Related papers: Ten per cent polarized optical emission from GRB 0…
Evidence of polarized $\gamma$-ray emission ($>$ 50 keV) from Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) has been accumulated in recent years. Measurements have been reported with levels in the range of 30-80\%, typically with limited statistical…
We compare two possible scenarios for the producing of high level of polarization within the prompt emission of a GRB: synchrotron emission from a relativistic jet with a uniform (in space and time) magnetic field and synchrotron emission…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are bright extragalactic flashes of gamma-ray radiation and briefly the most energetic explosions in the Universe. Their catastrophic origin (the merger of compact objects or the collapse of massive stars) drives the…
The exciting detection of a very high degree of linear polarization, $P=(80\pm 20)%$, in the prompt gamma-ray emission of GRB 021206, supports synchrotron emission as being the dominant radiation mechanism. There were also claims that this…
The central engine and jet composition of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) remain mysterious. Here we suggest that observations on polarization evolution of early optical afterglows may shed light on these questions. We first study the dynamics of a…
The past year has witnessed a large increase in our knowledge of the polarization properties of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) radiation. In the prompt phase, the measurement (albeit highly debated) of a large degree of linear polarization in GRB…
Observations of the afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have revealed that they lie at cosmological distances, and so correspond to the release of an enormous amount of energy. The nature of the central engine that powers these events and…
Polarization behaviors of optical afterglows from two-component gamma-ray burst jets are investigated, assuming various configurations for the two components. In most cases, the observed polarization is dominated by the inner narrow…
We review the recent observational results of the gamma-ray linear polarization of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), and discuss some theoretical implications for the prompt emission mechanism and the magnetic composition of GRB jets. We also report…
The composition and radiation mechanism of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) within jets continue to be hotly debated. Investigating the joint polarimetric and spectral properties is crucial for understanding GRB composition and radiation mechanism.…
The MeV spectral peak of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is best explained as photospheric emission from a dissipative relativistic jet. The observed non-blackbody spectrum shows that sub-photospheric dissipation involves both thermal plasma…
Over half a century from the discovery of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the dominant radiation mechanism responsible for their bright and highly variable prompt emission remains poorly understood. Spectral information alone has proven…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are extremely bright phenomena powered by relativistic jets arising from explosive events at cosmological distances. The nature of the jet and the configuration of the local magnetic fields are still unclear, with…
The composition of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets remained a mystery until recently. In practice, we usually characterize the magnetization of the GRB jets ($\sigma_0$) through the ratio between the Poynting flux and matter (baryonic) flux.…
The origin of magnetic fields that permeate the blast waves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is a long-standing problem. The present paper argues that in four GRBs revealing extended emission at >100 MeV, with follow-up in the radio, optical and…
Jet precessions are widely involved in astrophysical phenomena from galaxies to X-ray binaries and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Polarization presents a unique probe of the magnetic fields in GRB jets. The precession of GRBs relativistic jets…
RINGO on the Liverpool Telescope has now measured the optical polarization of GRB 060418 (where a 2 sigma upper limit of P<8% was determined) and GRB 090102 (when a detection of P = 10 +/-1 % was made). We discuss the implications of these…
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are luminous stellar explosions characterized by the ejection of relativistic jets. This work proposes a novel paradigm to study these GRB jets. By analyzing the timing information of prompt pulses and X-ray flares,…
The degree and the temporal evolution of linear polarization in the prompt and afterglow emission of gamma-ray bursts is a very robust diagnostic of some key features of gamma-ray bursts jets and their micro and macro physics. In this…
The polarization curve of GRB 020813 is discussed and compared to different models for the structure, evolution and magnetisation properties of the jet and the interstellar medium onto which the fireball impacts. GRB 020813 is best suited…