Gamma-Ray Bursts: To be Short or Long is not the Question

TL;DR

This paper questions the reliability of using gamma-ray burst duration alone to determine their progenitors, especially in cases where short bursts are associated with supernovae, challenging existing classification schemes.

Contribution

It critically examines the traditional duration-based classification of gamma-ray bursts and highlights the need for additional criteria to accurately identify their origins.

Findings

Duration alone may not reliably classify gamma-ray bursts.

Short bursts associated with supernovae challenge current models.

Progenitor identification requires more than just burst duration.

Abstract

The association of a short gamma-ray burst with a core-collapse supernova seems to challenge current scenarios for the origin of these extreme events. But how much can we rely on observed duration for pinpointing their progenitors?