On a Separatrix in the Gravitational Collapse to an Overcritical Electromagnetic Black Hole

The dynamical properties of an electron--positron--photon plasma created by the vacuum polarization process occurring around a charged gravitationally collapsing core of an initially neutral star are examined within the framework of General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. The Reissner--Nordstr\"{o}m geometry is assumed to apply between the collapsing core and the oppositely charged remnant of the star. The appearance of a separatrix at radius $\bar{R}$, well outside the asymptotic approach to the horizon, is evidenced. The neutral electron--positron--photon plasma created at radii $r>\bar{R}$ self-propels outwards to infinity, following the classical PEM--pulse analysis. The plasma created at $r<\bar{R}$ remains trapped and follows the gravitational collapse of the core only contributing to the reduction of the electromagnetic energy of the black hole and to the increase of its irreducible mass. This phenomenon has consequences for the observational properties of gamma--ray bursts and is especially relevant for the theoretical prediction of the temporal and spectral structure of the short bursts.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Lett.

The Amati relation in the "fireshell" model

(Shortened) CONTEXT: [...] AIMS: Motivated by the relation proposed by Amati and collaborators, we look within the ``fireshell'' model for a relation between the peak energy E_p of the \nu F_\nu total time-integrated spectrum of the afterglow and the total energy of the afterglow E_{aft}, which in our model encompasses and extends the prompt emission. METODS: [...] Within the fireshell model [...] We can then build two sets of ``gedanken'' GRBs varying the total energy of the electron-positron plasma E^{e^\pm}_{tot} and keeping the same baryon loading B of GRB050315. The first set assumes for the effective CBM density the one obtained in the fit of GRB050315. The second set assumes instead a constant CBM density equal to the average value of the GRB050315 prompt phase. RESULTS: For the first set of ``gedanken'' GRBs we find a relation E_p\propto (E_{aft})^a, with a = 0.45 \pm 0.01, whose slope strictly agrees with the Amati one. Such a relation, in the limit B \to 10^{-2}, coincides with the Amati one. Instead, in the second set of ``gedanken'' GRBs no correlation is found. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis excludes the Proper-GRB (P-GRB) from the prompt emission, extends all the way to the latest afterglow phases and is independent on the assumed cosmological model, since all ``gedanken'' GRBs are at the same redshift. The Amati relation, on the other hand, includes also the P-GRB, focuses on the prompt emission only, and is therefore influenced by the instrumental threshold which fixes the end of the prompt emission, and depends on the assumed cosmology. This may well explain the intrinsic scatter observed in the Amati relation.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear on A&A Letter

Moments with Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich

A recollection of special moments spent with Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich and with the scientists of Soviet Union and abroad.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the international conference "The Sun, the Stars, The Universe and General Relativity" in honor of Ya.B. Zeldovich 95th Anniversary, held in Minsk, Belarus on April 20-23, 200

Charges in gravitational fields: from Fermi, via Hanni-Ruffini-Wheeler, to the "electric Meissner effect"

Recent developments in obtaining a detailed model for gamma ray bursts have shown the need for a deeper understanding of phenomena described by solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations, reviving interest in the behavior of charges close to a black hole. In particular a drastic difference has been found between the lines of force of a charged test particle in the fields of Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordstrom black holes. This difference characterizes a general relativistic effect for the electric field of a charged test particle around a (charged) Reissner-Nordstrom black hole similar to the "Meissner effect" for a magnetic field around a superconductor. These new results are related to earlier work by Fermi and Hanni-Ruffini-Wheeler.Comment: 25 pages, 17 figures, to appear on the Proceedings of "Analysis, manifolds and geometric structures in physics", International Conference in Honour of Y. Choquet-Bruhat, Isola d'Elba June 24th-26th, 200

The Dyadosphere of Black Holes and Gamma-Ray Bursts

Recent works on the Dyadosphere are reviewed.Comment: A&A macros, 4 pages and 3 figures. To appear in the proceedings of 19th Texas Symposium, Dec. 199