Gamma-ray Bursts as a Result of the Interaction of a Shock from a Supernova and a Neutron-Star Companion

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

4

Scientific paper

A supernova explosion in a close binary system in which one of the components is a compact magnetized object (neutron star or white dwarf) can form a narrow “tail” with length l t ˜109 cm, width h t ˜108 cm, and magnetic field B t ˜106, due to the resulting shock wave flowing around the magnetosphere of the compact object. The energy released by the reconnection of magnetic field lines in this tail can accelerate electrons to relativistic speeds (γ≈104), creating the conditions required for powerful synchrotron radiation at energies from hundreds of keV to several MeV, i.e., for a gamma-ray burst (GRB). The duration of this radiation will depend on the power of the shock that forms during the supernova. If the shock is not sufficiently powerful to tear off the magnetosphere tail from the compact object, the duration of the GRB will not exceed l t / V A ≤1 s, and the conditions necessary for an “afterglow” at softer energies will not arise. If the shock is more powerful, the tail can be torn from the magnetosphere, forming a narrow ejection, which is perceived in its relativistic motion toward the observer(Γ˜104) as an afterglow whose duration grows from tens of seconds at gamma-ray energies to tens of days in the optical. This may explain why afterglows are observed only in association with long GRBs ( T 90>10 s). Very short GRBs ( T 90<0.1 s) may be local, i.e., low-power, phenomena occurring in close pairs containing compact, magnetized objects, in which there is again an interaction between the magnetosphere of the compact object and a shock wave, but the shock is initiated by a flare on the companion, which is a red-dwarf cataclysmic variable, rather than by a supernova.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Gamma-ray Bursts as a Result of the Interaction of a Shock from a Supernova and a Neutron-Star Companion 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 Bursts as a Result of the Interaction of a Shock from a Supernova and a Neutron-Star Companion, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gamma-ray Bursts as a Result of the Interaction of a Shock from a Supernova and a Neutron-Star Companion will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-736425

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.