Gamma-ray bursts from a close pulsar binary system?

The close neutron-star binary system comprised of the radio pulsars PSR J0737-3039 A,B is discussed. An analysis of the observational data indicates that the wind from pulsar A, which is more powerful than the wind from pulsar B, strongly distorts the magnetosphere of pulsar B. A shock separating the relativistic wind from pulsar A and the corotating magnetosphere of pulsar B should form inside the light cylinder of pulsar B. A weakly diverging “tail” of magnetic field is also formed, which stores a magnetic energy on the order of 10³⁰ erg. This energy could be liberated over a short time on the order of 0.1 s as a result of reconnection of the magnetic-force lines in this “tail,” leading to an outburst of electromagnetic radiation with energies near 100 keV, with an observed flux at the Earth of 4 × 10^?11 erg cm^?2 s^?2. Such outbursts would occur sporadically, as in the case of magnetic substorms in the Earth’s magnetosphere.