The Last Equation
A gamma-ray burst of total isotropic equivalent energy E_iso = 10^55 erg is observed at redshift z = 4.5. The spectrum shows two anomalous features: (1) a sharp cutoff at 100 MeV that cannot be explained by pair production opacity, and (2) a periodic modulation in the arrival time of photons with energy > 10 GeV, period T = 0.73 s. Assuming these are not instrumental artifacts, propose a physical mechanism. Hint: Consider modifications to the vacuum dispersion relation in extra-dimensional brane-world scenarios. grb physics for competitions vol 2
Aris read it five times. The numbers were wrong. At z=4.5, the pair production opacity cutoff should be around 30 MeV, not 100. And a periodic modulation at 0.73 seconds—that was the orbital period of the old Hab module Thales , Lena’s last post. The Last Equation A gamma-ray burst of total
A gravitational lensing echo. The true source was a neutron star merger remnant 200 light-years away, in a direction no telescope had ever bothered to scan. And according to the dispersion relation, a second burst was due in… 14 hours. At z=4