The Astrophysical Journal · 1986 · 1.5K citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesAstronomyPhysicsAstrophysicsCosmologyGamma-ray AstronomyExtragalactic Gamma-ray AstronomyGamma-ray BurstsGamma-ray SourcesGravitational LensingExtragalactic Gamma-ray SourcesGamma-ray Burst EnergeticsGamma-ray Burst ObservationsGamma-ray Burst SpectraSingle Event EffectsSupernova TheoryTiming Of Gamma-ray Bursts
Gamma‑ray bursters are proposed to lie at cosmological distances with redshifts around 1–2, similar to quasars. The authors propose that three identical‑spectrum bursts from B1900+14 were images of a single event magnified by a gravitational lens. The differing arrival times, ranging from 10 hr to 3 days, arise from light‑travel‑time differences between the multiple images. These bursts must release ~10^51 ergs in less than one second, making them the brightest known objects and driving a highly relativistic electron‑positron plasma outflow. Published in The Astrophysical Journal, September 1986 (DOI 10.1086/184740).
view Abstract Citations (1425) References (13) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Gamma-ray bursters at cosmological distances Paczynski, B. Abstract It is proposed that some, perhaps most, gamma-ray bursters are at cosmological distances, like quasars, with a redshift of about 1 or 2. This proposition requires a release of supernova-like energy of about 10 to the 51st ergs within less than 1 s, making gamma-ray bursters the brightest objects known in the universe, many orders of magnitude brighter than any quasars. This power must drive a highly relativistic outflow of electron-positron plasma and radiation from the source. It is proposed that three gamma-ray bursts, all with identical spectra, detected from B1900 + 14 by Mazets, Golenetskii, and Gur'yan and reported in 1979, were all due to a single event multiply imaged by a gravitational lens. The time intervals between the successive bursts, 10 hr to 3 days, were due to differences in the light travel time for different images. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1986 DOI: 10.1086/184740 Bibcode: 1986ApJ...308L..43P Keywords: Astronomical Models; Cosmology; Distance; Gamma Ray Bursts; Gravitational Lenses; Black Body Radiation; Electron-Positron Plasmas; Galactic Radiation; Temporal Distribution; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (3)