Related papers: Spinar Paradigm and Gamma Ray Bursts Central Engin…
Leading models for the "central engine" of long, soft gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are briefly reviewed with emphasis on the collapsar model. Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that GRBs are a supernova-like phenomenon occurring in star…
Discovered over forty years ago, Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) remain a forefront topic in modern astrophysics. Perhaps the most fundamental question associated with GRBs is the nature of the astrophysical agent (or agents) that ultimately powers…
One favored progenitor model for short duration gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) is the coalescence of two neutron stars (NS-NS). One possible outcome of such a merger would be a rapidly spinning, strongly magnetized neutron star (known as a…
In the last few years, evidences for a long-lived and sustained engine in Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) have increased the attention to the so called millisecond-magnetar model, as a competitive alternative to the standard collapsar scenario. I…
I review aspects of the theory of long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) central engines. I focus on the requirements of any model; these include the angular momentum of the progenitor, the power, Lorentz factor, asymmetry, and duration of the…
It has been suggested that magnetic fields play a dynamically-important role in core-collapse explosions of massive stars. In particular, they may be important in the collapsar scenario for gamma-ray bursts (GRB), where the central engine…
We present the analysis of a large sample of gamma-ray burst (GRB) X-ray light curves in the rest frame to characterise their intrinsic properties in the context of different theoretical scenarios. We determine the morphology, time scales,…
We study statistical properties of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) produced by the collapsing cores of WR stars in binary systems. Fast rotation of the cores enables a two-stage collapse scenario, implying the formation of a spinar-like…
The central engine of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is poorly constrained. There exist two main candidates: a fast-rotating black hole and a rapidly spinning magnetar. Furthermore, the X-ray plateaus are widely accepted by the energy injection…
The spin-down energy of millisecond magnetars has been invoked to explain X-ray afterglow observations of a significant fraction of short and long gamma-ray bursts. Here, we extend models previously introduced in the literature,…
The central engine in long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is thought to be a compact object produced by the core collapse of massive stars, but its exact nature (black hole or millisecond magnetar) is still debatable. Although the central engine…
We suggest a short-living supermassive magnetar model to account for the X-ray flares following short $\gamma-$ray bursts. In this model, the central engine of the short $\gamma-$ray bursts is a supermassive millisecond magnetar. The X-ray…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), both long and short, are explosive events whose inner engine is generally expected to be a black hole or a highly magnetic neutron star (magnetar) accreting high density matter. Recognizing the nature of GRB central…
Many short Gamma-Ray Bursts (sGRBs) have a prolonged plateau in the X-ray afterglow lasting up to tens of thousands of seconds. A central engine injecting energy into the remnant may fuel the plateau. A simple analytic model describing the…
The favored progenitor model for Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) with Supernova (SN) association is the core collapse of massive stars. One possible outcome of such a collapse is a rapidly spinning, strongly magnetized neutron star ("magnetar"). We…
This rapporteur review summarizes results presented in Parallel Session GBT2 (Gamma Ray Burst Theory 2) on the Collapsar and Supranova Models held 25 July 2003 at the 10th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on General Relativity, Rio de Janeiro,…
One of a family previously proposed ``central engines'' for cosmic gamma-ray burst sources (Klu\'zniak & Ruderman 1998) is considered in some detail. A steadily accreting $10^6$ Gauss magnetic white dwarf should ultimately collapse to a…
We perform the first magnetohydrodynamic simulation tracking the magnetosphere of a collapsing magnetar. The collapse is expected for massive rotating magnetars formed in merger events, and may occur many hours after the merger. Our…
Gamma-ray burst (GRB) central engines and jet production mechanisms are still open questions. Assuming that the shallow decay segments of canonical X-ray afterglow lightcurves of {\em Swift} GRBs are attributed to the magnetic dipole (MD)…
This manuscript presents a multilevel analysis of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We focus on the plateau phase, which is often observed in the light curves (LCs) of GRBs. We discuss its observational properties and then thoroughly examine…