scholarly journals The case for a high-redshift origin of GRB 100205A

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (1) ◽  
pp. 902-909
Author(s):  
A A Chrimes ◽  
A J Levan ◽  
E R Stanway ◽  
E Berger ◽  
J S Bloom ◽  
...  

Abstract The number of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) known to have occurred in the distant Universe (z > 5) is small (∼15); however, these events provide a powerful way of probing star formation at the onset of galaxy evolution. In this paper, we present the case for GRB 100205A being a largely overlooked high-redshift event. While initially noted as a high-z candidate, this event and its host galaxy have not been explored in detail. By combining optical and near-infrared Gemini afterglow imaging (at t < 1.3 d since burst) with deep late-time limits on host emission from the Hubble Space Telescope, we show that the most likely scenario is that GRB 100205A arose in the range 4 < z < 8. GRB 100205A is an example of a burst whose afterglow, even at ∼1 h post burst, could only be identified by 8-m class IR observations, and suggests that such observations of all optically dark bursts may be necessary to significantly enhance the number of high-redshift GRBs known.

2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A119 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. de Ugarte Postigo ◽  
C. C. Thöne ◽  
J. Bolmer ◽  
S. Schulze ◽  
S. Martín ◽  
...  

Context. Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced during the dramatic deaths of massive stars with very short lifetimes, meaning that they explode close to the birth place of their progenitors. Over a short period they become the most luminous objects observable in the Universe, being perfect beacons to study high-redshift star-forming regions. Aims. We aim to use the afterglow of GRB 161023A at a redshift z = 2.710 as a background source to study the environment of the explosion and the intervening systems along its line of sight. Methods. For the first time, we complement ultraviolet (UV), optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with millimetre spectroscopy using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), which allows us to probe the molecular content of the host galaxy. The X-shooter spectrum shows a plethora of absorption features including fine-structure and metastable transitions of Fe, Ni, Si, C, and O. We present photometry ranging from 43 s to over 500 days after the burst. Results. We infer a host-galaxy metallicity of [Zn/H] = −1.11 ± 0.07, which, corrected for dust depletion, results in [X/H] = −0.94 ± 0.08. We do not detect molecular features in the ALMA data, but we derive limits on the molecular content of log(NCO/cm−2) < 15.7 and log(NHCO+/cm−-12, which are consistent with those that we obtain from the optical spectra, log(NH2/cm−2)< 15.2 and log(NCO/cm−2) < 14.5. Within the host galaxy, we detect three velocity systems through UV, optical and NIR absorption spectroscopy, all with levels that were excited by the GRB afterglow. We determine the distance from these systems to the GRB to be in the range between 0.7 and 1.0 kpc. The sight line to GRB 161023A shows nine independent intervening systems, most of them with multiple components. Conclusions. Although no molecular absorption was detected for GRB 161023A, we show that GRB millimetre spectroscopy is now feasible and is opening a new window on the study of molecular gas within star-forming galaxies at all redshifts. The most favoured lines of sight for this purpose will be those with high metallicity and dust.


2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
R M Bielby ◽  
J P Stott ◽  
F Cullen ◽  
T M Tripp ◽  
J N Burchett ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present the first results from a study of O vi absorption around galaxies at z &lt; 1.44 using data from a near-infrared grism spectroscopic Hubble Space Telescope Large Programme, the Quasar Sightline and Galaxy Evolution (QSAGE) survey. QSAGE is the first grism galaxy survey to focus on the circumgalactic medium at z ∼ 1, providing a blind survey of the galaxy population. The galaxy sample is H α flux limited (f(H α) &gt; 2 × 10−17 erg s−1 cm−2) at 0.68 &lt; z &lt; 1.44, corresponding to ≳0.2–0.8 M⊙ yr−1. In this first of 12 fields, we combine the galaxy data with high-resolution STIS and COS spectroscopy of the background quasar to study O vi in the circumgalactic medium. At z ∼ 1, we find O vi absorption systems up to b ∼ 350 kpc (∼4Rvir) from the nearest detected galaxy. Further, we find ${\sim }50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of ≳1 M⊙ yr−1 star-forming galaxies within 2Rvir show no associated O vi absorption to a limit of at least N(O vi) = 1013.9 cm−2. That we detect O vi at such large distances from galaxies and that a significant fraction of star-forming galaxies show no detectable O vi absorption disfavours outflows from ongoing star formation as the primary medium traced by these absorbers. Instead, by combining our own low- and high-redshift data with existing samples, we find tentative evidence for many strong (N(O vi) &gt; 1014 cm−2) O vi absorption systems to be associated with M⋆ ∼ 109.5–10 M⊙ mass galaxies (Mhalo ∼ 1011.5–12 M⊙ dark matter haloes), and infer that they may be tracing predominantly collisionally ionized gas within the haloes of such galaxies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S265) ◽  
pp. 171-178
Author(s):  
Fred Hamann ◽  
Leah E. Simon

AbstractHigh-redshift quasars provide a unique glimpse into the early evolution of massive galaxies. The physical processes that trigger major bursts of star formation in quasar host galaxies (mergers and interactions) probably also funnel gas into the central regions to grow the super-massive black holes (SMBHs) and ignite the luminous quasar phenomenon. The globally dense environments where this occurs were probably also among the first to collapse and manufacture stars in significant numbers after the big bang. Measurements of the elemental abundances near quasars place important constraints on the nature, timing and extent of this star formation. A variety of studies using independent emission and absorption line diagnostics have shown that quasar environments have gas-phase metallicities that are typically a few times solar at all observed redshifts. These results are consistent with galaxy evolution scenarios in which large amounts of star formation (e.g., in the central regions) precede the visibly bright quasar phase. An observed trend for higher metallicities in more luminmous quasars (powered by more massive SMBHs) is probably tied to the well-known mass–metallicity relation among ordinary galaxies. This correlation and the absence of a trend with redshift indicate that mass is a more important parameter in the evolution than the time elapsed since the big bang.


2003 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 387-390
Author(s):  
L. A. Antonelli ◽  
F. M. Zerbi ◽  
G. Chincarini ◽  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
M. Rodonò ◽  
...  

REM (Rapid Eye Mount) is a fully robotized fast slewing telescope equipped with a high throughput Near InfraRed (Z′, J, H, K′) camera (REMIR) and an optical slitless spectrograph (ROSS). A dedicated software for data reduction and software (AQuA) has been developed to extract scientific information from REM images without any human intervent. REM is installed in La Silla (Chile) and dedicated to detect and study the prompt optical/IR afterglow of Gamma Ray Bursts with the ambitious project of discovering objects at extremely high redshift. The synergy between REMIR camera and ROSS makes REM a powerful observing tool for any kind of fast transient phenomena.


2005 ◽  
Vol 362 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jakobsson ◽  
G. Björnsson ◽  
J. P. U. Fynbo ◽  
G. Jóhannesson ◽  
J. Hjorth ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (3) ◽  
pp. 3105-3117 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Chrimes ◽  
A J Levan ◽  
E R Stanway ◽  
J D Lyman ◽  
A S Fruchter ◽  
...  

Abstract We present a study of 21 dark gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies, predominantly using X-ray afterglows obtained with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO) to precisely locate the burst in deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging of the burst region. The host galaxies are well-detected in F160W in all but one case and in F606W imaging in 60 per cent of cases. We measure magnitudes and perform a morphological analysis of each galaxy. The asymmetry, concentration, and ellipticity of the dark burst hosts are compared against the host galaxies of optically bright GRBs. In agreement with other studies, we find that dark GRB hosts are redder and more luminous than the bulk of the GRB host population. The distribution of projected spatial offsets for dark GRBs from their host galaxy centroids is comparable to that of optically bright bursts. The dark GRB hosts are physically larger, more massive and redder, but are morphologically similar to the hosts of bright GRBs in terms of concentration and asymmetry. Our analysis constrains the fraction of high redshift (z &gt; 5) GRBs in the sample to 14 per cent, implying an upper limit for the whole long-GRB population of ≤4.4 per cent. If dust is the primary cause of afterglow darkening amongst dark GRBs, the measured extinction may require a clumpy dust component in order to explain the observed offset and ellipticity distributions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S279) ◽  
pp. 353-354
Author(s):  
Jirong Mao

AbstractLong gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) can be linked to the massive stars and their host galaxies are assumed to be the star-forming galaxies within small dark matter halos. We apply a galaxy evolution model, in which the star formation process inside the virialized dark matter halo at a given redshift is achieved. The star formation rates (SFRs) in the GRB host galaxies at different redshifts can be derived from our model. The related stellar masses, luminosities, and metalicities of these GRB host galaxies are estimated. We also calculate the X-ray and optical absorption of GRB afterglow emission. At higher redshift, the SFR of host galaxy is stronger, and the absorption in the X-ray and optical bands of GRB afterglow is stronger, when the dust and metal components are locally released, surrounding the GRB environment. These model predictions are compared with some observational data as well.


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