Fireball and cannonball models of gamma ray bursts confront observations

Abstract

The two leading contenders for the theory of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows, the Fireball and Cannonball models, are compared and their predictions are confronted, within space limitations, with key GRB observations, including recent observations with SWIFTComment: Invited talk at the 2005 Frascati Workshop on Multi Frequency Observations of High Energy Cosmic Sources, May 23-28, 2005, Vulcano, Italy, Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysic