Gamma Ray Bursts 15 Years Of Grb Afterglows

Gamma-ray bursts (GRB) are amongst the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. In 1997 (more than 15 years ago), BeppoSAX allowed the detection of the first GRB X-ray afterglow, leading to the detection of afterglows at other wavelengths (optical, radio) in the following years, probing the cosmological distance scale. There are still many other open issues which still need to be addressed, regarding both theoretical and observational aspects: prompt emission and afterglow physics, progenitors (including Pop III stars), host galaxies, multi-messenger information, etc.

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.

A comprehensive graduate-level review of GRB astrophysics and its history, featuring the latest research by an international team of experts.

In the last thirty years, gamma-ray bursts have grown from an oddity to a central position in astrophysics. Not only are they the largest explosions since the big bang, capable of flooding most of the universe with gamma-rays, but their brilliance serves as a backlight that can illuminate the cosmos far deeper into the early universe than any other object. Their unpredictability has forced researchers to use extreme measures to observe them: completely autonomous satellites and robotic ground-based telescopes. Their bizarre physical properties have pushed us to develop new theories of astrophysical explosions. Topics include: global properties of GRBs; X-ray flashes; ultra-high energy gamma-rays, neutrinos, gravity waves; prompt emission and early afterglows; relativistic jets and polarization; GRB030329; GRB progenitors; GRB connection to supernovae; dark versus bright GRBs; late afterglows; GRBs and cosmology; general observations; general theory; analysis and observation techniques; present satellites; Swift satellite; future satellites; and robotic observing systems.

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.

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.

This book reflects the current state of the growing field of gamma-ray burst research and the remarkable progress brought about by recent multiwavelength observations. A full range of topics related to modern burst research is covered, including new observational results, ongoing archival analyses, theoretical modeling, and current/future instrumentation.

For more than three decades, gamma-ray bursts have grown from an oddity to a central topic in astrophysics. Not only are they the largest explosions since the big bang, capable of flooding most of the universe with gamma-rays, but their brilliance serves as a backlight that can illuminate the cosmos far deeper into the early universe than any other object. Their unpredictability has forced researchers to use extreme measures to observe them: completely autonomous satellites and robotic ground-based telescopes. Their bizarre physical properties have required new theories on massive explosions.