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cangus
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can someone explain what a gamma burst is in simple terms... thanks.
meteor said:Gamma bursts were first detected in 1967, but were hidden to the public, only officially announced its existence in 1973 (because they feared that were of alien civilization origin?).
It's true that a small BH should end its days in a burst of glory, a nice flash of Hawking gammas. However, I wasn't aware that the short GRBs had characteristics - spectrum, duration, etc - which matched that of evaporating BHs; do you have a reference?Chronos said:Another interesting hypothesis is that short GRB's are evaporating black holes [the tiny primordial black holes Hawking theorized to have formed in the very early universe]
I wasn't aware that the short GRBs had characteristics - spectrum, duration, etc - which matched that of evaporating BHs; do you have a reference?
Gamma bursts are intense flashes of gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light. They are thought to be produced by powerful explosions, such as the collapse of massive stars or the merging of neutron stars.
Scientists use specialized instruments, such as gamma-ray detectors on satellites, to detect and study gamma bursts. These instruments can measure the duration, intensity, and spectral properties of the bursts, providing valuable information about their origin and evolution.
Studying gamma bursts can provide insights into the most extreme events in the universe, such as the formation of black holes and the production of heavy elements. They can also help us understand the properties of the universe, such as its expansion and the distribution of matter.
No, gamma bursts are not dangerous to Earth or human life. They occur at great distances and the gamma rays are typically absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere before reaching the surface. However, they can potentially affect electronics on satellites and spacecraft.
Scientists classify gamma bursts into two main categories: long-duration bursts and short-duration bursts. Long-duration bursts are typically associated with the collapse of massive stars, while short-duration bursts are thought to be caused by the merging of neutron stars. Within these categories, there are further subtypes based on the duration, spectral properties, and location of the bursts.