X- and Gamma-Ray Line Emission Processes

Abstract

This chapter is intended to provide a general presentation of the atomic and nuclear processes responsible for X-ray line and gamma-ray line emission in various astrophysical environments. I consider line production from hot plasmas, from accelerated particle interactions, from the decay of radioactive nuclei synthesized in stars and from positron annihilation. Spectroscopic properties of these emissions are discussed in the light of the detection capabilities of modern space instruments.

46 pages including 16 figures, uses eas.cls, to appear in the proceedings of the Aussois 2001 summer school "Stades Ultimes de l'Evolution Stellaire", EAS Pub. Series

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