Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields

Details Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields

1998-03-06

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9803072v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

5 pages, LaTeX, no figures, to be submitted to Nature

Scientific paper

A theory is proposed to explain with simplicity the basic observed properties of a Gamma Ray Burst (GRB). It employs a well-known result of Schwinger, that static electric fields in excess of a critical value are unstable to pair creation, and catastrophically produces a thermal plasma at temperatures <= 0.5 MeV. By using observational values for the energy and volume of the source, it is shown that the radiation pressure of an expanding GRB `fireball' leads to the formation of a Schwinger critical field at the ambient medium immediately outside the `fireball'. This naturally provides a runaway solution which is inevitable, and which must involve a burst of gamma radiation in the core of the observed energy range and in an optically thin environment. The observed burst duration of 1 -- 10 seconds is also a straightforward consequence of the theory.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gamma Ray Burst as Vacuum Discharge of Super-Schwinger Electric Fields will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-604454