4 April 2002

Gamma-ray astronomy: A supernova fit to burst

Gamma-ray bursts are the most powerful objects in the Universe, seen at cosmological distances at redshifts as high as 4.7. The nature of the progenitors of these enormously energetic events is a matter of debate. The X-ray spectrum of the afterglow of GRB011211, a burst first detected last December, suggests that the precursor in this instance was a recent supernova, the collapse of a massive star.

The signature of supernova ejecta in the X-ray afterglow of the g-ray burst 011211
J. N. REEVES, D. WATSON, J. P. OSBORNE, K. A. POUNDS, P. T. O'BRIEN, A. D. T. SHORT, M. J. L. TURNER, M. G. WATSON, K. O. MASON, M. EHLE & N. SCHARTEL
Nature 416, 512–515 (4 April 2002)
| First Paragraph | Full Text | PDF (220 K) |

Astrophysics: The evidence in the afterglow
HERMAN L. MARSHALL
The X-ray spectrum of an afterglow from a g-ray burst reveals a smoking gun. It links the g-rays to the expanding fireball that occurs after a supernova explosion.
Nature 416, 484–485 (4 April 2002)
| Full Text | PDF (55 K) |

Gamma rays illuminate supernova