scholarly journals Prompt optical emission as a signature of synchrotron radiation in gamma-ray bursts

2019 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. A59 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Oganesyan ◽  
L. Nava ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
A. Melandri ◽  
A. Celotti

Information on the spectral shape of prompt emission in gamma-ray bursts (GRB) is mostly available only at energies ≳10 keV, where the main instruments for GRB detection are sensitive. The origin of this emission is still very uncertain because of the apparent inconsistency with synchrotron radiation, which is the most obvious candidate, and the resulting need for considering less straightforward scenarios. The inclusion of data down to soft X-rays (∼0.5 keV), which are available only in a small fraction of GRBs, has firmly established the common presence of a spectral break in the low-energy part of prompt spectra, and even more importantly, the consistency of the overall spectral shape with synchrotron radiation in the moderately fast-cooling regime, the low-energy break being identified with the cooling frequency. In this work we further extend the range of investigation down to the optical band. In particular, we test the synchrotron interpretation by directly fitting a theoretically derived synchrotron spectrum and making use of optical to gamma-ray data. Secondly, we test an alternative model that considers the presence of a black-body component at ∼keV energies, in addition to a non-thermal component that is responsible for the emission at the spectral peak (100 keV–1 MeV). We find that synchrotron radiation provides a good description of the broadband data, while models composed of a thermal and a non-thermal component require the introduction of a low-energy break in the non-thermal component in order to be consistent with optical observations. Motivated by the good quality of the synchrotron fits, we explore the physical parameter space of the emitting region. In a basic prompt emission scenario we find quite contrived solutions for the magnetic field strength (5 G < B′< 40 G) and for the location of the region where the radiation is produced (Rγ >  1016 cm). We discuss which assumptions of the basic model would need to be relaxed in order to achieve a more natural parameter space.

2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A60 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Ravasio ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
L. Nava ◽  
G. Ghisellini

The long-lasting tension between the observed spectra of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and the predicted synchrotron emission spectrum might be solved if electrons do not completely cool. Evidence of incomplete cooling was recently found in Swift GRBs with prompt observations down to 0.1 keV, and in one bright Fermi burst, GRB 160625B. Here we systematically search for evidence of incomplete cooling in the spectra of the ten brightest short and long GRBs observed by Fermi. We find that in eight out of ten long GRBs there is compelling evidence of a low-energy break (below the peak energy) and good agreement with the photon indices of the synchrotron spectrum (respectively −2/3 and −3/2 below the break and between the break and the peak energy). Interestingly, none of the ten short GRBs analysed shows a break, but the low-energy spectral slope is consistent with −2/3. In a standard scenario, these results imply a very low magnetic field in the emission region (B′∼10 G in the comoving frame), at odd with expectations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 385-389
Author(s):  
B. PATRICELLI ◽  
M.G. BERNARDINI ◽  
C.L. BIANCO ◽  
L. CAITO ◽  
G. DE BARROS ◽  
...  

The analysis of various Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) characterized by an isotropic energy Eiso ≲ 1053 ergs within the fireshell model has shown how that the observed N(E) spectrum of their prompt emission can be reproduced in a satisfactory way by assuming a thermal spectrum in the comoving frame of the fireshell. Nevertheless, from the study of higher energetic bursts (Eiso ≳ 1054 ergs ) such as, for example, GRB 080319B, some discrepancies between the numerical simulations and the observational data have been observed. We investigate a different spectrum of photons in the comoving frame of the fireshell in order to better reproduce the spectral properties of GRB prompt emission within the fireshell model. We introduce a phenomenologically modified comoving thermal spectrum: a spectrum characterized by a different asymptotic low energy slope with respect to the thermal one. We test this spectrum by comparing the numerical simulations with the observed prompt emission spectra of various GRBs; we present, as an exaple, the case of GRB 080319B.


Author(s):  
MICHEL BOËR

The prompt emission of gamma-ray burst sources is still the main means of detection, and a privilegied access to the souce dynamics. It is detected from radio to GeV energies, and its study is crucial for the overall understanding of the phenomenom. We present here a panorama of the rapid optical observations, and what can be infered from the data. We will discuss also the new instruments which are planned for the observation of the prompt and early afterglow at optical and infrared wavelengths, with spectral capabilities.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 627-632
Author(s):  
G. BARBIELLINI ◽  
F. LONGO ◽  
N. OMODEI ◽  
D. GIULIETTI ◽  
A. CELOTTI ◽  
...  

Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) prompt emission can, for specific conditions, be so powerful and short-pulsed to strongly influence any surrounding plasma. In this paper, we briefly discuss the possibility that a very intense initial burst of radiation produced by GRBs satisfy the intensity and temporal conditions to cause stochastic wake-field particle acceleration in a surrounding plasma of moderate density. We consider a simple but realistic GRB model for which particle wake-field acceleration can first be excited by a very strong low-energy precursor, and then be effective in producing the observed prompt X-ray and gamma-ray GRB emission.


