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15 pages, 1774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Concept of Assessment of LIV Tests with THESEUS Using the Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi/GBM

by Anastasia Tsvetkova, Luciano Burderi, Alessandro Riggio, Andrea Sanna and Tiziana Di Salvo

Universe 2023, 9(8), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9080359 - 31 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1480

Abstract

According to Einstein’s special relativity theory, the speed of light in a vacuum is constant for all observers. However, quantum gravity effects could introduce its dispersion depending on the energy of photons. The investigation of the spectral lags between the gamma-ray burst (GRB) [...] Read more.

According to Einstein’s special relativity theory, the speed of light in a vacuum is constant for all observers. However, quantum gravity effects could introduce its dispersion depending on the energy of photons. The investigation of the spectral lags between the gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curves recorded in distinct energy ranges could shed light on this phenomenon: the lags could reflect the variation of the speed of light if it is linearlydependent on the photon energy and a function of the GRB redshift. We propose a methodology to start investigating the dispersion law of light propagation in a vacuum using GRB light curves. This technique is intended to be fully exploited using the GRB data collected with THESEUS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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14 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neutron Star Binary Mergers: The Legacy of GW170817 and Future Prospects

by Giulia Stratta and Francesco Pannarale

Universe 2022, 8(9), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8090459 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2372

Abstract

In 2015, the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Advanced Virgo began observing the Universe in a revolutionary way. Gravitational waves from cosmic sources were detected for the first time, confirming their existence predicted almost one century before, and also directly revealing [...] Read more.

In 2015, the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Advanced Virgo began observing the Universe in a revolutionary way. Gravitational waves from cosmic sources were detected for the first time, confirming their existence predicted almost one century before, and also directly revealing the existence of black holes in binary systems and characterizing their properties. In 2017, a new revolution was achieved with the first observation of a binary neutron star merger, GW170817, and its associated electromagnetic emission. The combination of the information from gravitational-wave and electromagnetic radiation produced a wealth of results, still growing, spectacularly demonstrating the power of the newly born field of gravitational-wave Multi Messenger Astrophysics. We discuss the discovery of GW170817 in the context of the achievements it brought to Gamma-Ray Burst astrophysics, and we also provide a few examples of advancements in fundamental physics and cosmology. The detection rates of binary neutron star mergers expected in the next decade for third generation gravitational-wave interferometers will open the new perspective of a statistical approach to the study of these multi-messenger sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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Review

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41 pages, 5168 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Short History of the First 50 Years: From the GRB Prompt Emission and Afterglow Discoveries to the Multimessenger Era

by Filippo Frontera

Universe 2024, 10(6), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10060260 - 12 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1080

Abstract

More than fifty years have elapsed from the first discovery of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with American Vela satellites, and more than twenty-five years from the discovery with the BeppoSAX satellite of the first X-ray afterglow of a GRB. Thanks to the afterglow discovery [...] Read more.

More than fifty years have elapsed from the first discovery of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with American Vela satellites, and more than twenty-five years from the discovery with the BeppoSAX satellite of the first X-ray afterglow of a GRB. Thanks to the afterglow discovery and to the possibility given to the optical and radio astronomers to discover the GRB optical counterparts, the long-time mystery about the origin of these events has been solved. Now we know that GRBs are huge explosions, mainly ultra relativistic jets, in galaxies at cosmological distances. Starting from the first GRB detection with the Vela satellites, I will review the story of these discoveries, those obtained with BeppoSAX, the contribution to GRBs by other satellites and ground experiments, among them being Venera, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, HETE-2, Swift, Fermi, AGILE, MAGIC, H.E.S.S., which were, and some of them are still, very important for the study of GRB properties. Then, I will review the main results obtained thus far and the still open problems and prospects of GRB astronomy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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29 pages, 4268 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Central Engine of GRB170817A and the Energy Budget Issue: Kerr Black Hole versus Neutron Star in a Multi-Messenger Analysis

by Maurice H. P. M. van Putten

Universe 2023, 9(6), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9060279 - 8 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

Upcoming LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA (LVK) observational runs offer new opportunities to probe the central engines of extreme transient events. Cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe), in particular, are believed to be powered by compact objects, i.e., a neutron star (NS) or black hole [...] Read more.

