INTEGRAL results on gamma-ray bursts and soft gamma-ray repeaters

TL;DR

The INTEGRAL satellite, despite not being designed for gamma-ray bursts, has significantly contributed to their study by detecting numerous events and providing precise localizations, alongside insights into Galactic transients like magnetars.

Contribution

This paper presents eight years of INTEGRAL's performance data and reviews its novel contributions to gamma-ray burst and soft gamma-ray repeater research.

Findings

Detected about 10 GRBs per year in the IBIS field of view

Provided real-time localizations with 2-3 arcmin accuracy

Revealed transient events from Galactic sources, including magnetars

Abstract

Despite not being specifically designed for the study of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the INTEGRAL satellite is giving a relevant contribution to this field with the detection of about 10 GRB per year in the IBIS field of view. The ground-based INTEGRAL Burst Alert System (IBAS) has provided real-time localizations with 2-3 arcmin accuracy for most of these events. The INTEGRAL sample now comprises 81 bursts, including 4 of the short class. IBAS has also revealed other transient events from various classes of Galactic sources, most notably short bursts and flares from magnetar candidates. Here I present a summary of the IBAS performances in the eight years since the INTEGRAL launch and review some of the INTEGRAL results for GRBs and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters.