Nuclear Composition of Gamma-Ray Burst Fireballs

dc.creatorBeloborodov, Andrei M.
dc.date2002-10-23
dc.date2003-01-16
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T11:28:59Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T11:28:59Z
dc.descriptionWe study three processes that shape the nuclear composition of GRB fireballs: (1) neutronization in the central engine, (2) nucleosynthesis in the fireball as it expands and cools, and (3) spallation of nuclei in subsequent internal shocks. The fireballs are found to have a neutron excess and a marginally successful nucleosynthesis. They are composed of free nucleons, alpha-particles, and deuterium. A robust result is the survival of a significant neutron component, which has important implications. First, as shown in previous works, neutrons can lead to observable multi-GeV neutrino emission. Second, as we show in an accompanying paper, neutrons impact the explosion dynamics at radii up to 10^{17} cm and change the mechanism of the GRB afterglow emission.
dc.description33 pages, accepted to ApJ
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0210522
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0210522
dc.identifierAstrophys.J.588:931-944,2003
dc.identifierdoi:10.1086/374217
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/196575
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleNuclear Composition of Gamma-Ray Burst Fireballs
dc.typetext

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