Abstract
OF the one thousand or so detected sources of cosmic γ-ray bursts (GRBs), only three are known to have exhibited recurrent activity1–4. These events differ from the majority of GRBs in that they are of much shorter duration and have relatively soft spectra5. The recurrent sources can thus be considered as a distinct class of objects—the soft gamma repeaters (SGRs). The embryonic distribution of the SGRs suggests that they are of galactic origin4, whereas the distribution6 of GRBs seems to be inconsistent with any known galactic source population. Here we report the detection by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) 7 of three short, very soft transient events from a location consistent with that of the ‘old’ repeater SGR 1900 + 14 (ref. 8). Our results suggest that the SGR active phase lasts at least 13 years, which, in conjunction with the arguments for a galactic origin, lends support to suggestions4,5 that SGRs are neutron stars.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hurley, K. presented at Taos Gamma-Ray Stars Conf. (1986).
Atteia, J.-L. et al. Astrophys. J. 320, L105–110 (1987).
Laros, J. P. et al. Astrophys. J. 320, L111–115 (1987).
Kouveliotou, C. et al. Astrophys. J. 322, L21–25 (1987).
Norris, J. P. et al. Astrophys. J. 366, 240–252 (1991).
Meegan, C. A. et al. Nature 355, 143–145 (1992).
Fishman, G. J. et al. in Proc. Gamma Ray Observatory Science Workshop (ed. Johnson, W. N.) 39–50 (NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, 1989).
Mazets, E. P., Golenetskii, S. V. & Guryan, Yu. A. Sov. Astr. Lett. 5(6), 343–344 (1979).
Mazets, E. P. et al. Astr. Space Sci. 80, 1–143 (1981).
Cline, T. L. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 375, 314–329 (1981).
Lewin, W. H. G., van Paradijs, J. & Taam, R. E. in X-Ray Binaries (eds Lewin, W. H. G., van Paradijs, J. & van den Heuvel, E. P. J.) (in the press).
Schaefer, B. E. et al. Astrophys. J. 393, L51–L54 (1992).
Band, D. et al. Astrophys. J. (submitted).
Golenetskii, S. V. et al. Nature 307, 41–42 (1984).
Kouveliotou, C. et al. in The Compton Observatory Science Workshop. NASA CP-3137 (eds Shrader, C. R., Gehrels, N. & Dennis, B.) 61–68 (1992).
Lingenfelter, R. E. & Higdon, J. C. Astrophys. J. 397, 576–578 (1992).
van Paradijs, J. et al. in Proc. Compton Symp., St. Louis (ed Gehrels, N.) (in the press).
Castro-Tirado, A. J. et al. IAU Circ. No. 5590 (1992).
Cordier, B. et al. in Proc. Compton Symposium. St. Louis (ed. Gehrels, N.) (in the press).
Lochner, J. & Whitlock, L. IAU Circ. No. 5658 (1992).
Paczynski, B. Acta astr. 41, 157–166 (1991).
Paczynski, B. Acta astr. 41, 257–267 (1991).
Brock, M. N. et al. in Gamma Ray Bursts: Huntsville AL, 1991 (eds Paciesas, W. S. & Fishman. G. J.) 383–387 (AIP, New York, 1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kouveliotou, C., Fishman, G., Meegan, C. et al. Recurrent burst activity from the soft γ-ray repeater SGR 1900+14. Nature 362, 728–730 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362728a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/362728a0
This article is cited by
-
INTEGRAL: Science Highlights and Future Prospects
Space Science Reviews (2011)
-
XMM–Newton observations of soft gamma-ray repeaters
Astrophysics and Space Science (2007)
-
An outburst of relativistic particles from the soft γ-ray repeater SGR1900+14
Nature (1999)
-
A giant periodic flare from the soft γ-ray repeater SGR1900+14
Nature (1999)
-
A new type of transient high-energy source in the direction of the Galactic Centre
Nature (1996)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.