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K.K. Dyer (NRAO)
The most exciting and advantageous place to be is often in between formal classifications: X-ray and radio astronomy, observation and theory, pure scientific research and dedicated public outreach. My research interests are tied together by an interest in high energy electrons -- in supernova remnants, in galaxy clusters, ``radio" galaxies, relics and halos. In these sources shocks, jets, and mergers result in thermal emission from hot plasma and nonthermal emission (synchrotron from relativistic electrons mediated by magnetic fields and inverse Compton from relativistic collisions with ambient photons and possibly nonthermal bremsstrahlung). The most promising avenue of research is to leave single wavelength analysis and challenge the divide between theorist and observer. Since we observe only snapshots of source evolution, and are denied full spectral coverage, critical progress is being made by challenging models with precise observations. The challenges poised include ``Is there a synchrotron component in X-ray spectrum of supernova remnants?", ``Is there inverse Compton seeded by cosmic microwave background photons in the X-ray emission of radio sources in clusters?" If the answers are affirmative, then why this source and not all sources? I will discuss how high resolution X-ray and radio observations provide key information which will propel the models and touch on how research and public outreach are synchronous, rather than conflicting, pursuits.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.