Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Swift Era
Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
In this article, the authors review the rapid observational and theoretical progress in this dynamical research field during the first two-year of the Swift mission, focusing on how observational breakthroughs have revolutionized our understanding of the physical origins of GRBs.Abstract:
Since the successful launch of NASA's dedicated gamma-ray burst (GRB) mission, Swift, the study of cosmological GRBs has entered a new era. Here I review the rapid observational and theoretical progress in this dynamical research field during the first two-year of the Swift mission, focusing on how observational breakthroughs have revolutionized our understanding of the physical origins of GRBs. Besides summarizing how Swift helps to solve some pre-Swift mysteries, I also list some outstanding problems raised by the Swift observations. An outlook of GRB science in the future, especially in the GLAST era, is briefly discussed.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
X-Ray Afterglows of GRBs 050318 and 060124 and their External Shock Origin
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the physical origin of the X-ray emissions of GRBs 050318 and 060124 and present the XRT light curves and spectra of the two bursts.
Journal ArticleDOI
The closure relations in optical afterglow of Gamma-Ray Bursts
TL;DR: In this article , the spectral and temporal indices (closure relations; CRs) according to the synchrotron forward-shock model evolving in the constant-density interstellar medium (ISM; k = 0) and the stellar wind environment (k = 2) in both slow and fast cooling regimes were investigated.
Journal ArticleDOI
Swift/BAT Observations of X-Ray Flashes
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of prompt gamma-rays of X-ray flashes (XRFs) observed with the Swift/BAT has been presented, and it is found that the BAT detection ratio of XRFs to typical Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is 42:193, for division at Γ = 2 (roughly corresponding Ep~50 keV), Γ being the power law index of the BAT spectrum and Ep, the peak energy (Ep) of the νfν spectrum.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Closure Relations in Optical Afterglow of Gamma-Ray Bursts
TL;DR: In this paper , Dainotti et al. considered the relations between the spectral and temporal indices (closure relations; CRs) according to the synchrotron forward-shock model evolving in the constant-density interstellar medium (ISM; k = 0) and the stellar wind environment (k = 2) in both slow and fast cooling regimes, where the density profile is defined as n ∝ r −k .
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
First year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) observations: Preliminary maps and basic results
Charles L. Bennett,Mark Halpern,Gary Hinshaw,N. Jarosik,Alan J. Kogut,Michele Limon,Michele Limon,S. S. Meyer,Lyman A. Page,David N. Spergel,Gregory S. Tucker,Gregory S. Tucker,Gregory S. Tucker,Edward J. Wollack,Edward L. Wright,Cris W. Barnes,M. R. Greason,Robert S. Hill,Eiichiro Komatsu,M. R. Nolta,N. Odegard,Hiranya V. Peiris,Licia Verde,Janet Weiland +23 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present full sky microwave maps in five frequency bands (23 to 94 GHz) from the WMAP first year sky survey, which are consistent with the 7 in. full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) maps.
Journal ArticleDOI
First Year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Observations: Preliminary Maps and Basic Results
Charles L. Bennett,Mark Halpern,Gary Hinshaw,N. Jarosik,Alan J. Kogut,Michele Limon,Michele Limon,S. S. Meyer,Lyman A. Page,David N. Spergel,Gregory S. Tucker,Edward J. Wollack,Edward L. Wright,Cris W. Barnes,M. R. Greason,Robert S. Hill,Eiichiro Komatsu,M. R. Nolta,N. Odegard,H. V. Peirs,Licia Verde,Janet Weiland +21 more
Abstract: We present full sky microwave maps in five bands (23 to 94 GHz) from the WMAP first year sky survey. Calibration errors are 1 per mode to l=658. The temperature-polarization cross-power spectrum reveals both acoustic features and a large angle correlation from reionization. The optical depth of reionization is 0.17 +/- 0.04, which implies a reionization epoch of 180+220-80 Myr (95% CL) after the Big Bang at a redshift of 20+10-9 (95% CL) for a range of ionization scenarios. This early reionization is incompatible with the presence of a significant warm dark matter density. The age of the best-fit universe is 13.7 +/- 0.2 Gyr old. Decoupling was 379+8-7 kyr after the Big Bang at a redshift of 1089 +/- 1. The thickness of the decoupling surface was dz=195 +/- 2. The matter density is Omega_m h^2 = 0.135 +0.008 -0.009, the baryon density is Omega_b h^2 = 0.0224 +/- 0.0009, and the total mass-energy of the universe is Omega_tot = 1.02 +/- 0.02. The spectral index of scalar fluctuations is fit as n_s = 0.93 +/- 0.03 at wavenumber k_0 = 0.05 Mpc^-1, with a running index slope of dn_s/d ln k = -0.031 +0.016 -0.018 in the best-fit model. This flat universe model is composed of 4.4% baryons, 22% dark matter and 73% dark energy. The dark energy equation of state is limited to w<-0.78 (95% CL). Inflation theory is supported with n_s~1, Omega_tot~1, Gaussian random phases of the CMB anisotropy, and superhorizon fluctuations. An admixture of isocurvature modes does not improve the fit. The tensor-to-scalar ratio is r(k_0=0.002 Mpc^-1)<0.90 (95% CL).
