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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 April 2016
Bursts of gamma rays lasting from a fraction of a second to several seconds have been observed by spacecraft since 1967 (Klebesadel et at. 1973). Events with fluxes in excess of 10−4 erg cm−2 s−1 are seen at the rate of several per year for gamma ray detectors with an energy threshold of ˜50 keV. The sources of these bursts remain unidentified and the mechanism(s) responsible for the production of the gamma rays remain(s) in the realm of conjecture. (For a review see Ramaty and Lingenfelter 1982).