Synchrotron emission from a cosmological jet as a model of gamma-ray bursts

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (22) References (13) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Synchrotron Emission from a Cosmological Jet as a Model of Gamma-Ray Bursts Brainerd, J. J. Abstract The non-thermal, rapidly varying spectra of gamma-ray bursts require relativistic beaming if the source is at a cosmological distance. Limits on the Lorentz factors and magnetic fields of extragalactic jet models of gamma-ray bursts are derived from the synchrotron source function, the position of the fundamental cyclotron resonance, the Thomson optical depth of radiating electrons, and the Thomson optical depth of electron- positron pairs created in photon-photon collisions of Compton upscattered radiation. The last of these constraints is the strongest, and it is satisfied by the observations if the jet's Lorentz factor is greater than 100. The limit from the position of the cyclotron fundamental requires a magnetic field strength below ~10^10^ G. Jet models producing observable cyclotron lines are allowed. The acceleration region in the burst must be separate from the emission region. The similarity of gamma-ray burst jet models to models of quasars and BL Lac objects suggest that if gamma-ray bursts are cosmological sources, they are a type of active galaxy. Subject beading: gamma rays: bursts Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: August 1992 DOI: 10.1086/186466 Bibcode: 1992ApJ...394L..33B Keywords: Astronomical Models; Cosmology; Emission Spectra; Gamma Ray Bursts; Radio Jets (Astronomy); Synchrotron Radiation; Active Galaxies; Computational Astrophysics; Electron Acceleration; Relativistic Electron Beams; Astrophysics; GAMMA RAYS: BURSTS full text sources ADS |