High energy particles from gamma-ray bursts

Abstract

A review is presented of the fireball model of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and of the production in GRB fireballs of high energy protons and neutrinos. Constraints imposed on the model by recent afterglow observations, which support the association of GRB and ultra-high energy cosmic-ray (UHECR) sources, are discussed. Predictions of the GRB model for UHECR production, which can be tested with planned large area UHECR detectors and with planned high energy neutrino telescopes, are reviewed.

33 pages. Based on lectures given at the ICTP Summer School (ICTP, Italy, June 2000), and at the VI Gleb Wataghin School (UNICAMP, Brazil, July 2000)