High-energy emission as signature of magnetic field amplification in Neutron Star Mergers

TL;DR

This paper suggests that high-energy emissions detected by the LAT telescope in short gamma-ray bursts can serve as evidence for magnetic field amplification during neutron star mergers, supporting simulation predictions.

Contribution

It links LAT high-energy emissions to magnetic field amplification in neutron star mergers, providing observational evidence for a key theoretical prediction.

Findings

LAT-detected high-energy components coincide with short gamma-ray bursts

Evidence supports magnetic field amplification during neutron star mergers

Observations align with simulation predictions of magnetic field growth

Abstract

The merger of a binary neutron star system is suggested as the central engine of short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs). For the merger process, simulations predict that magnetic field is amplified beyond magnetar field strength by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. With the Large Area Telescope (LAT), bursts have been detected that show a temporally extended component in coincidence with a short-lasting peak at the end of the prompt phase. We show that the presence of these LAT components in a sGRB could provide evidence of magnetic field amplification in the neutron star merger.