Issues

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1989

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May

  

Reviews of topical problems


Some aspects of gamma-ray astronomy

 a,
a Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prosp. 53, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation

The present state of gamma-ray astronomy is reviewed. The basic understanding of the processes by which gamma radiation is generated and absorbed is outlined. The basic observational results in various gamma-ray energy ranges are presented. The nature of the gamma bursts, the radiation source at the center of the local galaxy, etc., are discussed for the range of soft gamma-ray energies (below a few tens of megaelectron volts), where radiation in gamma lines is predominant. In the very high-energy range ($E_\gamma\ge10^{12}$ eV) and in the ultrahigh-energy range ($E_\gamma\ge10^{15}$ eV) of the gamma radiation, the discussion focuses on discrete sources, in particular, the enigmatic source Cygnus X-3. Most of the review is devoted to an analysis of the origin of cosmic rays on the basis of the existing gamma-ray data over the energy range from a few tens of megaelectron volts to several gigaelectron volts. The question of determining the cosmic-ray gradient from gamma-ray data, the generation of high-latitude gamma radiation, the problem of the gamma-ray halo of the local galaxy, etc., are discussed. Also discussed are some theoretical models which explain the nature of the unidentified gamma-ray sources. Theoretical predictions and the results of measurements of the flux of gamma radiation from the supernova SN1987A are discussed.

Fulltext pdf (1.5 MB)
Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.1070/PU1989v032n05ABEH002716
PACS: 98.70.Rz, 98.70.Sa, 98.58.Db, 97.60.Bw, 98.62.Gq (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU1989v032n05ABEH002716
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1989/5/a/
Citation: Ginzburg V L, Dogel’ V A "Some aspects of gamma-ray astronomy" Sov. Phys. Usp. 32 385–415 (1989)
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Оригинал: Гинзбург В Л, Догель В А «Некоторые проблемы гамма-астрономии» УФН 158 3–58 (1989); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0158.198905a.0003

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