Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest--and, until recently, among the least
understood--cosmic events in the universe. Discovered by chance during
the cold war, these evanescent high-energy explosions confounded
astronomers for decades. But a rapid series of startling breakthroughs
beginning in 1997 revealed that the majority of gamma-ray bursts are
caused by the explosions of young and massive stars in the vast
star-forming cauldrons of distant galaxies. New findings also point to
very different origins for some events, serving to complicate but enrich
our understanding of the exotic and violent universe. What Are Gamma-Ray
Bursts? is a succinct introduction to this fast-growing subject, written
by an astrophysicist who is at the forefront of today's research into
these incredible cosmic phenomena. Joshua Bloom gives readers a concise
and accessible overview of gamma-ray bursts and the theoretical
framework that physicists have developed to make sense of complex
observations across
the electromagnetic spectrum. He traces the history of remarkable
discoveries that led to our current understanding of gamma-ray bursts,
and reveals the decisive role these phenomena could play in the grand
pursuits of twenty-first century astrophysics, from studying gravity
waves and unveiling the growth of stars and galaxies after the big bang
to surmising the ultimate fate of the universe itself.What Are Gamma-Ray
Bursts? is an essential primer to this exciting frontier of scientific
inquiry, and a must-read for anyone seeking to keep pace with
cutting-edge developments in physics today.
