Re: "Gamma Rays of Doom"

[Andrew Karam <karam.1@osu.edu>]

Further information about neutron star mergers from my friendly
neighborhood astronomer.  They are rare (perhaps in our galaxy every 500
million years or so, give or take a hundred million years) and release from
100 to 1000 times the energy of a supernova (up to about 10^53 ergs).  A
supernova will release nearly as much energy as the entire rest of its host
galaxy, so a neutron star merger will be bright.  Using the same
relationship as before, a neutron star merger at a distance of about 3000
light years would give a dose up to about 900 rads (9 Gy).  I still don't
know about the muon dose.  Pu-244 is formed during supernovae and is
considered an extinct radionuclide; I don't know that it would be formed
during a neutron star merger, although simpler nuclides probably would be.

The opinions expressed above are well-reasoned and insightful.  Needless to
say, they are not those of my employer. (with apologies to Michael Feldman)		

Andrew Karam, MS, CHP					(614) 292-1284 (phone)
The Ohio State University 					(614) 292-7002 (fax)
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(karam.1@osu.edu)