The emission of Gamma Ray Bursts as a test-bed for modified gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores how high-curvature regimes in modified gravity theories could explain the immense energy emissions of Gamma Ray Bursts, proposing a curvature engine model involving non-minimally coupled charged particles.

Contribution

It introduces a novel curvature engine model with non-minimal coupling to explain Gamma Ray Burst emissions in high-curvature regimes of modified gravity.

Findings

Energy emission matches Gamma Ray Burst observations

Non-geodesic particle motion enhances radiation emission

High curvature regimes could naturally generate energetic astrophysical events

Abstract

The extreme physical conditions of Gamma Ray Bursts can constitute a useful observational laboratory to test theories of gravity where very high curvature regimes are involved. Here we propose a sort of curvature engine capable, in principle, of explaining the huge energy emission of Gamma Ray Bursts. Specifically, we investigate the emission of radiation by charged particles non-minimally coupled to the gravitational background where higher order curvature invariants are present. The coupling gives rise to an additional force inducing a non-geodesics motion of particles. This fact allows a strong emission of radiation by gravitationally accelerated particles. As we will show with some specific model, the energy emission is of the same order of magnitude of that characterizing the Gamma Ray Burst physics. Alternatively, strong curvature regimes can be considered as a natural mechanism for the generation of highly energetic astrophysical events. Possible applications to cosmology are discussed.