314 research outputs found
Reverse Shock Emission in Gamma-ray Bursts Revisited
A generic synchrotron external shock model is the widely preferred paradigm
used to interpret the broad-band afterglow data of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs),
including predicted observable signatures from a reverse shock which have been
confirmed by observations. Investigations of the nature of the reverse shock
emission can provide valuable insights into the intrinsic properties of the GRB
ejecta. Here we briefly review the standard and the extended models of the
reverse shock emission, discussing the connection between the theory and
observations, including the implications of the latest observational advances.Comment: Invited review, to be published in special issue on "GRB in Swift and
Fermi Era" in Journal of Advances in Astronom
Gamma Ray Bursts and their links with Supernovae and Cosmology
Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions in the Universe, whose
origin and mechanism is the focus of intense interest. They appear connected to
supernova remnants from massive stars or the merger of their remnants, and
their brightness makes them temporarily detectable out to the larges distances
yet explored in the Universe. After pioneering breakthroughs from space and
ground experiments, their study is entering a new phase with observations from
the recently launched \fermi satellite, as well as the prospect of detections
or limits from large neutrino and gravitational wave detectors. The interplay
between such observations and theoretical models of gamma-ray bursts is
reviewed, as well as their connections to supernovae and cosmology.Comment: 36 pages, 7 figures; prepared for the XXVIIIth General Assembly Int.
Ast. Union, Beijing, Aug. 201
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