Life history on Earth has been characterized by several mass extinctions of different entity, as shown by geologic prospecting. The standard model for GRBs implies that in the expanding fireball protons are accelerated to relativistic energies. These protons, interacting with the surrounding medium, give rise to the production of high-energy photons (with energy ≥ 1 GeV) through pions decay. If the burst is sufficiently close, the energy flux of high-energy gamma-rays can be lethal for life on Earth. We estimate that a burst every approximately 100 million years should be sufficiently close to produce a life extinctions on Earth. This rate is in agreement with the available geologic data.
Gamma-Ray Bursts at the Origin of Life Extinctions?
DE PAOLIS, Francesco;INGROSSO, Gabriele;
2002-01-01
Abstract
Life history on Earth has been characterized by several mass extinctions of different entity, as shown by geologic prospecting. The standard model for GRBs implies that in the expanding fireball protons are accelerated to relativistic energies. These protons, interacting with the surrounding medium, give rise to the production of high-energy photons (with energy ≥ 1 GeV) through pions decay. If the burst is sufficiently close, the energy flux of high-energy gamma-rays can be lethal for life on Earth. We estimate that a burst every approximately 100 million years should be sufficiently close to produce a life extinctions on Earth. This rate is in agreement with the available geologic data.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
