The Gamma-Ray Burst Phenomenon (Hardcover)

1. Introduction

2. Basic Theory
2.1 The physics of relativistic shocks and the synchrotron afterglow model
2.2 Modifications to the basic model including reverse shock emission, in-verse Compton emission, jet breaks, expansion into a stellar wind environment, and the effects of energy injection and density variations

3.Gamma-Ray Emission (MeV?GeV)
3.1 Overview of missions and datasets and prin-ciples of gamma-ray data analysis
3.2 Spectral and variability analyses using gamma-ray data
3.3 Applications including:
Lorentz factor limits
tests of the external shock model
searches for thermal and inverse Compton components to the prompt emission

4. X-ray Emission.
4.1 Overview of missions and datasets and principles of X-ray data analysis
4.2 X-ray astrometric and spectroscopic analyses (CCD-resolution and gratings-resolution)
4.3 Construction of X-ray lightcurves and identification of X-ray flares
4.4 Applications including:
Testing the synchrotron afterglow model
estimating the blastwave kinetic energy.

5. Optical Photometry
5.1 Principles of optical photometry
5.2 Complicating factors in GRB analyses
color changes
variability
host galaxy contributions
atmospheric and extinction corrections
5.3 Constructing optical lightcurves and afterglow spectral energy distributions
5.4 Applications including:
Diagnosing reverse-shock and GRB-correlated prompt optical emission
observing passage of the synchro-tron peak and cooling frequencies
estimating photometric redshift and host galaxy extinction
identifying variability and jet breaks; discovering associated su-pernovae

6. Optical Spectroscopy
6.1 Principles of optical/near-infrared spectroscopy
6.2 Complicating factors for GRBs:
source acquisition and confirmation
extraction of faint spectra
spectrophotometry.
6.3 Applications including:
Redshift measurement
element abundances and absorber kinematics
high-ionization and metastable transi-tions
molecular transitions
time-variable absorption features
6.3 Spectroscopy of GRB host galaxies

7. Radio Emission
7.1 Principles of radio interferometry
7.2 Diagnosing radio scintilla-tion.
7.3 The brightness temperature limit, equipartition, and afterglow energetics
7.4 Constructing the radio spectral energy distribution
7.5 Applications including:
Self-absorption frequency and density constraints
synchrotron afterglow modeling
resolving the expanding afterglow via scintillation and VLBI
identifying the nonre-lativistic transition and performing fireball calorimetry

8. Nontraditional Channels
8.1 For TeV gamma-ray facilities:
The cosmic horizon for TeV observers
possibilities for prompt, afterglow, and flare-associated emissions
searches for quantum gravity effects.
8.2 For high-energy neutrino facilities:
possible emission mechanisms and luminosities
observational expectations
8.3 For gravitational-wave observatories:
expected signals for short-duration bursts and long-duration bursts
orphan afterglow searches
event rates and prospects for joint detection