A Shotgun Model for Gamma-Ray Bursts

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Abstract
We propose that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced by a shower of heavy blobs running into circumstellar material at highly relativistic speeds. The gamma-ray emission is produced in the shocks these bullets drive into the surrounding medium. The short-term variability seen in GRBs is set by the slowing-down time of the bullets, while the overall duration of the burst is set by the lifetime of the central engine. A requirement of this model is that the ambient medium be dense, consistent with a strong stellar wind. The efficiency of the burst can be relatively high.