Gamma Ray Burst Correlations

Impressively, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) release the same amount of energy in a mere matter of seconds as the sun does in its lifetime. Gamma-ray Burst Correlations presents an overview of the observational correlations; their physical interpretations; their use as redshift estimators; and their potential use as cosmological tools. The author describes the existing correlations as well as breaching the possible meaning and controversy behind the results, and the applicability of several GRB correlations as model discriminators and cosmological indicators. A description of selection bias and the attempts made so far in order to use them as standard candles can help scientists to find the key to solve this puzzling problem. Covering an ever-expanding topic, this book will reach a wide audience, including students and researchers within the astronomical community.

A brief, cutting-edge introduction to the brightest cosmic phenomena known to science Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest—and, until recently, among the least understood—cosmic events in the universe. Discovered by chance during the cold war, these evanescent high-energy explosions confounded astronomers for decades. But a rapid series of startling breakthroughs beginning in 1997 revealed that the majority of gamma-ray bursts are caused by the explosions of young and massive stars in the vast star-forming cauldrons of distant galaxies. New findings also point to very different origins for some events, serving to complicate but enrich our understanding of the exotic and violent universe. What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? is a succinct introduction to this fast-growing subject, written by an astrophysicist who is at the forefront of today's research into these incredible cosmic phenomena. Joshua Bloom gives readers a concise and accessible overview of gamma-ray bursts and the theoretical framework that physicists have developed to make sense of complex observations across the electromagnetic spectrum. He traces the history of remarkable discoveries that led to our current understanding of gamma-ray bursts, and reveals the decisive role these phenomena could play in the grand pursuits of twenty-first century astrophysics, from studying gravity waves and unveiling the growth of stars and galaxies after the big bang to surmising the ultimate fate of the universe itself. What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? is an essential primer to this exciting frontier of scientific inquiry, and a must-read for anyone seeking to keep pace with cutting-edge developments in physics today.

A complete text on the physics of gamma-ray bursts, the most brilliant explosions since the Big Bang.

Annotation Papers from a February 1999 workshop discuss unresolved issues regarding prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Themes are temporal properties, spectral properties, central engine and radiative mechanisms, spatial distribution, luminosity function, cosmological effects, and future missions. Specific topics include radiation from relativistic strongly magnetized outflows, quasi-thermal comptonization and GRBs, and cosmological signatures in temporal and spectral characteristics of GRBs. The volume lacks a subject index. The editors are affiliated with the Stockholm Observatory. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The aim of the inaugural meeting of the Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics was to address, in a global context, the current understanding of and challenges in high-energy emissions from isolated and non-isolated neutron stars, and to confront the theoretical picture with observations of both the Fermi satellite and the currently operating ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. Participants have also discussed the prospects for possible observations with planned instruments across the multi-wavelength spectrum (e.g. SKA, LOFAR, E-VLT, IXO, CTA) and how they will impact our theoretical understanding of these systems. In keeping with the goals of the Forum, this book not only represents the proceedings of the meeting, but also a reflection on the state-of-the-art in the topic.

Summarizes the current understanding of Astronomical gamma-ray bursts, short-lived flashes of high-energy radiation, which have eluded even a basic explanation for over twenty years, and describes directions for future research.

Since their discovery was first announced in 1973, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been among the most fascination objects in the universe. While the initial mystery has gone, the fascination continues, sustained by the close connection linking GRBs with some of the most fundamental topics in modern astrophysics and cosmology. Both authors have been active in GRB observations for over two decades and have produced an outstanding account on both the history and the perspectives of GRB research.

The information received from BeppoSAX, Chandra and other instruments in the last two years has more than doubled the number of samples of Gamma-Ray Bursts localized and followed up for afterglow search. This has also increased the interest of astronomers in GRBs. This book reviews the research of the last two years and covers the global properties of GRBs, GRB afterglows, GRB host galaxies, cosmology using GRBs, and theories for GRBs and their afterglows. Theoretical and observational aspects are presented as well as tools for the analysis of the data.