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Observational Properties of Cosmic γ-Ray Bursts

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Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursters

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 598))

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Abstract

Cosmic γ-ray bursts are reviewed, with emphasis on the phenomenology in the X- and γ-ray ranges. Bursts last from around 10 ms to over 1000 s, with complex time histories which defy any coherent explanation, although there is good evidence for a bimodal distribution. Energy spectra span the range from below 10 keV to over 10 GeV with shapes that can be defined with a relatively simple function, although the ratio of the X-ray to γ-ray energy varies widely from one burst to another. The isotropy and inhomogeneity of the burster spatial distribution was the first indication that bursts were at cosmological distances; this has now been confirmed by direct redshift measurements. Some of the future uses of bursts for the study of the early Universe are discussed, as well as some of the remaining challenges in understanding their nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7450, USA

    Kevin Hurley

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  1. Kevin Hurley
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  1. NRL-Code 7213, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375-5320, USA

    Kurt W. Weiler

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Hurley, K. (2003). Observational Properties of Cosmic γ-Ray Bursts. In: Weiler, K.W. (eds) Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursters. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 598. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45863-8_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45863-8_15

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