Gamma-ray lines in modern astrophysics

Abstract

Gamma-ray astronomy provides a direct window into the most violent, dynamic processes in the Universe. MeV gamma-ray astronomy in particular allows us to directly observe the process of chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM) through the decay of radioactive isotopes synthesized by stars and compact objects during their lives, in their death throes and after their deaths. Moreover, gamma-ray lines such as the positron annihilation line can give us a unique view into the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy, as well as hints about unusual transient phenomena that may be responsible for producing the positrons. With modern astrophysics moving forward into a new era of multimessenger astrophysics, the important contributions of MeV gamma-ray astronomy must not be overlooked. I briefly outline some of the important contributions gamma-ray spectroscopy with INTEGRAL has made to our understanding of the universe, and the future perspectives for this dynamic field of astrophysics.