If there are 1000 GRBs per day, where is all that energy

In summary: Originally posted by wolram In summary, an enormous question remains unanswered as to what is causing these Gamma Radiation Bursts.
  • #1
wolram
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if there are 1000 GRBs per day, where is all that energy
going, is our universe getting more energetic or is it
so big that it can adsorb this energy with no aparant change?
 
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  • #2
An enormous question. Is the expansion of the universe the result of an increasing amount of mass/energy being converted into energy form? E=m, so are the overall scales tipping in favor of the E form?
-----

I found this quote about the cause of the Gamma Radiation Bursts to be mind boggling:

"What we know is that something has to accelerate a huge mass - close to the mass of the sun - to close to the speed of light in a very short period of time. We just don't know why that's happening."

-Ed Fenimore
Los Alamos Astrophysicist
 
  • #3


Originally posted by wolram
if there are 1000 GRBs per day, where is all that energy
going, is our universe getting more energetic or is it
so big that it can adsorb this energy with no aparant change?

Well we here on Earth are a pretty average piece of the universe, and _we_ have no trouble absorbing the part of the GRB that comes our way.
 
  • #4
i have searched on the net for an explanation as to what
is happening with no result, i have found quotes like,
one GRB is equal to the energy output of the milkyway.
so that's a "thousand times the total milkyway output",
"everyday", that is a bit hard to understand.
 
  • #5
Originally posted by wolram
i have searched on the net for an explanation as to what
is happening with no result, i have found quotes like,
one GRB is equal to the energy output of the milkyway.
so that's a "thousand times the total milkyway output",
"everyday", that is a bit hard to understand.
What's hard to understand? If 1 is the same as the output of the Milky Way, then 1000 is 1000 times the Milky Way.
 
  • #6


Originally posted by wolram
if there are 1000 GRBs per day, where is all that energy
going, is our universe getting more energetic or is it
so big that it can adsorb this energy with no aparant change?

This is not new energy being added to the universe. It's a build up and release of existing energy. Zero sum game.
 
  • #7
so this one thousand times the energy of the milky way
released in a day has no effect, its just reabsorbed
into the universe?
 
  • #8
Oh, the burst certainly causes havoc with anything nearby. But the energy is eventually dissipated with distance from the event.
 

1. How is the energy of GRBs measured?

The energy of GRBs (gamma-ray bursts) is measured in ergs, a unit of energy commonly used in astrophysics. It is a measure of the total energy released by the GRB in the form of gamma rays.

2. Where does the energy for GRBs come from?

The exact source of energy for GRBs is still a topic of research and debate among scientists. However, it is believed that most GRBs are powered by the collapse of massive stars or the merging of neutron stars.

3. How powerful are GRBs compared to other astronomical events?

GRBs are some of the most energetic events in the universe. They can release as much energy in a few seconds as the sun will emit in its entire lifetime. They are also significantly more powerful than supernovae and even some active galactic nuclei.

4. How far away are the GRBs that we detect?

The majority of GRBs that we detect are located in distant galaxies, with some being billions of light-years away. This means that the light and energy from the GRB have traveled for billions of years before reaching our telescopes.

5. How do scientists study the energy of GRBs?

Scientists use a variety of instruments and techniques to study the energy of GRBs, including gamma-ray detectors, X-ray telescopes, and optical telescopes. They also analyze the afterglow of the GRB, which can provide valuable information about the energy release and its source.

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