About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 80. Chapters: Gamma-ray burst, Soft gamma repeater, X-ray generation, History of gamma-ray burst research, Astronomical X-ray source catalog, Gamma-ray generation, GRB 970508, Stellar surface fusion, Astronomical X-ray sources, Coronal star, Gamma-ray burst progenitors, Visibly dark X-ray source, GRB 970228, Astronomical gamma-ray source, GRB 090423, Serpens X-1, X-rays from lightning, Gamma-ray burst emission mechanisms, Proton antiproton annihilation, List of gamma-ray bursts, Serpens XR-2, Sagittarius XR-1, InterPlanetary Network, Ara X-1, Prognoz 6, Serpens X-2, Ara XR-1, Centaurus XR-2, Abell 2147, Serpens Caput X-1, OSO 1, Sagittarius XR-2, OSO 5, Intercosmos 26, Centaurus XR-4, V 0332+53, Kosmos 428, X-ray halo, Aquila XR-1, Lupus XR-1, Hinotori, Cygnus X-4, Cepheus XR-1, Centaurus XR-3, GRB 080319B, OSO 2, Signe 3, Sagittarius X-3, GRB 011211, GRB 990123, GRB 030329, GRB 060614, GRB 080916C, GRB 970402, GRB 031203, Gamma-ray Burst Coordinates Network, GRB 020813, GRB 000131, Beethoven Burst, GRB 060218, GRB 980425, GRB 080913, Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-Infrared Detector, GRB 971214, W49B, GRB 070125, Transient astronomical event, GRB 100621A. Excerpt: Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are flashes of gamma rays associated with extremely energetic explosions that have been observed in distant galaxies. They are the most luminous electromagnetic events known to occur in the universe. Bursts can last from ten milliseconds to several minutes, although a typical burst lasts 20-40 seconds. The initial burst is usually followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitted at longer wavelengths (X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, micro and radio). Most observed GRBs are believed to consist of a narrow beam of intense radiation released during a supernova event, as a rapidly rotating, high-mass star collapses to form a neutron star, quark st...