Gamma Ray Bursts: back to the blackboard

Abstract

Exceptional observational breakthroughs in the field of Gamma Ray Burst research are not paralleled by theoretical advances. In this review, based on the introductory talk given at the "The Shocking Universe" meeting, I argue that any present day model of GRBs, especially of Short type, is grossly incomplete. I will highlight various contradictions with observations that many models face and briefly mention a number of ideas that might or might not work. In particular, I will discuss (i) a possibility that early X-ray afterglows are coming from internal dissipation, and not from the forwards shock; (ii) that prompt radiation is beamed in the outflow frame.

28 pages, proceedings of the The Shocking Universe meeting, Venice, September 2009

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Simple waves in relativistic fluids
• The Spectrum of Electromagnetic Jets from Kerr Black Holes and Naked Singularities in the Teukolsky Perturbation Theory
• Study of shock wave dynamics produced by interaction of a fireball with the surrounding medium to it, to explain the x-ray afterglow of Gamma Ray Burst-GRBs