Gamma-ray sources at high latitudes (Extragalactic gamma-ray sources)

Abstract

This Chapter provides a review of $γ$-ray sources lying at high Galactic latitudes. Their statistical properties and variability status, as well as studies involving cross correlations with lower frequency catalogs and multiwavelength observations, are summarized. The case for active galactic nuclei is analyzed with special emphasis, since they represent the largest population of high energy sources known to date. Other potential $γ$-ray emitters (including nearby starburst galaxies, normal galaxies, molecular clouds in the Galactic halo, galaxy clusters, and radio galaxies) that may appear in the next generation of $γ$-ray catalogs and, perhaps, that might have been already observed by EGRET as unidentified detections, are discussed.