e-ASTROGAM ('enhanced ASTROGAM') is a breakthrough Observatory mission dedicated to the study of the non-thermal Universe in the photon energy range from 0.3 MeV to 3 GeV. It has been proposed as a response to the 2016 ESA M5 Call. The mission is based on an advanced space-proven detector technology, with unprecedented sensitivity, angular and energy resolution, combined with polarimetric capability.
In the largely unexplored MeV-GeV domain, e-ASTROGAM will open a new window on the non-thermal Universe, making pioneering observations of the most powerful extragalactic and Galactic sources, elucidating the nature of their relativistic outflows and their effects on the surroundings. With a line sensitivity in the MeV energy range one to two orders of magnitude better than previous generation instruments, e-ASTROGAM will determine the origin of key isotopes fundamental for the understanding of supernova explosion and the chemical evolution of our Galaxy. The richness of MeV astrophysics, which is at the heart of the acceleration processes in extragalactic and Galactic objects, including micro-quasars and compact binaries, pulsars and their nebulae, SNRs, AGNs, and GRBs, will be explored. Last but not least, e-ASTROGAM will open a new window on anti-matter and positron astrophysics, and on Dark Matter studies.
The mission will provide unique data of significant interest to a broad astronomical community, complementary to powerful observatories such as LIGO-Virgo-GEO600-KAGRA, SKA, ALMA, E-ELT, TMT, LSST, JWST, Athena, CTA, IceCube, KM3NeT, and the promise of eLISA.
This scientific workshop, open to contributions, opens the discussion on the e-ASTROGAM science. A white book is planned.
More documentation is available at the homepage http://eastrogam.iaps.inaf.it
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