Upcoming LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA (LVK) observational runs offer new opportunities to probe the central engines of extreme transient events. Cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe), in particular, are believed to be powered by compact objects, i.e., a neutron star (NS) or black hole (BH). A principal distinction between an NS and BH is the energy reservoir in the angular momentum

E_{J}

. Per unit mass, this reaches a few percent in a rapidly rotating NS and tens of percent in a Kerr BH, respectively. Calorimetry by

E_{G W}

on a descending chirp may break the degeneracy between the two. We review this approach, anticipating new observational opportunities for planned LVK runs. GRB170817A is the first event revealing its central engine by a descending chirp in gravitational radiation. An accompanying energy output

E_{G W} ≃ 3.5 % M_{⊙} c^{2}

is observed during GRB170817A in the aftermath of the double neutron star merger GW170817. The progenitors of normal long GRBs, on the other hand, are the rare offspring of CC-SNe of type Ib/c. Yet, the extended emission to SGRBs (SGRBEEs) shares similar durations and the same Amati-relation of the prompt GRB emission of LGRBs, pointing to a common central engine. The central engine of these extreme transient events has, hitherto, eluded EM observations alone, even when including neutrino observations, as in SN1987A. The trigger signaling the birth of the compact object and the evolution powering these events is expected to be revealed by an accompanying GW signal, perhaps similar to that of GRB170817A. For GRB170817A,

E_{G W}

exceeds

E_{J}

in the initial hyper-massive neutron star (HMNS) produced in the immediate aftermath of GW170817. It identifies the spin-down of a Kerr BH of mass ∼

2.4 M_{⊙}

defined by the total mass of GW170817. This observation is realized in spectrograms generated by Butterfly matched filtering, a time-symmetric analysis with equal sensitivity to ascending and descending chirps, calibrated by signal injection experiments. It is implemented on a heterogeneous computing platform with synaptic parallel processing in F90/C++/C99 under bash. A statistical significance of

5.5 σ

is derived from multi-messenger event timing, based on a probability of false alarm (PFA) factored over a probability

p_{1} = 8.3 \times 10^{- 4}

by causality and a p-value

p_{2} = 4.9 \times 10^{- 5}

of consistency between H1 and L1 observations. For upcoming observations, this approach may be applied to similar emissions from SNIb/c and GRBs in the Local Universe, upon the mass-scaling of present results by the mass of their putative black hole-central engines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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26 pages, 5921 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of GRBs on Exoplanetary Habitability

by Riccardo Spinelli and Giancarlo Ghirlanda

Universe 2023, 9(2), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9020060 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2149

Abstract

Can high-energy transient events affect life on a planet? We provide a review of the works that have tried to answer this question. It is argued that that gamma ray bursts, specifically those of the long class, are among the most dangerous astrophysical [...] Read more.

Can high-energy transient events affect life on a planet? We provide a review of the works that have tried to answer this question. It is argued that that gamma ray bursts, specifically those of the long class, are among the most dangerous astrophysical sources for biotic life and may exert evolutionary pressure on possible life forms in the universe. Their radiation can be directly lethal for biota or induce extinction by removing most of the protective atmospheric ozone layer on terrestrial planets. Since the rate of long gamma ray bursts is proportional to the birth rate of stars but is reduced in metal rich regions, the evolution of the “safest place” to live in our galaxy depended on the past 12 billion years of evolution of the star formation rate and relative metal pollution of the interstellar medium. Until 6 billion years ago, the outskirts of the galaxy were the safest places to live, despite the relatively low density of terrestrial planets. In the last 5 billion years, regions between 2 and 8 kiloparsecs from the center, featuring a higher density of terrestrial planets, gradually became the best places for safe biotic life growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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51 pages, 2636 KiB

Open AccessReview

Key Space and Ground Facilities in GRB Science

by Anastasia Tsvetkova, Dmitry Svinkin, Sergey Karpov and Dmitry Frederiks

Universe 2022, 8(7), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8070373 - 6 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3973

Abstract

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short and intense flashes of

γ

-rays coming from deep space. GRBs were discovered more than a half century ago and now are observed across the whole electromagnetic spectrum from radio to very-high-energy gamma rays. They carry information about [...] Read more.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short and intense flashes of

γ

-rays coming from deep space. GRBs were discovered more than a half century ago and now are observed across the whole electromagnetic spectrum from radio to very-high-energy gamma rays. They carry information about the powerful energy release during the final stage of stellar evolution, as well as properties of matter on the way to the observer. At present, space-based observatories detect on average approximately one GRB per day. In this review, we summarize key space and ground facilities that contribute to the GRB studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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45 pages, 3683 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Critical Tests of Leading Gamma Ray Burst Theories

by Shlomo Dado, Arnon Dar and Alvaro De Rújula

Universe 2022, 8(7), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8070350 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3016

Abstract

It has been observationally established that supernovae (SNe) of Type Ic produce long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and that neutron star mergers generate short hard GRBs. SN-Less GRBs presumably originate in a phase transition of a neutron star in a high mass X-ray [...] Read more.

