Gamma-ray bursts from colliding strange stars

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/170182· OSTI ID:5319231

Haensel, P; Paczynski, B

The rate of collisions between the neutron stars is about 0.0001/yr in the galaxy and about 0.00001/yr within the Hubble distance. The collisions are the final phases of binary orbit decay driven by gravitational radiation and may produce gamma-ray bursts detectable at extragalactic distances. If strange stars exist then their collisions must release about 10 to the 50th ergs in gamma rays over 0.2 s. Such events should be detectable out to 1 Gpc with the current instruments. The distance to the majority of gamma-ray bursts is not known at this time. The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on Gamma Ray Observatory should determine the distance scale by determining the angular distribution of very weak bursts. If the majority of gamma-ray bursts turn out to be extragalactic, and if their distances are about 1 Gpc, then the collisions between strange stars may be the least speculative events that might account for so energetic bursts. 48 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5319231
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 375; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BINARY STARS
COLLISIONS
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
COSMIC RADIATION
DETECTION
DISTANCE
DISTRIBUTION
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
GRAVITATIONAL RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NEUTRON STARS
ORBITS
ORIGIN
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
RADIATIONS
STARS
STRANGENESS