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Astrophysics

Magnetic fields in γ-ray bursts

Nature volume 504, pages 92–93 (2013)Cite this article

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Observations of a high degree of polarization in the immediate optical afterglow of a γ-ray burst indicate that these powerful cosmic explosions carry large-scale, ordered magnetic fields. See Letter p.119

Naturally occurring magnetic fields protect life on Earth from energetic cosmic rays but are relatively weak and barely noticeable. However, for astronomical objects, magnetic fields can have a dynamically important, and often dominant, role, especially for gravitationally collapsed objects such as neutron stars and accreting black holes. On page 119 of this issue, Mundell et al.1 report the possible observation of an ordered magnetic field that plays a significant part in a cosmic explosion known as a γ-ray burst.

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References

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  1. Maxim Lyutikov is in the Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2036, USA.,

    Maxim Lyutikov

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  1. Maxim Lyutikov
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Correspondence to Maxim Lyutikov.

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Lyutikov, M. Magnetic fields in γ-ray bursts. Nature 504, 92–93 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/504092a

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