Short Gamma-ray Bursts: The Magnetar - Gravitational Wave Connection
Abstract
The standard model for short duration GRBs involves the merger of a compact binary system resulting in a black hole which accretes for a brief period of time. Some short duration GRBs observed by the Swift satellite show features in their light curves which are difficult to explain in this model. As an alternative we examine the light curves of the Swift short GRBs to see if they can be explained by the presence of a highly magnetised, rapidly rotating neutron star (magnetar) formed by the merger of two neutron stars. A magnetar can act as a powerful source of rotational energy for a period of time sufficient to produce detectable high-energy emission. We find magnetars may be present in a large fraction of short bursts and discuss how this model can be tested using the next generation of gravity-wave observatories.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #12
- Pub Date:
- September 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011HEAD...12.1802O