Gamma-Ray Bursts: An Update

Abstract

Gamma-ray bursts are now known to originate from cosmological distances and represent the largest known explosions in the Universe. The observed characteristics of bursts in the gamma-ray region, primarily from data obtained with the BATSE experiment on the Compton Observatory, will be described. These include the temporal and spectral characteristic of bursts, and their intensity and sky distribution. A summary of recent discoveries and observations in other wavelength regions will also be presented, along with their implications for models of the burst emission mechanism. Various models for the energy source of gamma-ray bursts will be described.