SIMBAD references

A popular paradigm to explain the rapid temporal variability observed in gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curves is the internal shock model. We propose an alternative model in which the radiating fluid in the GRB shell is relativistically turbulent with a typical eddy Lorentz factor γ_t. In this model, all pulses in the gamma-ray light curve are produced at roughly the same distance R from the centre of the explosion. The burst duration is ~R/cΓ², where Γ is the bulk Lorentz factor of the expanding shell, and the duration of individual pulses in the light curve is ~R/cΓ²γ²_t. The model naturally produces highly variable light curves with ~γ²_t individual pulses. Even though the model assumes highly inhomogeneous conditions, nevertheless the efficiency for converting jet energy to radiation is high.