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Results for “COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Relativistically expanding pair plasmas as bursting sources of cosmic gamma rays

High temperature shock heating of relativistically expanding plasmas produced in neutron star binary mergers provides a model for cosmic gamma ray burst sources. This requires the fireball resulting from the merger to have a very high entropy per baryon, mechanisms for which are discussed. The energy, temporal structure and spectrum produced by the blast wave and reverse shock as the fireball is decelerated in an external medium are comparable to those observed, as is the frequency of occurrence and the characteristics of the spatial distribution of the events. Difficulties common to all cosmological gamma ray burst scenarios concern the total amount of energy ultimately appearing at gamma ray energies, the time scales, the spectrum, and the great variety of time profiles. A very general mechanism which overcomes these problems is presented. Situations where the pair plasma is created in regions which are relatively free of baryons are discussed. The effect of the interaction of the expanding fireball with the external medium is considered.

Meszaros, Peter↗
NASA NTRS1973

Experiments for the study of cosmic gamma-ray bursts

Several experiments are outlined which are designed for investigating cosmic gamma ray bursts; they form a research program that includes balloon experiments currently under development and satellite experiments proposed for future missions. The satellite proposals, in most cases, are either suggested for payloads that are presently defined as to experimental complement, or are for hypothetical spacecraft. Thus, these proposals at present serve to indicate, at least, the possible usefulness of various space missions for cosmic gamma-ray burst studies. Taken as a whole, this program of gamma ray burst experiments should improve on the present observations of the temporal variations, size spectrum, energy spectra, polarizations, directional locations and distribution of source directions, each by several orders of magnitude of improved resolution or of dynamic range.

Cline, T. L.↗
DOE OSTI2013

ON THE ORIGIN OF > 10 GeV PHOTONS IN GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOWS

Fermi/LAT has detected long-lasting high-energy photons (>100 MeV) from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), with the highest energy photons reaching about 100 GeV. One proposed scenario is that they are produced by high-energy electrons accelerated in GRB forward shocks via synchrotron radiation. We study the maximum synchrotron photon energy in this scenario, considering the properties of the microturbulence magnetic fields behind the shock, as revealed by recent particle-in-cell simulations and theoretical analyses of relativistic collisionless shocks. Due to the small-scale nature of the microturbulent magnetic field, the Bohm acceleration approximation, in which the scattering mean free path is equal to the particle Larmor radius, breaks down at such high energies. This effect leads to a typical maximum synchrotron photon of a few GeV at 100 s after the burst and this maximum synchrotron photon energy decreases quickly with time. We show that the fast decrease of the maximum synchrotron photon energy leads to a fast decay of the synchrotron flux. The 10-100 GeV photons detected after the prompt phase cannot be produced by the synchrotron mechanism. They could originate from the synchrotron self-Compton emission of the early afterglow if the circumburst density is sufficiently large, or from the external inverse Compton process in the presence of central X-ray emission, such as X-ray flares and prompt high-latitude X-ray emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ESTIMATING LONG GRB JET OPENING ANGLES AND REST-FRAME ENERGETICS

We present a method to estimate the jet opening angles of long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using the prompt gamma-ray energetics and an inversion of the Ghirlanda relation, which is a correlation between the time-integrated peak energy of the GRB prompt spectrum and the collimation-corrected energy in gamma-rays. The derived jet opening angles using this method and detailed assumptions match well with the corresponding inferred jet opening angles obtained when a break in the afterglow is observed. Furthermore, using a model of the predicted long GRB redshift probability distribution observable by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM), we estimate the probability distributions for the jet opening angle and rest-frame energetics for a large sample of GBM GRBs for which the redshifts have not been observed. Previous studies have only used a handful of GRBs to estimate these properties due to the paucity of observed afterglow jet breaks, spectroscopic redshifts, and comprehensive prompt gamma-ray observations, and we potentially expand the number of GRBs that can be used in this analysis by more than an order of magnitude. In this analysis, we also present an inferred distribution of jet breaks which indicates that a large fraction of jet breaks are not observable with current instrumentation and observing strategies. We present simple parameterizations for the jet angle, energetics, and jet break distributions so that they may be used in future studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1992

Ulysses/BATSE observations of cosmic gamma ray bursts

The gamma ray burst detector aboard the ESA-NASA Ulysses spacecraft, in operation since Nov. 1990, has detected numerous gamma bursts in conjunction with the BATSE experiment aboard the Compton Observatory. Initial results are presented on burst locations for three events (21 April, 2 May, and 3 May, 1991) obtained by arrival time analysis, and they are compared with the BATSE locations. The arrival time analysis annuli have typical widths of 5'. The preliminary analysis indicates that both experiments are likely to have unresolved systematic errors, but that further work will improve the location accuracy substantially.

Hurley, K.↗
DOE OSTI2015

ICECUBE NEUTRINOS AND LORENTZ INVARIANCE VIOLATION

The IceCube neutrino telescope has found so far no evidence of gamma-ray burst (GRB) neutrinos. We here notice that these results assume the same travel times from source to telescope for neutrinos and photons, an assumption that is challenged by some much-studied pictures of spacetime quantization. We briefly review previous results suggesting that limits on quantum-spacetime effects obtained for photons might not be applicable to neutrinos, and we then observe that the outcome of GRB-neutrino searches could depend strongly on whether one allows for neutrinos to be affected by the minute effects of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) predicted by some relevant quantum-spacetime models. We discuss some relevant issues using as an illustrative example three neutrinos that were detected by IceCube in good spatial coincidence with GRBs, but hours before the corresponding gamma rays. In general, this could happen if the earlier arrival reflects quantum-spacetime-induced LIV, but, as we stress, some consistency criteria must be enforced in order to properly test such a hypothesis. Our analysis sets the stage for future GRB-neutrino searches that could systematically test the possibility of quantum-spacetime-induced LIV.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1974

Cosmic gamma-ray burst detected with an instrument on board the OGO-5 satellite

Gamma-ray bursts of cosmic origin have recently been detected by instruments on the Vela satellites. We now confirm the detection of the June 30, 1971 event with an instrument on board the OGO-5 satellite. The intensity of this burst is calculated to be approximately 100-200 photons per sq cm/sec for photons of energy greater than 150 keV with an upper limit of 50 photons per sq cm/sec for the intensity above 5 MeV. An upper limit of one-third of the intensity of the June 30, 1971 event is set for 10 other events studied.

Lheureux, J.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Cosmic evolution of long gamma-ray burst luminosity

The cosmic evolution of gamma-ray burst (GRB) luminosity is essential for revealing the GRB physics and for using GRBs as cosmological probes. We investigate the luminosity evolution of long GRBs with a large sample of 258 Swift/BAT GRBs. By describing the peak luminosity evolution of individual GRBs as L{sub p}∝(1+z){sup k}, we get k=1.49±0.19 using the nonparametric τ statistics method without considering observational biases of GRB trigger and redshift measurement. By modeling these biases with the observed peak flux and characterizing the peak luminosity function of long GRBs as a smoothly broken power law with a break that evolves as L{sub b}∝(1+z){sup k{sub b}}, we obtain k{sub b}=1.14{sub −0.47}{sup +0.99} through simulations based on the assumption that the long GRB rate follows the star formation rate incorporating the cosmic metallicity history. The derived k and k{sub b} values are systematically smaller than those reported in previous papers. By removing the observational biases of the GRB trigger and redshift measurement based on our simulation analysis, we generate mock complete samples of 258 and 1000 GRBs to examine how these biases affect the τ statistics method. We get k=0.94±0.14 and k=0.80±0.09 for the two samples, indicating that these observational biases may lead to overestimating the k value. With the large uncertainty of k{sub b} derived from our simulation analysis, one cannot even convincingly argue for a robust evolution feature of the GRB luminosity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

THE FERMI-GBM X-RAY BURST MONITOR: THERMONUCLEAR BURSTS FROM 4U 0614+09

Thermonuclear bursts from slowly accreting neutron stars (NSs) have proven difficult to detect, yet they are potential probes of the thermal properties of the NS interior. During the first year of a systematic all-sky search for X-ray bursts using the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope we have detected 15 thermonuclear bursts from the NS low-mass X-ray binary 4U 0614+09 when it was accreting at nearly 1% of the Eddington limit. We measured an average burst recurrence time of 12 {+-} 3 days (68% confidence interval) between 2010 March and 2011 March, classified all bursts as normal duration bursts and placed a lower limit on the recurrence time of long/intermediate bursts of 62 days (95% confidence level). We discuss how observations of thermonuclear bursts in the hard X-ray band compare to pointed soft X-ray observations and quantify such bandpass effects on measurements of burst radiated energy and duration. We put our results for 4U 0614+09 in the context of other bursters and briefly discuss the constraints on ignition models. Interestingly, we find that the burst energies in 4U 0614+09 are on average between those of normal duration bursts and those measured in long/intermediate bursts. Such a continuous distribution in burst energy provides a new observational link between normal and long/intermediate bursts. We suggest that the apparent bimodal distribution that defined normal and long/intermediate duration bursts during the last decade could be due to an observational bias toward detecting only the longest and most energetic bursts from slowly accreting NSs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

GRB 131231A: IMPLICATIONS OF THE GeV EMISSION

GRB 131231A was detected by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Space Gamma-ray Telescope. The high-energy gamma-ray (>100 MeV) afterglow emission spectrum is F {sub ν}∝ν{sup –0.54} {sup ±} {sup 0.15} in the first ∼1300 s after the trigger and the most energetic photon has an energy of ∼62 GeV, arriving at t ∼ 520 s. With reasonable parameters of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) outflow as well as the density of the circum-burst medium, the synchrotron radiation of electrons or protons accelerated at an external forward shock have difficulty accounting for the data. Rather, the synchrotron self-Compton radiation of the forward shock-accelerated electrons can account for both the spectrum and temporal behavior of the GeV afterglow emission. We also show that the prospect for detecting GRB 131231A-like GRBs with the Cherenkov Telescope Array is promising.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

CONSTRAINING THE LORENTZ FACTOR OF A RELATIVISTIC SOURCE FROM ITS THERMAL EMISSION

We propose a direct and simple method to measure the Lorentz factor of relativistically expanding objects such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Only three measurements, i.e., the thermal component of the emission, the distance, and the variable timescale of the light curve, are used. When the uncertainties are considered, we will obtain a lower limit of the Lorentz factor instead. We apply this method to GRB 090618 and get a lower limit of 22 for the Lorentz factor. This method can be used for any relativistically moving objects, such as GRBs and soft gamma-ray repeaters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

REGULATION OF THE SPECTRAL PEAK IN GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

Observations indicate that the peak of a gamma-ray burst spectrum forms in the opaque region of an ultrarelativistic jet. Recent radiative transfer calculations support this picture and show that the spectral peak is inherited from initially thermal radiation, which is changed by heating into a broad photon distribution with a high-energy tail. We discuss the processes that regulate the observed position of the spectral peak E {sub pk}. The opaque jet has three radial zones: (1) the Planck zone r < R {sub P} where a blackbody spectrum is enforced; this zone ends where the Thomson optical depth decreases to {tau} Almost-Equal-To 10{sup 5}, (2) the Wien zone R {sub P} < r < R {sub W} with a Kompaneets parameter y >> 1 where radiation has a Bose-Einstein spectrum, and (3) the Comptonization zone r > R {sub W} where the radiation spectrum develops a high-energy tail. Besides the initial jet temperature, an important factor regulating E {sub pk} is internal dissipation (of bulk motions and magnetic energy) at large distances from the central engine. Dissipation in the Planck zone reduces E {sub pk}, and dissipation in the Wien zone can increase E {sub pk}. In jets with subdominant magnetic fields, the predicted E {sub pk} varies around 1 MeV up to a maximum value of about 10 MeV. If the jet carries an energetically important magnetic field, E {sub pk} can be additionally increased by dissipation of magnetic energy. This increase is suggested by observations, which show E {sub pk} up to about 20 MeV. We also consider magnetically dominated jets; then a simple model of magnetic dissipation gives E {sub pk} Almost-Equal-To 30 {Gamma}{sub W} keV where {Gamma}{sub W} is the jet Lorentz factor at the Wien radius R {sub W}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1973

IMP-6 observations of the energy spectra of cosmic gamma-ray bursts

The occurrence of intense, short bursts of 0.1 to 1.2 MeV cosmic gamma rays, recently found using multiple Vela satellites was confirmed with measurements from the IMP-6 satellite. Observations regarding times of occurrence, photon flux, and temporal and spectral characteristics of the bursts are outlined. In particular, since the IMP-6 instrument incorporates a hard X-ray detector with active particle rejection and full-time omnidirectional particle intensity monitoring, the results fully confirm and establish the hard X-ray or gamma-ray nature of the incident flux. Detailed differential energy spectra were obtained with the IMP-6 for six of the eight known events occurring during the March 1971 to September 1972 lifetime of the instrument. All of these are multiple-pulse events, with several seconds separation between distinct pulses of one or two seconds duration. The pulse spectra do not obey single-index power laws in energy, but can be represented by exponentials in photon flux throughout the 100 to 1200 KeV region.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Average Cosmological Invariant Parameters of Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts

Average cosmological invariant parameters (ACIPs) are calculated for six groups of BATSE cosmic gamma-ray bursts selected by their peak fluxes on the 1.024 S timescale. The ACIPs represent the average temporal and spectral properties of these events equally in the observer frame of reference and in the comoving frames of outbursting emitters. The parameters are determined separately for rise fronts and for back slopes of bursts, defined as the time profiles before and after the main peaks, respectively. The ACIPs for the rise fronts are found to be different for different intensity groups, while the ACIPs for the back slopes show no significant dependence on intensity. We conclude that emitters of bursts manifest standard average properties only during the back slopes of bursts.

