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Compton-dragged Gamma-Ray Bursts Associated with Supernovae.
The Astrophysical Journal
|December 30, 1999
Summary
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may originate from a Compton-drag process, where a relativistic fireball interacts with dense photons from supernovae. This model explains GRB properties without particle acceleration in shocks.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- High-Energy Astronomy
- Cosmic Ray Physics
Background:
- Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are intense, brief flashes of high-energy photons.
- The prompt emission mechanism of GRBs has been a long-standing puzzle in astrophysics.
- Previous models often involve particle acceleration in relativistic shocks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an alternative mechanism for GRB prompt emission: the Compton-drag process.
- To explain the observed properties of GRBs using this new model.
- To investigate the role of supernovae in GRB production.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of the Compton-drag process.
- Simulating the interaction of a relativistic fireball with a dense soft photon bath.
- Associating GRB production with supernovae as the source of soft photons.
Main Results:
- The Compton-drag model successfully accounts for GRB energetics, spectral peak frequency, and fast variability.
- The model achieves high efficiency, potentially exceeding 50%.
- It naturally limits the fireball's relativistic expansion to Gamma ~ 10^4.
Conclusions:
- The Compton-drag process offers a viable explanation for GRB prompt emission, particularly when linked to supernovae.
- This mechanism eliminates the need for particle acceleration in relativistic collisionless shocks.
- No magnetic fields are required for gamma-ray production in this scenario.