Integral - The Origin of Heavy Elements

What are we made of and where do we come from? Questions about evolution of stars and the Universe are perhaps central question of astronomy. Gamma ray astronomy is helping us understand the origin of the heavier chemical elements. The early universe contained only the lightest elements from which all heavier elements were synthesised. This can only happen in large quantities is in the centre of stars. When larger stars explode at the end of their life via supermova explosions, these heavier elements are dispersed into the interstellar medium, forming raw material for the next generation of stars and planets. The gamma rays produced during the supernova explosions carry the fingerprints of the newly created elements. Interview with Dr. Roland Diehl at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Phsyics in Garching, Germany, a specialist in the heavy chemical elements. Radioactive elements emit gamma rays when they disintegrate. These rays can be identified and studied with a high resolution spectrometer such as the one on Integral. One of these is Aluminium 26. Integral will look for this element in the milky way to look for evidence of the production of heavy elements in the past million years. Other possible ends to stellar life cycles are discussed: neutron stars and black holes. These 'compact objects' are significant sources of high-energy emission that can be studied with Integral.