Influence of MHD waves on thermonuclear burning in surface layers of neutron stars: The nature of gamma-bursts

A possibility for gamma-ray bursts to arise due to thermonuclear flashes in the surface layers of accreting neutron stars is discussed. The principal difference of the sources of gamma-ray bursts from bursters is supposed to result from the existence of strong magnetic fields (10¹²–10¹³G) on the neutron star surface. It is shown that the thermonuclear energy released may be rapidly and effectively transported to the outer layers by MHD waves (in particular, by Alfvén waves). A very short growth time and rapid variations of some gamma-ray bursts may be easily explained in this case.