Since their discovery was first announced in 1973, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been among the most fascination objects in the universe. While the initial mystery has gone, the fascination continues, sustained by the close connection linking GRBs with some of the most fundamental topics in modern astrophysics and cosmology. Both authors have been active in GRB observations for over two decades and have produced an outstanding account on both the history and the perspectives of GRB research.

Autorentext

Professor Gilbert Vedrenne has been involved in research on gamma-ray bursts since their discovery in the early 1970s. Jean-Luc Atteia has been involved with the observation of GRBs for 20 years and both have considerable experience in the use of instruments aboard spacecraft for the detection and location of GRBs over many years

Inhalt
The early times.- The BATSE decade.- BeppoSAX and the afterglow era.- HETE-2 and Swift.- Gamma-ray burstsfireballs and blastwaves.- Gamma-ray burst afterglows.- Early afterglows: the Swift revolution.- Progenitors.- Perspectives in gamma-ray burst science.