  Large-voltage and high-temperature plasma columns produced by pinch discharge
can generate gamma-ray flashes with energy spectra and spectral evolution
consistent with that observed in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The inverse Compton
scattering (ICS) during the discharge process can produce high linear
polarization. The calculation indicates that the observed polarization depends
on the angle between the observer's line-of-sight to the GRB and the direction
of the pinch discharge, but only weakly depends on observed gamma-ray energy.
