The Blandford-Znajek mechanism with Vacuum Breakdown as a Gamma-ray Burst Progenitor

Abstract

The energetics of the long duration GRB phenomenum is compared with the BZ mechanism. A rough estimate of the energy extracted from a rotating Black Hole with the Blandford-Znajek mechanism is evaluated with a very simple assumption: an inelastic collision between the rotating BH and an accreting torus. The GRB energetics requires an high magnetic field that breaks down the vacuum around the BH and gives origin to a e${}^{\pm }$ fireball.

to be submitted to Gamma2001 Proceedings, Baltimore, April 4-6, 2001