Gamma ray astronomy and black hole astrophysics
One of the most exciting recent development in black hole astrophysics is the discovery by the HEAO-3 experiment of transient enhanced MeV gamma ray emissions from Cygnus X-1 and the Galactic Center, and the potentially correlated appearance of the 511 keV annihilation line from the Galactic Center (Ling et al 1987, Riegler et al 1985). If these soft gamma ray bumps and annihilation lines can be proven to be universal signatures of black hole accretions, then they will provide a new window on the overall black hole phenomenon from stellar mass black holes to AGNs. Hence it is important for future high energy astrophysics space missions to incorporate the study of soft gamma emissions from black hole candidates as a major component of their scientific goals. This paper discusses these goals. 14 refs., 4 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/DP; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7017851
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-102659; CONF-891276-3; ON: DE90007253; CNN: NGR 05-020-668
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 211; Conference: Workshop on high energy astrophysics in the 21st century, Taos, NM (USA), 10-14 Dec 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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