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R. Yamazaki (Osaka University, Japan), K. Toma (Kyoto University, Japan), K. Ioka (Penn State University), T. Nakamura (Kyoto University, Japan)
X-ray flashes (XRFs) occur at cosmological distances and are similar to, but softer than, classical (long) gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Various observational facts derived by BeppoSAX and HETE-2 strongly suggest that they are the same phenomenon. We propose a possible theoretical unified model of XRFs. GRBs arise from relativistic jets directed toward us. Therefore, there should be instances in which we observe the relativistic jets from an off-axis viewing angle. For that case, relativistic kinematics tells us that if the viewing angle is larger than the collimation angle of the jet, we will obtain the observational characteristics of X-ray flashes.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.