Recurrent gamma-ray bursts from the flaring source FXP 0520 - 66

Recurrent gamma-ray bursts from the source FXP 0520-66 registered by the Venera probes on March 6 and April 4 and 24, 1979 are examined. Time profiles and energy spectra of the three recurrent bursts are given together with such parameters as commencement time, burst intensity, mean energy flux density, total energy, and luminosity. It is suggested that the weaker recurrent bursts could be induced by accretion of lower intensity taking place against the background of damped perturbations generated by some strong initial process. A second possibility is that recurrent bursts, 300-1000 times weaker and having a softer spectrum, may be associated with thermally unstable thermonuclear burning of material falling onto the surface of a neutron star.