Short Gamma-ray bursts as binary neutron star mergers, or not? (A. Nathanail, 9/1/2024)
Channel: Academy of Athens
Date: 09/01/2024

Antonios Nathanail
RCAAM of the Academy of Athens
 
Abstract:
 
30 years ago, gamma ray bursts were statistically divided in two classes, short and long ones. The short ones were suggested to come from compact binary mergers and the long ones from the collapse of the cores of massive stars ( larger than  12 solar masses). In 2017 the coincident detection of gravitational waves and a short gamma-ray burst confirmed the connection. We will review and analyze what we learned from this specific event (GW170817/GRB170817A). Finally, we will argue that not all other short gamma-ray bursts detected are similar with this one. This suggests that either a different mechanism of producing the burst exists or that not all short gamma-ray bursts come from compact binary mergers.