Author : Govert Schilling
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780521800532
Total Pages : 332 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (5 download)
Book Synopsis Flash! by : Govert Schilling
Download or read book Flash! written by Govert Schilling and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2002-04-18 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The origin and nature of gamma-ray bursts is currently one of the greatest mysteries in astrophysics. These tremendously powerful blasts produce more energy in a fraction of a second than our Sun does in ten billion years. Since their accidental discovery by American spy satellites over thirty years ago, astronomers have striven to understand these enigmatic explosions. It is only recently, thanks to an Italian-Dutch satellite, and powerful telescopes both on the ground and in space, that the mystery is beginning to be unravelled. Astronomers now realise that gamma-ray bursts are probably related to the birth of black holes in extremely distant galaxies. Flash! describes the fast moving field of gamma ray burst research, from the initial detection right up to the most recent discoveries. Based on interviews with leading scientists, this exciting book provides an inside view of the scientific challenges involved in unravelling the mystery of gamma-ray bursts.