scholarly journals Afterglow light curves from misaligned structured jets

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (3) ◽  
pp. 3521-3534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paz Beniamini ◽  
Jonathan Granot ◽  
Ramandeep Gill

ABSTRACT GRB 170817A/GW 170817 is the first gamma-ray burst (GRB) clearly viewed far from the GRB jet’s symmetry axis. Its afterglow was densely monitored over a wide range of frequencies and times. It has been modelled extensively, primarily numerically, and although this endeavour was very fruitful, many of the underlying model parameters remain undetermined. We provide analytic modelling of GRB afterglows observed off-axis, considering jets with a narrow core (of half-opening angle θc) and power-law wings in energy per unit solid angle (ϵ = ϵcΘ−a where Θ = [1 + (θ/θc)2]1/2) and initial specific kinetic energy (Γ0 − 1 = [Γc, 0 − 1]Θ−b), as well as briefly discuss Gaussian jets. Our study reveals qualitatively different types of light curves that can be viewed in future off-axis GRBs, with either single or double peaks, depending on the jet structure and the viewing angle. Considering the light-curve shape rather than the absolute normalizations of times and/or fluxes, removes the dependence of the light curve on many of the highly degenerate burst parameters. This study can be easily used to determine the underlying jet structure, significantly reduce the effective parameter space for numerical fitting attempts and provide physical insights. As an illustration, we show that for GRB 170817A, there is a strong correlation between the allowed values of Γc, 0 and b, leading to a narrow strip of allowed solutions in the Γc, 0–b plane above some minimal values Γc, 0 ≳ 40, b ≳ 1.2. Furthermore, the Lorentz factor of the material dominating the early light curve can be constrained by three independent techniques to be Γ0(θmin, 0) ≈ 5–7.

2003 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 331-332
Author(s):  
Zhuo Li ◽  
Z. G. Dai ◽  
T. Lu

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are believed to originate from ultra-relativistic fireballs, with initial Lorentz factor η ∼ 102 − 103. However very high energy photons may still suffer from γγ interaction. We show here that in a wide range of model parameters, the resulting pairs may dominate electrons associated with the fireball baryons. This may provide an explanation for the rarity of prompt optical detections. A rapid response to the GRB trigger at the IR band would detect such a strong flash.


2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (2) ◽  
pp. 2966-2972
Author(s):  
Lauren Rhodes ◽  
Rob Fender ◽  
David R A Williams ◽  
Kunal Mooley

ABSTRACT We present the results of radio observations from the eMERLIN telescope combined with X-ray data from Swift for the short-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) 200826A, located at a redshift of 0.71. The radio light curve shows evidence of a sharp rise, a peak around 4–5 d post-burst, followed by a relatively steep decline. We provide two possible interpretations based on the time at which the light curve reached its peak. (1) If the light curve peaks earlier, the peak is produced by the synchrotron self-absorption frequency moving through the radio band, resulting from the forward shock propagating into a wind medium and (2) if the light curve peaks later, the turnover in the light curve is caused by a jet break. In the former case we find a minimum equipartition energy of ∼3 × 1047 erg and bulk Lorentz factor of ∼5, while in the latter case we estimate the jet opening angle of ∼9–16°. Due to the lack of data, it is impossible to determine which is the correct interpretation, however due to its relative simplicity and consistency with other multiwavelength observations which hint at the possibility that GRB 200826A is in fact a long GRB, we prefer the scenario one over scenario two.


2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (1) ◽  
pp. 974-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Zhang ◽  
I M Christie ◽  
M Petropoulou ◽  
J M Rueda-Becerril ◽  
D Giannios

ABSTRACT The afterglow emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is believed to originate from a relativistic blast wave driven into the circumburst medium. Although the afterglow emission from radio up to X-ray frequencies is thought to originate from synchrotron radiation emitted by relativistic, non-thermal electrons accelerated by the blast wave, the origin of the emission at high energies (HE; ≳GeV) remains uncertain. The recent detection of sub-TeV emission from GRB 190114C by the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes (MAGIC) raises further debate on what powers the very high energy (VHE; ≳300 GeV) emission. Here, we explore the inverse Compton scenario as a candidate for the HE and VHE emissions, considering two sources of seed photons for scattering: synchrotron photons from the blast wave (synchrotron self-Compton or SSC) and isotropic photon fields external to the blast wave (external Compton). For each case, we compute the multiwavelength afterglow spectra and light curves. We find that SSC will dominate particle cooling and the GeV emission, unless a dense ambient infrared photon field, typical of star-forming regions, is present. Additionally, considering the extragalactic background light attenuation, we discuss the detectability of VHE afterglows by existing and future gamma-ray instruments for a wide range of model parameters. Studying GRB 190114C, we find that its afterglow emission in the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) band is synchrotron dominated. The late-time Fermi-LAT measurement (i.e. t ∼ 104 s), and the MAGIC observation also set an upper limit on the energy density of a putative external infrared photon field (i.e. ${\lesssim} 3\times 10^{-9}\, {\rm erg\, cm^{-3}}$), making the inverse Compton dominant in the sub-TeV energies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1844013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Minaev ◽  
Alexei Pozanenko ◽  
Sergei Molkov

