Highlights of GeV gamma-ray astronomy D. J. Thompson NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA On Behalf of the Fermi Large Area Telescope Collaboration
Received: 18 Oct 2010 – Accepted: 24 Nov 2010 – Published: 20 Dec 2010
Abstract. Because high-energy gamma rays are primarily produced by high-energy particle interactions,
the gamma-ray survey of the sky by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope offers
a view of sites of cosmic ray production and interactions. Gamma-ray bursts, pulsars,
pulsar wind nebulae, binary sources, and Active Galactic Nuclei are all phenomena that
reveal particle acceleration through their gamma-ray emission. Diffuse Galactic gamma
radiation, Solar System gamma-ray sources, and energetic radiation from supernova remnants
are likely tracers of high-energy particle interactions with matter and photon fields.
This paper will present a broad overview of the constantly changing sky seen with the Large
Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi spacecraft.
Citation: Thompson, D. J.: Highlights of GeV gamma-ray astronomy, Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 6, 59-64, doi:10.5194/astra-6-59-2010, 2010.