What SWIFT has taught us about X-ray flashes and long-duration gamma-ray bursts

TL;DR

Recent SWIFT satellite data have significantly advanced our understanding of long-duration gamma-ray bursts and X-ray flashes, confirming the predictions of the cannonball model through multi-wavelength observations.

Contribution

This paper demonstrates that SWIFT data support the cannonball model of GRBs and XRFs, emphasizing the roles of inverse Compton scattering and synchrotron radiation.

Findings

Optical and X-ray data agree with the cannonball model predictions.

Inverse Compton scattering dominates early-time emissions.

Synchrotron radiation explains late-time emissions.

Abstract

Recent data gathered and triggered by the SWIFT satellite have greatly improved our knowledge of long-duration gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and X-ray flashes (XRFs). This is particularly the case for the X-ray data at all times, and for UV and optical data at very early times. I show that the optical and X-ray observations are in excellent agreement with the predictions of the "cannonball" model of GRBs and XRFs. Elementary physics and just two mechanisms underlie these predictions: inverse Compton scattering and synchrotron radiation, generally dominant at early and late times, respectively. I put this result in its proper context and dedicate the paper to those who planed, built and operate SWIFT, a true flying jewel.