We have analyzed the light curves of 527 short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) registered by the SPI-ACS, SPI and IBIS/ISGRI experiments of INTEGRAL observatory totally to search for precursors. Both the light curves of each 527 individual burst and the averaged light curve of 372 brightest SPI-ACS bursts have been analyzed. In a few cases, we have found and investigated precursor candidates using SPI-ACS, SPI and IBIS/ISGRI of INTEGRAL, GBM and LAT of Fermi data. No convincing evidence for the existence of precursors of short GRBs has been found. A statistical analysis of the averaged light curve for the sample of brightest short bursts has revealed no regular precursor. Upper limits for the relative intensity of precursors have been estimated. We show that the fraction of short GRBs with precursors is less than 0.4% of all short bursts, detected by INTEGRAL.


2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A131 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Guessoum ◽  
H. Zitouni ◽  
R. Mochkovitch

Context. Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) result from mergers of two neutron stars or from collapsars, but probably at a smaller rate. In the first case, a kilonova occurs while in the second case a Type Ic supernova is expected. Aims. Even if future observations of kilonovae in association with gravitational wave events provide better data, detecting a kilonova during an afterglow follow-up would remain useful for exploring the diversity of the kilonova phenomenon. As supernovae produce a weaker gravitational signal, afterglow follow-up will be the only possible method to find one. In this work, we identify the conditions of the burst energy, external density, kilonova mass, supernova luminosity, that are necessary for the detection of a kilonova or supernova in the follow-up of short GRB afterglows. Methods. We have used a simple kilonova model to obtain the peak luminosities and times as a function of mass, expansion velocity and ejected matter opacity. Afterglow light curves are computed for a uniform medium and a stellar wind, in the kilonova and supernova cases, respectively. Results. We represent, using diagrams of the burst kinetic energy vs. density of the external medium, the domains where the kilonova or supernova at maximum is brighter than the afterglow. In the kilonova case we vary the mass, the jet opening angle and the microphysics parameters; for supernovae, we consider SN 98bw-like and ten times dimmer events, and again vary the jet opening angle and the microphysics parameters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 487 (4) ◽  
pp. 5824-5839 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Ashall ◽  
P A Mazzali ◽  
E Pian ◽  
S E Woosley ◽  
E Palazzi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We report observations and analysis of the nearby gamma-ray burst GRB 161219B (redshift z = 0.1475) and the associated Type Ic supernova (SN) 2016jca. GRB 161219B had an isotropic gamma-ray energy of ∼1.6 × 1050 erg. Its afterglow is likely refreshed at an epoch preceding the first photometric points (0.6 d), which slows down the decay rates. Combined analysis of the SN light curve and multiwavelength observations of the afterglow suggest that the GRB jet was broad during the afterglow phase (full opening angle ∼42° ± 3°). Our spectral series shows broad absorption lines typical of GRB supernovae (SNe), which testify to the presence of material with velocities up to ∼0.25c. The spectrum at 3.73 d allows for the very early identification of an SN associated with a GRB. Reproducing it requires a large photospheric velocity ($35\, 000 \pm 7000$ km s−1). The kinetic energy of the SN is estimated through models to be Ekin≈4 × 1052 erg in spherical symmetry. The ejected mass in the explosion was Mej≈6.5 ± 1.5 M⊙, much less than that of other GRB-SNe, demonstrating diversity among these events. The total amount of 56Ni in the explosion was 0.27 ± 0.05 M⊙. The observed spectra require the presence of freshly synthesized 56Ni at the highest velocities, at least three times more than a standard GRB-SN. We also find evidence for a decreasing 56Ni abundance as a function of decreasing velocity. This suggests that SN 2016jca was a highly aspherical explosion viewed close to on-axis, powered by a compact remnant. Applying a typical correction for asymmetry, the energy of SN 2016jca was ∼(1–3) × 1052 erg, confirming that most of the energy produced by GRB-SNe goes into the kinetic energy of the SN ejecta.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (4) ◽  
pp. 5614-5628
Author(s):  
A Albert ◽  
M André ◽  
M Anghinolfi ◽  
G Anton ◽  
M Ardid ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Addressing the origin of the astrophysical neutrino flux observed by IceCube is of paramount importance. Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the few astrophysical sources capable of achieving the required energy to contribute to such neutrino flux through pγ interactions. In this work, ANTARES data have been used to search for upward going muon neutrinos in spatial and temporal coincidence with 784 GRBs occurred from 2007 to 2017. For each GRB, the expected neutrino flux has been calculated in the framework of the internal shock model and the impact of the lack of knowledge on the majority of source redshifts and on other intrinsic parameters of the emission mechanism has been quantified. It is found that the model parameters that set the radial distance where shock collisions occur have the largest impact on neutrino flux expectations. In particular, the bulk Lorentz factor of the source ejecta and the minimum variability time-scale are found to contribute significantly to the GRB-neutrino flux uncertainty. For the selected sources, ANTARES data have been analysed by maximizing the discovery probability of the stacking sample through an extended maximum-likelihood strategy. Since no neutrino event passed the quality cuts set by the optimization procedure, 90 per cent confidence level upper limits (with their uncertainty) on the total expected diffuse neutrino flux have been derived, according to the model. The GRB contribution to the observed diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux around 100 TeV is constrained to be less than 10 per cent.


