Gamma-Ray Bursts
- Andrew Levan
- December 2018
Description
As the most powerful explosions that occurs in the universe, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are one of the most exciting objects being studied in astrophysics. Creating more energy than the Sun does in its entire lifetime, GRBs create a blaze of light that will outshine every other object visible in the sky, enabling us to measure galaxies that are several million years old.
GRBs cover various areas of astronomy and interest in them reaches a wide range of fields. Andrew Levan explores the fascinating history of these astronomical occurrences and details our current understanding of GRBs. The science behind them is rapidly moving and this book examines the knowledge that we now have as well as the questions that are continually being raised. Predominantly aimed at PhD students and researchers in the area, Gamma-Ray Bursts addresses this captivating topic and outlines the principles and initial applications of a fascinating astronomical phenomena
About Editors
Andrew Levan is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at The University of Warwick. He has spent most of his career focussing on the origins of gamma-ray bursts and their use as cosmic probes, utilising a wide range of ground- and space-based telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Table of Contents
Preface
1 – A Historical Primer
2 – Prompt Emission
3 – Afterglow emission
4 – Central Engines
5 – Long GRB progenitors
6 – Short GRB progenitors
7 – GRBs as cosmological probes
8 – Long GRB host galaxies
9 - Multi-messenger Astronomy
10 – GRB astronomy: Summary and Future Outlook
Bibliographic
Hardback ISBN: 9780750315005
Ebook ISBN: 9780750315029
DOI: 10.1088/2514-3433/aae164
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
Series: AAS-IOP Astronomy
Reviews
This book is a good and timely introduction to GRBs. It starts with an historical account and chapter by chapter covers key areas of GRB research,including prompt emission, afterglows, long GRBs, short GRBs, progenitors, hosts, cosmological utility, and multi-messenger aspects. Each chapter in the book has its own references and can stand alone, which I found useful. This makes it an effective reference for graduate students and researchers in other sub-disciplines planning to collaborate on GRB projects. If you want a modern introduction to gamma-ray bursts, this book is a very good place to start.
Robert Nemiroff 2019 The Observatory Magazine