Binary progenitor models for long-duration gamma-ray bursts

While it is well established that long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) are intrinsically rare events, requiring a special evolutionary channel, the nature of the most important channels still has to be established. Here, we review some of the main binary models that have been proposed, specifically tidal spin-up models and binary mergers of various types, and then present a new model involving the recently discovered mechanism of explosive common-envelope ejection. The latter model naturally explains why LGRB-related supernovae have not observed helium and may also explain a constant-density medium around LGRBs, as has been deduced in some cases. LGRB rates as well as their metallicity dependence is also discussed for the various models.