2021 ◽  
Vol 911 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Kuan Liu ◽  
Da-Bin Lin ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yu-Fei Li ◽  
Rui-Jing Lu ◽  
...  

Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 375
Author(s):  
V. A. Sadovnichy ◽  
M. I. Panasyuk ◽  
S. I. Svertilov ◽  
V. M. Lipunov ◽  
V. V. Bogomolov ◽  
...  

This paper presents a catalogue of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that were detected by the instruments onboard the Lomonosov space observatory. The Lomonosov mission gave the first experience of not only multi-wavelength (from optical to gamma) observations of GRBs but also multi-messenger observations of extreme phenomena and GRBs. The detailed light curves and energy spectra of the detected GRBs are presented. The results of the prompt, early an afterglow optical observations of several GRBs are discussed.


Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Kai Wang ◽  
Zi-Gao Dai

The prompt emission of most gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) typically exhibits a non-thermal Band component. The synchrotron radiation in the popular internal shock model is generally put forward to explain such a non-thermal component. However, the low-energy photon index α∼−1.5 predicted by the synchrotron radiation is inconsistent with the observed value α∼−1. Here, we investigate the evolution of a magnetic field during propagation of internal shocks within an ultrarelativistic outflow, and revisit the fast cooling of shock-accelerated electrons via synchrotron radiation for this evolutional magnetic field. We find that the magnetic field is first nearly constant and then decays as B′∝t−1, which leads to a reasonable range of the low-energy photon index, −3/2<α<−2/3. In addition, if a rising electron injection rate during a GRB is introduced, we find that α reaches −2/3 more easily. We thus fit the prompt emission spectra of GRB 080916c and GRB 080825c.


1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 171-174
Author(s):  
T. Murakami ◽  
Y. Ueda ◽  
R. Fujimoto ◽  
M. Ishida ◽  
R. Shibata ◽  
...  

Since the discovery of fading X-rays from Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) with BeppoSAX (Piro et al. 1997, Costa et al. 1997), world-wide follow-up observations in optical band have achieved the fruitful results. The case of GRB 970228, there was an optical transient, coincides with the BeppoSAX position and faded (Paradijs et al. 1997, Sahu et al. 1997). These optical observations also confirmed the extended component, which was associated with the optical transient. The new transient are fading with a power-law function in time and the later observation of HST confirmed the extended emission is stable (Fruchter et al. 1997). This extended object seems to be a distant galaxy and strongly suggests to be the host.


2020 ◽  
Vol 636 ◽  
pp. A82 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
G. Oganesyan ◽  
S. Ascenzi ◽  
L. Nava ◽  
...  

We discuss the new surprising observational results that indicate quite convincingly that the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is due to synchrotron radiation produced by a particle distribution that has a low-energy cut-off. The evidence of this is provided by the low-energy part of the spectrum of the prompt emission, which shows the characteristic Fν ∝ ν1/3 shape followed by Fν ∝ ν−1/2 up to the peak frequency. This implies that although the emitting particles are in fast cooling, they do not cool completely. This poses a severe challenge to the basic ideas about how and where the emission is produced, because the incomplete cooling requires a small value of the magnetic field to limit synchrotron cooling, and a large emitting region to limit the self-Compton cooling, even considering Klein–Nishina scattering effects. Some new and fundamental ingredient is required for understanding the GRBs prompt emission. We propose proton–synchrotron as a promising mechanism to solve the incomplete cooling puzzle.


2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (4) ◽  
pp. 5986-5992
Author(s):  
Nikhil Sarin ◽  
Paul D Lasky ◽  
Gregory Ashton

ABSTRACT The spin-down energy of millisecond magnetars has been invoked to explain X-ray afterglow observations of a significant fraction of short and long gamma-ray bursts. Here, we extend models previously introduced in the literature, incorporating radiative losses with the spin-down of a magnetar central engine through an arbitrary braking index. Combining this with a model for the tail of the prompt emission, we show that our model can better explain the data than millisecond-magnetar models without radiative losses or those that invoke spin-down solely through vacuum dipole radiation. We find that our model predicts a subset of X-ray flares seen in some gamma-ray bursts. We can further explain the diversity of X-ray plateaus by altering the radiative efficiency and measure the braking index of newly born millisecond magnetars. We measure the braking index of GRB061121 as $n=4.85^{+0.11}_{-0.15}$ suggesting the millisecond-magnetar born in this gamma-ray burst spins down predominantly through gravitational-wave emission.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document