.: Do We Understand Them???

           Although astronomers feel that they have a grasp on what triggers gamma-ray bursts, there are still many questions that remain.  In terms of the collapsar/hypernova model, evidence so far only gives insight to long duration bursts.  However, in 2003, astronomers noticed after glows from short duration bursts.  Because the distances were too short to determine, researchers began to think that the short duration gamma ray bursts are triggered by a fundamentally different physical process.  Some think that this process may involve the merger of neutron stars.  Despite the number of predictions acquired, no one has specific answers as to the physical process of either the short or long duration gamma ray bursts, or exactly what triggers them.

           In terms of the location of gamma ray bursts, scientists are still in dispute.  Some believe that gamma ray bursts are produced inside of a star.  More specifically it is the reaction that occurs when the stellar core collapses and ‘jets’ of material explode outward.  On the other hand, some believe that gamma ray bursts are produced when blobs of stellar material in the ‘jets’ collide with the material in the interstellar medium, rather that inside the star.  The question of locations are still in debate today.

          Overall, we currently believe to have narrowed them down to a point that we feel that we understand them.  However, the point can be raised that this feeling was had before, only to be shot down by a newer, more current theory.  The best answer that we can give, is that as far as we know, we are correct in our understanding.