TY - JOUR
T1 - Gasdynamics of relativistically expanding gamma-ray burst sources
T2 - Kinematics, energetics, magnetic fields, and efficiency
AU - Mészáros, P.
AU - Laguna, P.
AU - Rees, M. J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1993/9/20
Y1 - 1993/9/20
N2 - We calculate both analytically and numerically the evolution of highly relativistic fireballs through the stages of free expansion and coasting, and determine the dependence of the thermodynamic and radiation variables in the comoving and laboratory frames. The dynamics and the comoving geometry change at the (lab) expansion factors r/r0 > η and r/r0 > η2, respectively, where η = E0/M0 c2 is the initial Lorentz factor. In the lab, the gas appears concentrated in a thin shell of width r0 until r/r0 ≲ η2, and increases linearly after that. Magnetic fields may have been important in the original impulsive event. We discuss their effect on the fireball dynamics and also consider their effects on the radiation emitted when the fireball runs into an external medium and is decelerated. The inverse synchro-Compton mechanism can then yield high radiative efficiency in the reverse shock (and through turbulent instabilities and mixing also in the forward blast wave), producing a burst of nonthermal radiation mainly in the MeV to GeV range. The energy and duration depend on η, the magnetic field strength, and the external density, and can match the range of properties observed in cosmic gamma-ray bursts.
AB - We calculate both analytically and numerically the evolution of highly relativistic fireballs through the stages of free expansion and coasting, and determine the dependence of the thermodynamic and radiation variables in the comoving and laboratory frames. The dynamics and the comoving geometry change at the (lab) expansion factors r/r0 > η and r/r0 > η2, respectively, where η = E0/M0 c2 is the initial Lorentz factor. In the lab, the gas appears concentrated in a thin shell of width r0 until r/r0 ≲ η2, and increases linearly after that. Magnetic fields may have been important in the original impulsive event. We discuss their effect on the fireball dynamics and also consider their effects on the radiation emitted when the fireball runs into an external medium and is decelerated. The inverse synchro-Compton mechanism can then yield high radiative efficiency in the reverse shock (and through turbulent instabilities and mixing also in the forward blast wave), producing a burst of nonthermal radiation mainly in the MeV to GeV range. The energy and duration depend on η, the magnetic field strength, and the external density, and can match the range of properties observed in cosmic gamma-ray bursts.
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U2 - 10.1086/173154
DO - 10.1086/173154
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:12044257675
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 415
SP - 181
EP - 190
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 1
ER -