Bursts are just that, sudden flashes of energy that carry little apparent information about the source. Still, scientists know that something is in there.
Synchrotron radiation is emitted by electrons as they spiral along magnetic field lines.
The most common form on Earth comes from synchrotron particle accelerators where accelerated electrons emit radiation at a tangent to their circular paths. This effect is also observed in neutron stars and supernovae. In the shock wave of material blasting outward from whatever causes gamma ray bursts, electrons will gyrate around the magnetic field lines. To anyone moving with that cloud of material, their behavior and emissions will look quite normal. Preece said that the energies carried by the electrons can be plotted on something like a bell curve.