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A.M. Beloborodov (Stockholm Observatory)
The fraction of a fireball kinetic energy that is dissipated by internal shocks is sensitive to the amplitude of initial fluctuations in the fireball. We give a simple analytical description for the dissipation of modest-amplitude fluctuations and confirm it with direct numerical simulations. At high amplitudes, the dissipation occurs in a nonlinear regime with efficiency approaching 100 the fireball energy can then be radiated away by the prompt gamma-ray burst, and only a fraction remains for the afterglow.