The Physics Of Gamma Ray Bursts

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

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.

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.

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.

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

This volume contains the proceedings from a symposium on gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) held in Stockholm, Sweden, in September 2006. All papers have been peer reviewed. The gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) is an international mission dedicated to observations of high-energy gamma-rays and is planned to be launched by the end of 2007.

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.