2017 ◽  
Vol 608 ◽  
pp. A59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Dubus ◽  
Nicolas Guillard ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Petrucci ◽  
Pierrick Martin

Context. Gamma-ray binaries are thought to be composed of a young pulsar in orbit around a massive O or Be star with their gamma-ray emission powered by pulsar spin-down. The number of such systems in our Galaxy is not known. Aims. We aim to estimate the total number of gamma-ray binaries in our Galaxy and to evaluate the prospects for new detections in the GeV and TeV energy range, taking into account that their gamma-ray emission is modulated on the orbital period. Methods. We modelled the population of gamma-ray binaries and evaluated the fraction of detected systems in surveys with the Fermi-LAT (GeV), H.E.S.S., HAWC and CTA (TeV) using observation-based and synthetic template light curves. Results. The detected fraction depends more on the orbit-average flux than on the light-curve shape. Our best estimate for the number of gamma-ray binaries is 101\hbox{$_{-52}^{+89}$} systems. A handful of discoveries are expected by pursuing the Fermi-LAT survey. Discoveries in TeV surveys are less likely. However, this depends on the relative amounts of power emitted in GeV and TeV domains. There could be as many as ≈ 200 HESS J0632+057-like systems with a high ratio of TeV to GeV emission compared to other gamma-ray binaries. Statistics allow for as many as three discoveries in five years of HAWC observations and five discoveries in the first two years of the CTA Galactic Plane survey. Conclusions. We favour continued Fermi-LAT observations over ground-based TeV surveys to find new gamma-ray binaries. Gamma-ray observations are most sensitive to short orbital period systems with a high spin-down pulsar power. Radio pulsar surveys (SKA) are likely to be more efficient in detecting long orbital period systems, providing a complementary probe into the gamma-ray binary population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (3) ◽  
pp. 3158-3177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R Coughlin ◽  
Mitchell C Begelman

ABSTRACT Relativistic jets, or highly collimated and fast-moving outflows, are endemic to many astrophysical phenomena. The jets produced by gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and tidal disruption events (TDEs) are accompanied by the accretion of material on to a black hole or neutron star, with the accretion rate exceeding the Eddington limit of the compact object by orders of magnitude. In such systems, radiation dominates the energy–momentum budget of the outflow, and the dynamical evolution of the jet is governed by the equations of radiation hydrodynamics. Here, we show that there are analytical solutions to the equations of radiation hydrodynamics in the viscous (i.e. diffusive) regime that describe structured, relativistic jets, which consist of a fast-moving, highly relativistic core surrounded by a slower moving, less relativistic sheath. In these solutions, the slower moving, outer sheath contains most of the mass, and the jet structure is mediated by local anisotropies in the radiation field. We show that, depending on the pressure and density profile of the ambient medium, the angular profile of the jet Lorentz factor is Gaussian or falls off even more steeply with angle. These solutions have implications for the nature of jet production and evolution in hyperaccreting systems, and demonstrate that such jets – and the corresponding jet structure – can be sustained entirely by radiative processes. We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of jetted TDEs and short and long GRBs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S262) ◽  
pp. 358-361
Author(s):  
Yutaka Ihara ◽  
Mamoru Doi ◽  
Tomoki Morokuma ◽  
Raynald Pain ◽  
Naohiro Takanashi ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present a measurement of the rate of high-z Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using multi-epoch observations of Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field (SXDF) with Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope. Although SNe Ia are regarded as a standard candle, progenitor systems of SNe Ia have not been resolved yet. One of the key parameters to show the progenitor systems by observations is the delay time distribution between the binary system formation and subsequent SN explosion. Recently, a wide range of delay time is studied by SN Ia rates compared with an assumed cosmic star formation history. If SNe Ia with short delay time are dominant, the cosmic SN Ia rate evolution should closely trace that of the cosmic star formation. In order to detect a lot of high-z SNe Ia and measure SN Ia rates, we repeatedly carried out wide and deep imaging observations in the í-band with Suprime-Cam in 2002 (FoV~1 deg2, mi < 25.5 mag). We obtained detailed light curves of the variable objects, and 50 objects are classified as SNe Ia using the light curve fitting method at the redshift range of 0.2 < z < 1.3. In order to check the completeness and contamination of the light curve classification method, we performed Monte Carlo simulations and generated ~100,000 light curves of SNe Ia and II from templates. The control time and detection efficiency of the SN survey are also calculated using the artificial light curves. We derived an increasing trend of rates at around z ~ 1.2. Our results are almost consistent with other SN Ia rate results from low-z to high-z. Our results are the first results of high-z SN Ia rates with large statistics using light curves obtained by ground based telescopes, and give us visions of the SN rate studies for the future.


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