It has been observationally established that supernovae (SNe) of Type Ic produce long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and that neutron star mergers generate short hard GRBs. SN-Less GRBs presumably originate in a phase transition of a neutron star in a high mass X-ray binary. How these phenomena actually generate GRBs is debated. The fireball and cannonball models of GRBs and their afterglows have been widely confronted with the huge observational data, with their defenders claiming success. The claims, however, may reflect multiple choices and the use of many adjustable parameters, rather than the validity of the models. Only a confrontation of key falsifiable predictions of the models with solid observational data can test their validity. Such critical tests are reviewed in this report. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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30 pages, 4326 KiB

Open AccessReview

GRB Prompt Emission: Observed Correlations and Their Interpretations

by Tyler Parsotan and Hirotaka Ito

Universe 2022, 8(6), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8060310 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

The prompt emission of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) is still an outstanding question in the study of these cataclysmic events. Part of what makes GRBs difficult to study is how unique each event seems to be. However, aggregating many GRB observations and analyzing [...] Read more.

The prompt emission of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) is still an outstanding question in the study of these cataclysmic events. Part of what makes GRBs difficult to study is how unique each event seems to be. However, aggregating many GRB observations and analyzing the population allows us to obtain a better understanding of the emission mechanism that produces the observed prompt emission. In this review, we outline some of the most prevalent correlations that have emerged from GRB prompt emission observations and how these correlations are interpreted in relation to physical properties and prompt emission models of GRB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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21 pages, 1450 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Multi-Messenger Constraints on the Hubble Constant through Combination of Gravitational Waves, Gamma-Ray Bursts and Kilonovae from Neutron Star Mergers

by Mattia Bulla, Michael W. Coughlin, Suhail Dhawan and Tim Dietrich

Universe 2022, 8(5), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8050289 - 21 May 2022

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3098

Abstract

The simultaneous detection of gravitational waves and light from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 led to independent measurements of distance and redshift, providing a direct estimate of the Hubble constant

H_{0}

that does not rely on a cosmic distance ladder, nor [...] Read more.

The simultaneous detection of gravitational waves and light from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 led to independent measurements of distance and redshift, providing a direct estimate of the Hubble constant

H_{0}

that does not rely on a cosmic distance ladder, nor assumes a specific cosmological model. By using gravitational waves as “standard sirens”, this approach holds promise to arbitrate the existing tension between the

H_{0}

value inferred from the cosmic microwave background and those obtained from local measurements. However, the known degeneracy in the gravitational-wave analysis between distance and inclination of the source led to a

H_{0}

value from GW170817 that was not precise enough to resolve the existing tension. In this review, we summarize recent works exploiting the viewing-angle dependence of the electromagnetic signal, namely the associated short gamma-ray burst and kilonova, to constrain the system inclination and improve on

H_{0}

. We outline the key ingredients of the different methods, summarize the results obtained in the aftermath of GW170817 and discuss the possible systematics introduced by each of these methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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Other

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10 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Kilonova Emission and Heavy Element Nucleosynthesis

by Elena Pian

Universe 2023, 9(2), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9020105 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1825

Abstract

The binary neutron star merger observed and localized on 17 August 2017 by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational interferometers and by numerous telescopes on the ground and in orbit linked in an unambiguous way the coalescence of double neutron stars with the formation [...] Read more.

The binary neutron star merger observed and localized on 17 August 2017 by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational interferometers and by numerous telescopes on the ground and in orbit linked in an unambiguous way the coalescence of double neutron stars with the formation of a relativistic outflow (short gamma-ray burst GRB170817A) and of a thermal radioactive source (kilonova). The vicinity of the event (40 Mpc) made it possible to monitor the electromagnetic counterpart in detail at all wavelengths and to map its close environment in the outskirts of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4993. Radio VLBI images of GRB170817A allowed the first direct detection of superluminal motion in a GRB afterglow, pointing to a collimated ultra-relativistic jet rather than to a quasi-isotropically, mildly relativistically expanding source. The accurate spectroscopy of the kilonova at ultraviolet-to-infrared wavelengths with the X-Shooter spectrograph of the ESO Very Large Telescope showed the long-sought-after signature of rapid neutron capture process (in short: r-process) nucleosynthesis. Kilonova detection makes gravitational wave sources optimal tracers of heavy element formation sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GRBs Phenomenology, Models and Applications: A Beginner Guide)

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