Quote:
On 2002-01-15 21:13, Hale_Bopp wrote:
I have mentioned before that I would like to see who could read and debate the contents of a scientific paper rather than a press release. I am betting the percentage on this board would be much higher than the general population.
With that in mind, I have selected a paper to read and debate. It is short (less than 4 pages) for a scientific publication and one of the more accessible papers I have read.
The paper announces the possible detection of an "orphan" gamma ray burst afterglow. Normally, gamma ray bursts (grbs) are detected by satellites and follow up observations detect an optical afterglow. In this paper, they argue that a bright optical transient is a grb afterglow for which now gamma rays were detected (no satellite was observing that part of the sky at the time).
I also like this paper because there is no proof of what they found. They outline their methods and reasons for the conclusion. Let's have at it and see what we think here!
The paper can be downloaded as a .pdf file at
http://www.arxiv.org/PS_cache/astro-...11/0111054.pdf
Have at it!
Rob
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Ok. I've read it.
Computer programmer synopisis follows:
Something in a fairly far part of the universe (no reference as to how far that I could decypher) went BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!! Since the after glow died out relatively quickly, a type 1a Supernovae is ruled out due to the burst die off lasting longer in that case. Accretion disk collisions in a supermassive BH is likewise ruled out due to various causes including duration, energy expended, etc. Therefore, the idea is that it was a GRB afterglow. One that was not dectected because detection devices weren't pointed that way or angle was too great. (The only GRB event recorded near the time in the general vicinity was a unlocalized event March 16th, 1999. Date of the observance was March 20th, 1999)
My head hurts.
Stated problems:
Equipment was not designed to look specifically for GRB's or any other short period object.
Other ideas (mine):
Although the phenomenon they state could very well be the most likely cause, perhaps this is the GRB afterglow from SMBH creation. (if the galaxy from which it eminated is far enough away.) (probably not, but an idea.)