Gamma-ray bursts: Challenges to relativistic astrophysics

Martin J. Rees

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arXiv · astro-ph/9701162

Gamma-ray bursts: Challenges to relativistic astrophysics

Martin J. Rees

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Abstract

Although they were discovered more than 25 years ago, gamma-ray bursts are still a mystery. Even their characteristic distance is highly uncertain. All that we can be confident about is that they involve compact objects and relativistic plasma. Current ideas and prospects are briefly reviewed. There are, fortunately, several feasible types of observation that could soon clarify the issues.

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Martin J. Rees. 1997-01-22. Gamma-ray bursts: Challenges to relativistic astrophysics. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9701162

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