Photospheric emission in gamma-ray bursts
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Published Version
Date
2015-07
Authors
Pe'er, Asaf
Ryde, Felix
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
World Scientific
Published Version
Abstract
A major breakthrough in our understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRB) prompt emission physics occurred in the last few years, with the realization that a thermal component accompanies the over-all nonthermal prompt spectra. This thermal part is important by itself, as it provides direct probe of the physics in the innermost outflow regions. It further has an indirect importance, as a source of seed photons for inverse-Compton scattering, thereby it contributes to the nonthermal part as well. In this short review, we highlight some key recent developments. Observationally, although so far it was clearly identified only in a minority of bursts, there is indirect evidence that a thermal component exists in a very large fraction of GRBs, possibly close to 100%. Theoretically, the existence of a thermal component has a large number of implications as a probe of underlying GRB physics. Some surprising implications include its use as a probe of the jet dynamics, geometry and magnetization.
Description
Keywords
Gamma-rays bursts , Hydrodynamics , Radiation mechanism , Nonthermal , Radiation mechanism , Thermal
Citation
Pe'er, A. and Ryde, F. (2015) 'Photospheric emission in gamma-ray bursts', Proceedings of the Fourteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity, Rome, Italy, 12-18 July. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1142/10614 (Accessed 25 January 2019)