Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Jun 14, 2022, 7:42

Some astronomers have recently reported having found a short yet powerful emission of high-energy gamma-rays.

The high-energy radiation is known as Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] which lasted for a second and is one of the shortest GRBs occurring because of a massive star's death. It was detected on August 26, 2020, by NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Telescope. It is named GRB200826A.

Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] - Overview

This Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] was a sharp blast of radiation that lasted about 0.65 seconds. It had been travelling through the universe for a long period of time and racing towards the Earth for about half the present age of the Universe.

It had stretched out to be a second-long emission when detected by NASA's monitor. It is a significant event in the area as it helped shed light on long-existing issues about GRBs. It also encourages reanalysis of all such events recorded in the past.

What is a Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]?

Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] are the radiations with the highest energy, having up to a billion times the energy of the light we can see.

These rays can be produced by the most energetic and hottest objects in the universe like pulsars, neutron stars, areas near black holes, and supernovas.

The Significance of Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope is an observatory dedicated to gamma-ray observations from the Earth's orbit. It maps the sky every three hours to provide insight into the most critical phenomena in the universe including black-hole jets, Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], and pulsars.

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Short & Long Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]

Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] are of two types - short or long, depending on whether they last for more or less than two seconds. Short RGBs like the one detected recently occur when compact objects like neutron stars move in pairs for billions of years and collide.

Long Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], on the other hand, forms out of the demise of stars bigger than the Sun. The recent detection of the Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] proved for the first time that the demise of a huge star could even produce short bursts.

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Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] Important Fact

Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] is one of the most high-energy events in the universe and is powerful enough to be spotted billions of light-years away. One light-year is the distance travelled by a beam of light in 9.5 trillion km which is an Earth year.

To conclude, a Gamma-Ray Burst is detected only when the objects from the star's collapse rush towards the Earth at the speed of light. All the GRBs identified till now have originated in space external to the Milky Way galaxy.

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FAQs on Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]

Q.1 With regard to Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], when was the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope launched?

With regard to Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], The space observatory was launched in June 2008.

Q.2 In the context of Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], what are pulsars?

In the context of Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB], Pulsars are neutron stars that emit radio pulses at specific time intervals.

Q.3 How long did the Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] see in 2020 last?

The Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] was an emission lasting only 0.65 seconds.

Q.4 What was the most powerful Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB]?

The most energetic burst was the Gamma-Ray Burst [GRB] 130427A detected on April 27, 2013.