Quark-Nova as Gamma Ray Burst Precursor

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Abstract
We explore the scenario where the core of a proto-neutron star (with densities above deconfinement value) shrinks into the equilibrated strange matter object. The left-out matter (the envelope of mass M_{env.}) free-falls following the core contraction releasing tremendous energies, up to E_{QN} \simeq 4 \times 10^{52} {\rm ergs} as a result of strangeness contamination or conversion or baryons to quarks - a phenomena we call Quark-Nova. We show that `dirty' fireballs are a natural outcome of Quark-Novae and could in principle account for Gamma Ray Burst precursor activity. We argue that in general the Quark-Nova ejecta (the `dirty' fireball) is absorbed or attenuated by the slow preceding Supernova ejecta explaining why only 3% of bursts exhibit precursor activity.

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