Scientific Seminars

Correlations and spectral properties of Long and Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

Lara Nava
Sissa

2009-11-24    14:00    Brera - Cupola Fiore

I will review some of the most debated open issues in Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). The synchrotron process is commonly invoked to explain both the prompt and the afterglow emission. However, inconsistencies between model predictions and prompt spectral properties raised the question about the nature of the gamma-ray emission. I will face this topic and, supported by new results, I will discuss the importance and the gravity of these inconsistencies. Some hints to understand the nature of the radiative mechanism producing the prompt emission can be derived from the existence of spectral-energy correlations. I will discuss the problem of their real physical nature against selection effects and their possible application to the cosmology. Finally, I will present the differencies between Long and Short bursts by comparing their spectral properties and by investigating if they follow the same correlations.