Polarization of gamma-ray bursts via scattering off a relativistic sheath

David Eichler; Amir Levinson

doi:10.1086/379313

Polarization of gamma-ray bursts via scattering off a relativistic sheath

David Eichler, Amir Levinson

Department of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gamma-ray burst fireballs could be ensheathed by a relativistic, baryon-enriched outflow that would in selected directions scatter a polarized beam of gamma rays. The strong polarization recently announced by RHESSI is attainable by the scattering mechanism, although not most of the time. The scattering mechanism, when acting in addition to the synchrotron mechanism, could circumvent some of the predictions implied by a purely synchrotron origin for the polarization. The time profile of the scattered component could differ from that of the primary gamma rays.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L147-L150
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	596
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/379313
State	Published - 20 Oct 2003

Keywords

Black hole physics
Gamma rays: bursts
Gamma rays: theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/379313

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title = "Polarization of gamma-ray bursts via scattering off a relativistic sheath",

abstract = "Gamma-ray burst fireballs could be ensheathed by a relativistic, baryon-enriched outflow that would in selected directions scatter a polarized beam of gamma rays. The strong polarization recently announced by RHESSI is attainable by the scattering mechanism, although not most of the time. The scattering mechanism, when acting in addition to the synchrotron mechanism, could circumvent some of the predictions implied by a purely synchrotron origin for the polarization. The time profile of the scattered component could differ from that of the primary gamma rays.",

keywords = "Black hole physics, Gamma rays: bursts, Gamma rays: theory",

author = "David Eichler and Amir Levinson",

note = "Funding Information: We thank E. Derishev for useful discussions. This research was supported by the Arnow Chair of Astrophysics at Ben-Gurion University and by an Adler Fellowship awarded by the Israel Science Foundation.",

year = "2003",

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doi = "10.1086/379313",

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T1 - Polarization of gamma-ray bursts via scattering off a relativistic sheath

AU - Eichler, David

AU - Levinson, Amir

N1 - Funding Information: We thank E. Derishev for useful discussions. This research was supported by the Arnow Chair of Astrophysics at Ben-Gurion University and by an Adler Fellowship awarded by the Israel Science Foundation.

PY - 2003/10/20

Y1 - 2003/10/20

N2 - Gamma-ray burst fireballs could be ensheathed by a relativistic, baryon-enriched outflow that would in selected directions scatter a polarized beam of gamma rays. The strong polarization recently announced by RHESSI is attainable by the scattering mechanism, although not most of the time. The scattering mechanism, when acting in addition to the synchrotron mechanism, could circumvent some of the predictions implied by a purely synchrotron origin for the polarization. The time profile of the scattered component could differ from that of the primary gamma rays.

AB - Gamma-ray burst fireballs could be ensheathed by a relativistic, baryon-enriched outflow that would in selected directions scatter a polarized beam of gamma rays. The strong polarization recently announced by RHESSI is attainable by the scattering mechanism, although not most of the time. The scattering mechanism, when acting in addition to the synchrotron mechanism, could circumvent some of the predictions implied by a purely synchrotron origin for the polarization. The time profile of the scattered component could differ from that of the primary gamma rays.

KW - Black hole physics

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

KW - Gamma rays: theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0242382114&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/379313

DO - 10.1086/379313

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0242382114

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 596

SP - L147-L150

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Polarization of gamma-ray bursts via scattering off a relativistic sheath

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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