X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Astrophysics

3 units

This course provides an introduction to the field of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics in the context of the wider field of High-Energy Astrophysics, which elucidates the information derivable from investigations of cosmic rays, radio waves, x-rays, gamma-rays, and gravitational waves emitted by astronomical sources. Physical processes such as acceleration of particles to highly relativistic energies in astrophysical plasmas, synchrotron radiation, inverse-Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, Cerenkov emission, dispersion and Faraday rotation of radio waves are discussed in the context of modeling the astrophysical sources. The physics underlying supernovae, supernova remnants, pulsars, powerful radio, x-ray and gamma-ray sources, active galactic nuclei, quasars and the recently discovered gravitational wave sources powered by coalescing binary black holes, and neutron stars constitutes the main body of this course. The subject of dark matter in the galaxies is briefly touched upon. The design of detectors for carrying out the observations is also briefly presented.