Related papers: Diffusive photospheres in gamma-ray bursts
The photospheric emission in the prompt phase is the natural prediction of the original fireball model for gamma-ray burst (GRB) due to the large optical depth ($\tau >1$) at the base of the outflow, which is supported by the quasi-thermal…
The properties of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that are inferred from observations depend on the value of the bulk Lorentz factor, $\Gamma$. Consequently, accurately estimating it is an important aim. In this work, we present a method of…
It is proposed that the prompt emission observed in bursts that exhibit a thermal component originates from relativistic radiation mediated shocks that form below the photosphere of the GRB outflow. It is argue that such shocks are expected…
We consider the emission of photons from the inner parts of a relativistically expanding plasma outflow, characterized by a constant Lorentz factor, Gamma. Photons that are injected in regions of high optical depth are advected with the…
GRB spectra appear non-thermal, but recent observations of a few bursts with Fermi GBM have confirmed previous indications from BATSE of the presence of an underlying thermal component. Photospheric emission is indeed expected when the…
We review the physics of GRB production by relativistic jets that start highly opaque near the central source and then expand to transparency. We discuss dissipative and radiative processes in the jet and how radiative transfer shapes the…
Modeling of gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission spectra sometimes requires a (quasi-) thermal spectral component in addition to the Band function. In photospheric emission models, a prominent thermal component broadened by…
In this paper we reexamine the optical depth of ultrarelativistic spherically symmetric outflows and reevaluate the photospheric radius for each model during both the acceleration and coasting phases. It is shown that for both the wind and…
Relativistically expanding sources of X-rays and gamma-rays cover an enormous range of (central) compactness and Lorentz factor. The underlying physics is discussed, with an emphasis on how the dominant dissipative mode and the emergent…
The prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (hereafter GRBs) probably comes from a highly relativistic wind which converts its kinetic energy into radiation via the formation of shocks within the wind itself. Such "internal shocks" can occur if…
Recent observational and theoretical studies have raised the possibility that the collimated outflows in gamma-ray burst (GRB) sources have two distinct components: a narrow (opening half-angle $\theta_{\rm n}$), highly relativistic…
Recent observations, especially by the Fermi satellite, point out the importance of the thermal component in GRB spectra. This fact revives strong interest in photospheric emission from relativistic outflows. Early studies already suggested…
It is proposed that the gamma ray burst photons near the peak of the spectrum at several hundred KeV are produced on very compact scales, where photon production is limited by blackbody effects and/or the requirement of energetic quanta…
Ultra-relativistic motion and efficient conversion of kinetic energy to radiation are required by gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations, yet they are difficult to simultaneously achieve. Three leading mechanisms have been proposed to explain…
In relativistic strongly magnetized winds outflowing from the fast-rotating compact progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) there are three regions where powerful high-frequency emission may be generated: (i) the thermal photosphere, (ii)…
We investigate a scenario of photons scattering by electrons within a relativistic outflow. The outflow is composed of discrete shells with different speeds. One shell emits radiation for a short duration. Some of this radiation is…
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observed the bright and long GRB090902B, lying at a redshift of z = 1.822. Together the Large Area Telescope (LAT) and the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) cover the spectral range from 8 keV to >300 GeV is…
{\it Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope} observations of GRB110721A have revealed two emission components from the relativistic jet: emission from the photosphere, peaking at $\sim 100$ keV and a non-thermal component, which peaks at $\sim…
Relativistic outflows in the form of jets are common in many astrophysical objects. By their very nature, jets have angle dependent velocity profiles, Gamma = Gamma(r, theta, phi), where Gamma is the outflow Lorentz factor. In this work we…
The radiation released at the transparency radius of an ultrarelativistic flow can account for the observed properties of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) provided that sufficient energy is dissipated in the sub-photospheric region. Here, I…