On the Interpretation of the Burst Structure of Gamma-Ray Bursts

Given the very accurate data from the BATSE and the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer and Chandra satellites, we use GRB 991216 as a prototypical case to test the theory that links the origin of the energy of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to the extractable energy of electromagnetic black holes (EMBHs). The fit of the afterglow fixes the only two free parameters of the model and leads to a new paradigm for the interpretation of the burst structure (the IBS paradigm). It leads as well to a reconsideration of the relative roles of the afterglow and burst in GRBs by defining two new phases in this complex phenomenon: (1) the injector phase, giving rise to the proper GRB, and (2) the beam-target phase, giving rise to the extended afterglow peak emission and to the afterglow. Such differentiation leads to a natural possible explanation of the bimodal distribution of GRBs observed by BATSE. The agreement with the observational data in regions extending from the horizon of the EMBH all the way out to the distant observer confirms the uniqueness of the model.