High energy phenomena associated with gamma ray burst sources

Abstract

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) spectrum is known to extend upto GeV energies, indicating the occurrence of transient high energy phenomena near GRB sources. Here we present evidence of statistical association between the locations of ultra high energy cosmic rays and GRBs. We examine our earlier finding that bright GRBs are associated with high energy cosmic rays (Energy > 3 × 1019 eV). Additionally we find a significant positional association between faint GRBs and cosmic rays. If confirmed, these results have very far-reaching implications for GRB source models: GRB sources have to be nearby; GRBs should repeat with a time scale of about 10 years; GRBs are heterogeneous and not mono-luminous. We discuss these results in the light of our earlier suggestion that GRBs and cosmic rays originate from Magnetically Active Stellar Systems.