Afterglows from the largest explosions in the universe

D H Hartmann

doi:10.1073/pnas.96.9.4752

Afterglows from the largest explosions in the universe

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Apr 27;96(9):4752-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.9.4752.

Author

D H Hartmann¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-1911, USA.

Abstract

The distinction of "largest explosions in the universe" has been bestowed on cosmic gamma-ray bursts. Their afterglows are brighter than supernovae and therefore are called hypernovae. Photometry and spectroscopy of these afterglows have provided major breakthroughs in our understanding of this mysterious phenomenon.