Journal ArticleDOI
The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
Neil Gehrels,G. Chincarini,G. Chincarini,Paolo Giommi,Keith O. Mason,John A. Nousek,Alan A. Wells,Nicholas E. White,S. D. Barthelmy,David N. Burrows,L. R. Cominsky,Kevin Hurley,F. E. Marshall,Peter Mészáros,Peter W. A. Roming,Lorella Angelini,Lorella Angelini,L. M. Barbier,Tomaso Belloni,Sergio Campana,P. A. Caraveo,M. M. Chester,O. Citterio,T. L. Cline,Mark Cropper,Jay Cummings,Jay Cummings,A. J. Dean,Eric D. Feigelson,E. E. Fenimore,Dale A. Frail,A. S. Fruchter,Gordon P. Garmire,Keith C. Gendreau,Gabriele Ghisellini,Jochen Greiner,Joanne E. Hill,S. D. Hunsberger,Hans A. Krimm,Hans A. Krimm,Shrinivas R. Kulkarni,Pawan Kumar,F. Lebrun,Nicole M. Lloyd-Ronning,Craig B. Markwardt,Craig B. Markwardt,Barbara J. Mattson,Barbara J. Mattson,Richard Mushotzky,Jay P. Norris,J. P. Osborne,Bohdan Paczynski,David Palmer,H.-S. Park,A. M. Parsons,J. A. Paul,Martin J. Rees,Christopher S. Reynolds,James E. Rhoads,T. P. Sasseen,Bradley E. Schaefer,A. Short,Alan P. Smale,Alan P. Smale,Ian Smith,Luigi Stella,Gianpiero Tagliaferri,Tadayuki Takahashi,Makoto Tashiro,Leisa K. Townsley,Jack Tueller,Martin J. L. Turner,M. Vietri,Wolfgang Voges,Martin Ward,Richard Willingale,F. M. Zerbi,W. W. Zhang +77 more
TL;DR: The Swift mission as discussed by the authors is a multi-wavelength observatory for gamma-ray burst (GRB) astronomy, which is a first-of-its-kind autonomous rapid-slewing satellite for transient astronomy and pioneers the way for future rapid-reaction and multiwavelength missions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Gamma-ray bursts from stellar mass accretion disks around black holes
TL;DR: In this paper, a cosmological model for gamma-ray bursts is explored in which the radiation is produced as a broadly beamed pair fireball along the rotation axis of an accreting black hole.
Journal ArticleDOI
Spectra and light curves of gamma-ray burst afterglows
TL;DR: In this paper, the broadband spectrum and corresponding light curve of synchrotron radiation from a power-law distribution of electrons in an expanding relativistic shock were calculated for the gamma-ray burst afterglow.
Related Papers (5)
The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
Neil Gehrels,G. Chincarini,G. Chincarini,Paolo Giommi,Keith O. Mason,John A. Nousek,Alan A. Wells,Nicholas E. White,S. D. Barthelmy,David N. Burrows,L. R. Cominsky,Kevin Hurley,F. E. Marshall,Peter Mészáros,Peter W. A. Roming,Lorella Angelini,Lorella Angelini,L. M. Barbier,Tomaso Belloni,Sergio Campana,P. A. Caraveo,M. M. Chester,O. Citterio,T. L. Cline,Mark Cropper,Jay Cummings,Jay Cummings,A. J. Dean,Eric D. Feigelson,E. E. Fenimore,Dale A. Frail,A. S. Fruchter,Gordon P. Garmire,Keith C. Gendreau,Gabriele Ghisellini,Jochen Greiner,Joanne E. Hill,S. D. Hunsberger,Hans A. Krimm,Hans A. Krimm,Shrinivas R. Kulkarni,Pawan Kumar,F. Lebrun,Nicole M. Lloyd-Ronning,Craig B. Markwardt,Craig B. Markwardt,Barbara J. Mattson,Barbara J. Mattson,Richard Mushotzky,Jay P. Norris,J. P. Osborne,Bohdan Paczynski,David Palmer,H.-S. Park,A. M. Parsons,J. A. Paul,Martin J. Rees,Christopher S. Reynolds,James E. Rhoads,T. P. Sasseen,Bradley E. Schaefer,A. Short,Alan P. Smale,Alan P. Smale,Ian Smith,Luigi Stella,Gianpiero Tagliaferri,Tadayuki Takahashi,Makoto Tashiro,Leisa K. Townsley,Jack Tueller,Martin J. L. Turner,M. Vietri,Wolfgang Voges,Martin Ward,Richard Willingale,F. M. Zerbi,W. W. Zhang +77 more