The Rates of hypernovae and gamma-ray bursts: Implications for their progenitors

Mar, 2004
12 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J.Lett. 607 (2004) L17-L20
e-Print:

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Abstract: (arXiv)
A critical comparison of estimates for the rates of hypernovae (HNe) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is presented. Within the substantial uncertainties, the estimates are shown to be quite comparable and give a Galactic rate of 10610^{-6} -- 10510^{-5} yr1^{-1} for both events. These rates are several orders of magnitude lower than the rate of core-collapse supernovae, suggesting that the evolution leading to a HN/GRB requires special circumstances, very likely due to binary interactions. Various possible binary channels are discussed, and it is shown that these are generally compatible with the inferred rates.