Observers started to use X-ray and gamma-rays in the sixties and seventies to explore the cosmos with high-energy photons. The sky looks dramatically different at these energies with bright flares from mass accreting black holes and gamma-ray bursts and large diffuse emission from supernova remnants and cosmic rays interacting with galactic matter and magnetic fields dominating the emission. This course gives a comprehensive overview of the underlying physics and observable phenomenology. Topics that will be covered include the history of X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, high- energy radiation processes, particle heating and acceleration, accretion physics, blast waves and shocks, black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, gamma-ray bursts, and galaxy clusters. Prerequisite L31 312.
Course Attributes: AR NSM; AS NSM
