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What do Gamma Rays tell us about the ISM?: New Insight from the Compton Observatory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

Hans Bloemen*
Affiliation:
SRON-Utrecht † Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584 CA Utrecht The Netherlands

Abstract

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Gamma-ray astronomy has become a rich field of research and matured significantly since the launch of NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in April 1991. Studies of the diffuse γ-ray emission of the Galaxy can now be performed in far more detail and extended into the MeV regime, including both continuum and line emission. These studies provide unique insight into various aspects of the interstellar medium, in particular of the cosmic-ray component. This paper gives a brief review on the diffuse Galactic γ-ray emission and summarizes early results and prospects from the Compton Observatory.

Type
Chapter 6: How are we to Understand the Large Scale Structure of the ISM?
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1996 

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