Interpretation of the Size Spectrum of Cosmic g-ray Bursts in Terms of an Idealized Galactic Distribution of Sources

Abstract

A model for the size spectrum of cosmic y-ray bursts is derived on the assumption that the sources of these bursts are distributed uniformly in space out to 0·3 kpc, thence uniformly in a disc (galactic plane) to 3 kpc, and thence uniformly in a line (galactic arm) to 27 kpc. Two forms are assumed for the distribution of the total energy release per burst: a gaussian with mean sand an exponential with characteristic so, such that s = So = 1032 J. The derived size spectra are in agreement with results obtained from satellite and balloon observations, thus supporting both the galactic origin of the bursts and a representative total energy release for them of 1032 J.