Recent Results on Gamma-Ray Bursts with the Bepposax Satellite

Abstract

Recent results on Gamma-Ray Bursts obtained with the X-ray Astronomy satellite BeppoSAX are reviewed. Main emphasis is given to the GRBs simultaneously detected with the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (40-700 keV) and the Wide Field Cameras (1.5-26 keV). These bursts were rapidly localized with high precision, which permitted a prompt pointing of their error boxes with the Narrow Field Instruments aboard the same satellite. In three cases of bursts, these prompt observations led to the discovery of an X-ray afterglow. For two events also an optical transient was discovered. We review these results and their implications.