The Rates of Hypernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursts: Implications for their Progenitors

A critical comparison of estimates for the rates of hypernovae (HNe) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is presented. Within the substantial uncertainties, the estimates are shown to be quite comparable and give a Galactic rate of $10^{-6}$ -- $10^{-5} $yr$^{-1}$ for both events. These rates are several orders of magnitude lower than the rate of core-collapse supernovae, suggesting that the evolution leading to a HN/GRB requires special circumstances, very likely due to binary interactions. Various possible binary channels are discussed, and it is shown that these are generally compatible with the inferred rates.