Theories of Gamma-Ray Bursts

Abstract

The gamma ray burst phenomenon is reviewed from a theoretical point of view, with emphasis on the fireball shock scenario of the prompt emission and the longer wavelenght afterglow. Recent progress and issues are discussed, including spectral-temporal evolution, localizations, jets, spectral lines, environmental and cosmological aspects, as well as some prospects for future experiments in both electromagnetic and non-electromagnetic channels.

To appear in Annu.Rev.Astron.Astrophys. 40 (2002), subm. 10/15/01, 59 pp, 7 figs, revised version with some added discussion & refs (with low resolution figures; a higher resolution postscript is available at http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/nnp/mesz.ps)