Mitrofanov, Igor G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Observations of cosmic gamma-ray bursts with IMP-7: Evidence for a single spectrum

Spectral observation of nine recent cosmic gamma-ray bursts are reported. The average photon number spectra of all nine events are shown to be consistent with a 150-keV exponential from 100 keV to about 400 keV, and a power law of index -2.5 from 400 keV to 1100 keV. The observations also indicate an event rate of 16 in 1972 and 1973, or 8 + or - 2 per year, higher than the 5 + or - 1 per year initially reported. This corresponds to an approximately 40-percent lower effective intensity threshold, attained by using more sensitive detectors in multiple-satellite coincidence.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations of cosmic gamma-ray bursts with IMP-7 - Evidence for a single spectrum

Spectral observations of nine recent cosmic gamma-ray bursts are reported. The average photon number spectra of all nine events are each consistent with a 150-keV exponential from 100 keV to about 400 keV, and a power law of index -2.5 from 400 keV to 1100 keV. The observations also indicate an event rate of 16 in 1972 and 1973, or 8 plus or minus 2 per year, higher than the 5 plus or minus 1 per year initially reported. This corresponds to an approximately 40 percent lower effective intensity threshold, attained by using more sensitive detectors in multiple-satellite coincidence.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Generic Signatures of the Time Profiles of BATSE Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts

A new method is proposed, which allows the study of generic signatures of cosmic gamma-ray burst time histories. We average the 64 ms resolution time profiles of 275 bright bursts detected by BATSE. The profile of each burst is normalized by the maximum number of counts at the peak of the primary pulse, and individual pulses and interpulse valleys are selected from the normalized profiles by identical selection criteria. New generic temporal parameters are introduced, which characterize the duration and equivalent width of each pulse and the duration of each valley. The histograms of the total equivalent pulse width and summed pulse duration are bimodal. Bimodality is also seen in the histogram of the mean duration of individual pulses. Bursts from the short and long peaks of these distributions correspond to the two modes of the Third BATSE Burst Catalog T(sub 50) and T(sub 90) distributions. Therefore, these new burst parameters demonstrate that the observed bimodal temporal behavior results from properties of the pulsed emission of gamma-ray bursts. The long mode of the T(sub 90) histogram includes bursts with from one to approximately 20 pulses; the logarithmic mean pulse duration is 1.17 +/- 0.09 S; for the long events with more than one pulse, the logarithmic mean valley duration is 1.28 +/- 0.15 S. Bursts of the short mode of T(sub 90) are mainly single-pulse events, and the logarithmic mean pulse duration is much smaller, 0.20 +/- 0.01 s. For multipulse bursts of the T(sub 90) long mode, marginal correlations were found between the parameters of the pulses and valleys and the number of pulses. The basic signatures of the evolution of pulses and valleys along the time course of bursts are examined. Conclusions are drawn concerning the physics of gamma-ray emission by taking into account these signatures.

Mitrofanov, Igor G.↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE FERMI –GBM THREE-YEAR X-RAY BURST CATALOG

The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) is an all-sky gamma-ray monitor well known in the gamma-ray burst (GRB) community. Although GBM excels in detecting the hard, bright extragalactic GRBs, its sensitivity above 8 keV and its all-sky view make it an excellent instrument for the detection of rare, short-lived Galactic transients. In 2010 March, we initiated a systematic search for transients using GBM data. We conclude this phase of the search by presenting a three-year catalog of 1084 X-ray bursts. Using spectral analysis, location, and spatial distributions we classified the 1084 events into 752 thermonuclear X-ray bursts, 267 transient events from accretion flares and X-ray pulses, and 65 untriggered gamma-ray bursts. All thermonuclear bursts have peak blackbody temperatures broadly consistent with photospheric radius expansion (PRE) bursts. We find an average rate of 1.4 PRE bursts per day, integrated over all Galactic bursters within about 10 kpc. These include 33 and 10 bursts from the ultra-compact X-ray binaries 4U 0614+09 and 2S 0918-549, respectively. We discuss these recurrence times and estimate the total mass ejected by PRE bursts in our Galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