MeV Astronomy: Unlocking the Multi-Messenger Universe

Splinter Meeting at the 237th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

Monday, January 11, 2021 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Virtually Anywhere
SOC: Carolyn Kierans and Roopesh Ojha

The MeV domain is one of the most underexplored windows on the Universe. From astrophysical jets and extreme physics of compact objects to a large population of unidentified objects, fundamental astrophysics questions can be addressed by a mission that opens a window into the MeV range. The time is right for an MeV mission like AMEGO. Fermi-LAT observations at GeV energies have opened a window to a rich and varied ensemble of astrophysical sources, and demonstrate the promise of an equally rich return from opening the MeV band. With the discovery of high energy astrophysical neutrinos by IceCube and direct observations of gravitational waves by LIGO we are in the era of multi-messenger astronomy. By virtue of its focus on extreme environments, a medium energy gamma-ray surveyor is an excellent partner in these new scientific endeavors. This splinter meeting will seek to further the conversation on the indispensable science motivating new missions in this spectral window.

Speakers

12:00-12:15: Why we need MeV observations - a neutrino perspective

Prof. Naoko Neilsen (Drexel University)

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12:15-12:30: AGNs and their jets through a sensitive MeV eye

Ms. Lea Marcotulli (Clemson University)

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12:30-12:45: Gamma-Ray Line Astrophysics: Yesterday, Now, and Then

Dr. Thomas Siegert (University of California San Diego)

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12:45-1:00: Gamma-Ray Emission from the Solar Disk

Ms. Guanying Zhu (Ohio State University)

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1:00-1:15: The MeV Window on Dark Matter

Prof. Tracy Slatyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

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1:15-1:30: An MeV Lookout for Gravitational Wave Sources

Prof. Peter Shawhan (University of Maryland)

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