Which acceleration process for UHE-Cosmic Rays in Gamma Ray Bursts ?

In this paper, we have made an accurate investigation of proton acceleration in GRBs and we have predicted a possible signature of cosmic rays, in a sufficiently baryon-loaded fireball, via GeV $\gamma$-ray emission produced by $\pi^{0}$-meson decay. If two ungrounded assumptions are removed, namely, Bohm's scaling and a slow magnetic field decrease, the usual Fermi processes are unable to generate ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) in GRBs. We propose to develop another scenario of relativistic Fermi acceleration in the internal shock stage. We present the results of a realistic Monte-Carlo simulation of a multi-front acceleration which clearly shows the possible generation of UHECR. The amount of energy converted into UHECRs turns out to be a sizeable fraction of the magnetic energy.Comment: 22 pages, accepted for publication in A&

Synchrotron Emissions in GRB Prompt Phase Using a Semi Leptonic and Hadronic Model

In this communication devoted to the prompt emission of GRBs, we claim that some important parameters associated to the magnetic field, such as its index profile, the index of its turbulence spectrum and its level of irregularities, will be measurable with GLAST. In particular the law relating the peak energy Epeak with the total energy E (like Amati's law) constrains the turbulence spectrum index and, among all existing theories of MHD turbulence, is compatible with the Kolmogorov scaling only. Thus, these data will allow a much better determination of the performances of GRBs as particle accelerators. This opens the possibility to characterize both electron and proton acceleration more seriously. We discuss the possible generation of UHECRs and of its signature through GeV-TeV synchrotron emission.Comment: 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2007) - Proceeding #107

High Energy Emission and Cosmic Rays from Gamma-Ray Bursts

The paper is devoted to the analysis of particle acceleration in Gamma-Ray Bursts and its radiative consequences. Therefore we get on one hand constraints on the physics and on the other hand possible signatures of particle acceleration that could be recorded by the new gamma ray instruments. We have previously shown that UHECRs can be generated in GRBs even with conservative assumptions on the magnetic field and the scattering capability of its perturbations, provided that a suitable relativistic Fermi process is at work during the so-called "internal shock" phase. We extend here the analysis of the consequences of these assumptions to the whole prompt emission of both electrons and protons. Indeed, assuming that the magnetic field decays in $1/r^2$ and that the scattering time of particles is longer than the Bohm's assumption, in particular with a rule derived from Kolmogorov scaling, we show with no other parameter adaptation that the intensity of the subequipartition magnetic field, that: i) UHECRs can be generated with a sufficient flux within the GZK-sphere to account for the CR-spectrum at the ankle. ii) The peak energy of the gamma spectrum around 100 keV, namely the so-called $E_{peak}$, is conveniently explained. iii) A thermal component below the $E_{peak}$ is often unavoidable. iv) The cosmic rays could radiate gamma rays around 67 MeV (in the co-moving frame, which implies $\simeq 20$ GeV for the observer) due to $\pi^0$-decay and a low energy neutrino emission (around 0.2 GeV) associated to neutron decay and also neutrinos of energy between 5 and 150 GeV from muon decay. v) The UHECRs radiate high energy gamma rays between a few tens of MeV and 10 GeV (taking the pair creation process into account) due to their synchrotron emission with a sufficient flux to be observable.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Astrophysical Journa

Observational Constraints on the Angular and Spectral Distributions of Photons in Gamma-Ray Burst Sources

The typical spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are discussed in the context of the compactness problem for GRB sources and how it is resolved in the popular fireball model. In particular, observational (model-independent) constraints on the collimation of the gamma-rays and the dependence of the collimation angle on the photon energy are considered. The fact that the threshold for the creation of $e^{-}e^{+}$ pairs depends on the angle between the momenta of the annihilating photons in the GRB source provides an alternative solution to the compactness problem. A new approach to explaining GRBs, taking into account the angular dependence for pair creation, is proposed, and the main features of a scenario describing a GRB source with a total (photon) energy smaller or of the order of $10^{49}$ erg are laid out. Thus, we are dealing with an alternative to an ultra-relativistic fireball, if it turns out (as follows from observations) that all "long" GRBs are associated with normal (not peculiar) core-collapse supernovae. The effects of radiation pressure and the formation of jets as a consequence of even a small amount of anisotropy in the total radiation field in a (compact) GRB source are examined in this alternative model. Possible energy release mechanisms acting in regions smaller or of the order of $10^{8}$ cm in size (a compact model for a GRB) are discussed. New observational evidence for such compact energy release in the burst source is considered.Comment: 15 pages, no figures, no table