Gamma-ray observations of cosmic nuclei

Abstract

Gamma rays from nuclear processes such as radioactive decay and de-excitations are among the most-direct tools to witness the production and existence of specific nuclei and isotopes in and near cosmic nucleosynthesis sites. With space-borne instrumentation such as NuSTAR and SPI/INTEGRAL, and experimental techniques to handle a substantial instrumental background from cosmic-ray activations of the spacecraft and instrument, unique results have been obtained, from diffuse emissions of nuclei and positrons in interstellar surroundings of sources, as well as from observations of cosmic explosions and their radioactive afterglows. These witness non-sphericity in supernova explosions and a flow of nucleosynthesis ejecta through superbubbles as common source environments. Next-generation experiments that are awaiting space missions promise a next level of observational nuclear astrophysics.