The shock model of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) contains two equipartition parameters: the magnetic energy density and the kinetic energy density of the electrons relative to the total energy density of the shock, B and e , respectively. These are free parameters within the model. Whereas the Weibel shock theory and numerical simulations fix B at the level of a few times 10 -3 to 10 -4 , no understanding of e exists so far. Here we demonstrate that it inevitably follows from the theory that e ≃ 1/2 . The GRB afterglow data fully agree with this theoretical prediction. Our result explains why the electrons are close to equipartition in GRBs. The e - B relation can potentially be used to reduce the number of free parameters in afterglow models.
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