GRB central engines

26 Mar 2014, 12:10
40m

Speaker

Dr Niccolò Bucciantini (INAF Osservatorio di Arcetri)

Description

The character of the prompt emission, of the afterglow, the presence of an associated supernova (SN), and the environment, all characterize and constrain the possible central engine of Long and Short Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). However, despite the observed variety, there is little diversity among models for the central engine and essentially all can be simply classified as a rotating compact object that drives an asymmetric relativistic outflow. The two leading models are the “collapsar” and the “millisecond proto-magnetar.” I will briefly review the various criteria that any model must satisfy, and I will illustrate the key ideas behind both the collapsar and millisecond magnetar, with their strengths and weakness, especially in the light of the recent observation of the so called "late activity".

Primary author

Dr Niccolò Bucciantini (INAF Osservatorio di Arcetri)

Presentation materials