, such as the origin of galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays, particle acceleration and radiation processes under extreme astrophysical conditions, and the search for dark matter. The recent observational results and exciting theoretical predictions provide a strong rationale for a deep study of cosmic radiation with forthcoming satellite-borne and ground-based detectors in the so-called very high energy domain of the electromagnetic spectrum above 1010 eV.This invaluable book presents the motivations and highlights the principal objectives of the field, as well as demonstrates its intrinsic links to other branches of high energy astrophysics. Preference is given to three topical areas: (i) origin of cosmic rays; (ii) physics and astrophysics of relativistic jets; (iii) observational gamma ray cosmology. Also, an essential part of the book is devoted to the discussion of the principal mechanisms of production and absorption of energetic γ-rays in different astrophysical environments, as well as to the description of the detection methods of high energy cosmic γ-radiation. Copyright 3 Preface 4 Contents 8 1 - Introduction 14 2 - Status of the Field 36 3 - Gamma Ray Production and Absorption Mechanisms 112 4 - Gamma Rays and Origin of Galactic Cosmic Rays 148 5 - Gamma Ray Visibility of Supernova Remnants 212 6 - Pulsars, Pulsar Winds, Plerions 256 7 - Gamma Rays Expected from Microquasars 306 8 - Large Scale Jets of Radio Galaxies and Quasars 334 9 - Nonthermal Phenomena in Clusters of Galaxies 372 10 - TeV Blazers and Cosmic Background Radiation 406 11 - High Energy Gamma Rays - Carriers of Unique Cosmological Information 450 Appendix A - Spherically symmetric diffusion from a single source 476 Appendix B - Evolution of relativistic electronics in an expanding magnetised medium 478 Bibliography 486 Index 506 Many review articles and books related to gamma-ray astronomy start with a statement that the y-ray domain of cosmic radiation is the last of the electromagnetic windows to be opened.