Nature of sources of cosmic gamma bursts

The development is summed up of views of the sources of cosmic gamma bursts characterized by a rapid increase in gamma radiation intensity by several orders within a fragment of a second. Measurements using probes and satellites with equipment for the detection of gamma radiation with an energy excee--ding 20 MeV lead to the conclusion that gamma radiation burst sources are neutron stars. Their mass is around 1.2 of the Sun's mass, they rotate around their axis at a frequency of the order of 10-1Hz and have a dipole magnetic field of an induction of (108 to 109) T. (J.P.)