2006/09/21 by G. B. Taylor, G. B. TAYLOR, J. Granot +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Afterglow #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Crab Nebula #Explosive material #Flare #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Gravitational wave #Magnetic field #Nebula #Neutron star #Outflow #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1142/s0217732306021645
published as Mod.Phys.Lett. A21 (2006) 2171-2188 · 25 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Modern Physics Letters A
arxiv created 2006/09/21 · openalex publication_date 2006/09/21 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The multi-wavelength observations of the 2004 December 27 Giant Flare (GF) from SGR 1806–20 and its long-lived radio afterglow are briefly reviewed. The GF appears to have been produced by a dramatic reconfiguration of the magnetic field near the surface of the neutron star, possibly accompanied by fractures in the crust. The explosive release of over 10 46 erg (isotropic equivalent) powered a one-sided mildly relativistic outflow. The outflow produced a new expanding radio nebula that is still visible over a year after the GF. Also considered are the constraints on the total energy in the GF, the energy and mass in the outflow, and on the external density, as well as possible implications for short γ-ray bursts and potential signatures in high energy neutrinos, photons, or cosmic rays. Some possible future observations of this and other GFs are briefly discussed.