High-energy γ-ray emission from gamma-ray bursts - Before GLAST

Yi Zhong Fan, Tsvi Piran*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short and intense emission of soft γ-rays, which have fascinated astronomers and astrophysicists since their unexpected discovery in 1960s. The X-ray/optical/radio afterglow observations confirm the cosmological origin of GRBs, support the fireball model, and imply a long-activity of the central engine. The high-energy γ-ray emission (> 20 MeV) from GRBs is particularly important because they shed some lights on the radiation mechanisms and can help us to constrain the physical processes giving rise to the early afterglows. In this work, we review observational and theoretical studies of the high-energy emission from GRBs. Special attention is given to the expected high-energy emission signatures accompanying the canonical early-time X-ray afterglow that was observed by the Swift X-ray Telescope. We also discuss the detection prospect of the upcoming GLAST satellite and the current ground-based Cerenkov detectors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)306-330
Number of pages25
JournalFrontiers of Physics in China
Volume3
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2008

Keywords

  • Afterglows
  • Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)
  • Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
  • Relativity
  • Shock waves

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