Constraining the near-infrared background light from Population III stars using high-redshift gamma-ray sources

AbstractAt peak, long-duration gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous sources of electromagnetic radiation known. Since their progenitors are massive stars, they provide a tracer of star formation and star-forming galaxies over the whole of cosmic history. Their bright power-law afterglows provide ideal backlights for absorption studies of the interstellar and intergalactic medium back to the reionization era. The proposed THESEUS mission is designed to detect large samples of GRBs at z > 6 in the 2030s, at a time when supporting observations with major next generation facilities will be possible, thus enabling a range of transformative science. THESEUS will allow us to explore the faint end of the luminosity function of galaxies and the star formation rate density to high redshifts; constrain the progress of re-ionisation beyond $z\gtrsim 6$ z ≳ 6 ; study in detail early chemical enrichment from stellar explosions, including signatures of Population III stars; and potentially characterize the dark energy equation of state at the highest redshifts.

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Imprint of Gravitational Lensing by Population III Stars in Gamma‐Ray Burst Light Curves

The Astrophysical Journal ◽

10.1086/506169 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 650 (1) ◽

pp. 252-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Y. Hirose ◽

M. Umemura ◽

A. Yonehara ◽

J. Sato

Keyword(s):

Gravitational Lensing ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

Light Curves ◽

Gamma Ray Burst ◽

Population Iii Stars ◽

Population Iii

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X-shooter and ALMA spectroscopy of GRB 161023A

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/201833094 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 620 ◽

pp. A119 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. de Ugarte Postigo ◽

C. C. Thöne ◽

J. Bolmer ◽

S. Schulze ◽

S. Martín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Near Infrared ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

High Redshift ◽

Nir Spectroscopy ◽

Host Galaxy ◽

Star Forming ◽

Star Forming Regions ◽

Molecular Features ◽

Short Period ◽

Luminous Objects

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.

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

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ◽

10.1093/mnras/stz1811 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 488 (1) ◽

pp. 902-909

Author(s):

A A Chrimes ◽

A J Levan ◽

E R Stanway ◽

E Berger ◽

J S Bloom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Star Formation ◽

Galaxy Evolution ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

Hubble Space Telescope ◽

High Redshift ◽

Gamma Ray Bursts ◽

Host Galaxy ◽

Late Time ◽

Time Limits

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.

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