The Central Engines of Gamma-Ray Bursts

Abstract

Leading models for the "central engine" of long, soft gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are briefly reviewed with emphasis on the collapsar model. Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that GRBs are a supernova-like phenomenon occurring in star forming regions, differing from ordinary supernovae in that a large fraction of their energy is concentrated in highly relativistic jets. The possible progenitors and physics of such explosions are discussed and the important role of the interaction of the emerging relativistic jet with the collapsing star is emphasized. This interaction may be responsible for most of the time structure seen in long, soft GRBs. What we have called "GRBs" may actually be a diverse set of phenomena with a key parameter being the angle at which the burst is observed. GRB 980425/SN 1988bw and the recently discovered hard x-ray flashes may be examples of this diversity.