scholarly journals Prevalence of Extra Power-Law Spectral Components in Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (2) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Qing-Wen Tang ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Ruo-Yu Liu
Keyword(s):  
Power Law ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Spectral Feature ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Spectral Components ◽  
Short Grbs ◽  
Prompt Emission ◽  
Emission Phase

Abstract A prompt extra power-law (PL) spectral component that usually dominates the spectral energy distribution below tens of keV or above ∼10 MeV has been discovered in some bright gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). However, its origin is still unclear. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of 13 Fermi short GRBs, as of 2020 August, with contemporaneous keV–MeV and GeV detections during the prompt emission phase. We find that the extra PL component is a ubiquitous spectral feature for short GRBs, showing up in all 13 analyzed GRBs. The PL indices are mostly harder than −2.0, which may be well reproduced by considering the electromagnetic cascade induced by ultrarelativistic protons or electrons accelerated in the prompt emission phase. The average flux of these extra PL components positively correlates with that of the main spectral components, which implies they may share the same physical origin.

scholarly journals Limits on quantum gravity effects from Swift short gamma-ray bursts

2017 ◽  
Vol 607 ◽  
pp. A121 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Bernardini ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
S. Campana ◽  
P. D’Avanzo ◽  
J.-L. Atteia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Lorentz Invariance ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Energy Separation ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Spectral Evolution ◽  
Short Grbs

The delay in arrival times between high and low energy photons from cosmic sources can be used to test the violation of the Lorentz invariance (LIV), predicted by some quantum gravity theories, and to constrain its characteristic energy scale EQG that is of the order of the Planck energy. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and blazars are ideal for this purpose thanks to their broad spectral energy distribution and cosmological distances: at first order approximation, the constraints on EQG are proportional to the photon energy separation and the distance of the source. However, the LIV tiny contribution to the total time delay can be dominated by intrinsic delays related to the physics of the sources: long GRBs typically show a delay between high and low energy photons related to their spectral evolution (spectral lag). Short GRBs have null intrinsic spectral lags and are therefore an ideal tool to measure any LIV effect. We considered a sample of 15 short GRBs with known redshift observed by Swift and we estimate a limit on EQG ≳ 1.5 × 1016 GeV. Our estimate represents an improvement with respect to the limit obtained with a larger (double) sample of long GRBs and is more robust than the estimates on single events because it accounts for the intrinsic delay in a statistical sense.

scholarly journals Gamma Ray Bursts in the Fermi era: the spectral energy distribution of the prompt emission

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Massaro ◽  
J. E. Grindlay ◽  
A. Paggi ◽  
Nobuyuki Kawai ◽  
Shigehiro Nagataki
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Prompt Emission

scholarly journals The properties of prompt emission in short gamma-ray bursts with extended emission observed by Fermi/GBM

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 3622-3630
Author(s):  
Lin Lan ◽  
Rui-Jingi Lu ◽  
Hou-Jun Lü ◽  
Jun Shen ◽  
Jared Rice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Large Scatter ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
Temporal Properties ◽  
Peak Energy ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
Short Grbs ◽  
Prompt Emission ◽  
Extended Emission

ABSTRACT Short gamma-ray bursts (GRB) with extended emission (EE) that are composed of an initial short hard spike followed by a long-lasting EE are thought to comprise a sucategory of short GRBs. The narrow energy band available during the Swift era, combined with a lack of spectral information, prevented the discovery of the intrinsic properties of these events. In this paper, we perform a systematic search of short GRBs with EE using all available Fermi/GBM data. The search identified 26 GBM-detected short GRBs with EE that are similar to GRB 060614 observed by Swift/BAT. We focus on investigating the spectral and temporal properties of both the hard spike and the EE component of all 26 GRBs, and explore differences and possible correlations between them. We find that while the peak energy (Ep) of the hard spikes is slightly harder than that of the EE, their fluences are comparable. The harder Ep seems to correspond to a larger fluence and peak flux, with a large scatter for both the hard spike and the EE component. Moreover, the Ep of both the hard spike and the EE are compared with other short GRBs. Finally, we also compare the properties of GRB 170817A with those of short GRBs with EE and find no significant statistical differences between them. We find that GRB 170817A has the lowest Ep, probably because it is off-axis.

scholarly journals Evidence of two spectral breaks in the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts

2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A60 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Ravasio ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
L. Nava ◽  
G. Ghisellini
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Emission Region ◽  
Peak Energy ◽  
Standard Scenario ◽  
Low Magnetic Field ◽  
Short Grbs ◽  
Prompt Emission ◽  
Good Agreement

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.

scholarly journals THE LUMINOSITY EVOLUTION OVER THE EQUITEMPORAL SURFACES IN THE PROMPT EMISSION OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1919-1929 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLO LUCIANO BIANCO ◽  
FRANCESCO ALESSANDRO MASSUCCI ◽  
REMO RUFFINI
Keyword(s):  
Arrival Time ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Visible Region ◽  
Apparent Size ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Theoretical Interpretation ◽  
Spectral Evolution ◽  
Prompt Emission ◽  
Emission Phase

Due to the ultrarelativistic velocity of the expanding "fireshell" (Lorentz gamma factor γ ~ 102-103), photons emitted at the same time from the fireshell surface do not reach the observer at the same arrival time. In interpreting Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) it is crucial to determine the properties of the EQuiTemporal Surfaces (EQTSs): the locus of points which are source of radiation reaching the observer at the same arrival time. In the current literature this analysis is performed only in the latest phases of the afterglow. Here we study the distribution of the GRB bolometric luminosity over the EQTSs, with special attention to the prompt emission phase. We analyze as well the temporal evolution of the EQTS apparent size in the sky. We use the analytic solutions of the equations of motion of the fireshell and the corresponding analytic expressions of the EQTSs which have been presented in recent works and which are valid for both the fully radiative and the adiabatic dynamics. We find the novel result that at the beginning of the prompt emission the most luminous regions of the EQTSs are the ones closest to the line of sight. On the contrary, in the late prompt emission and in the early afterglow phases the most luminous EQTS regions are the ones closest to the boundary of the visible region. This transition in the emitting region may lead to specific observational signatures, i.e. an anomalous spectral evolution, in the rising part or at the peak of the prompt emission. We find as well an expression for the apparent radius of the EQTS in the sky, valid in both the fully radiative and the adiabatic regimes. Such considerations are essential for the theoretical interpretation of the prompt emission phase of GRBs.

scholarly journals A search for radio afterglows from gamma-ray bursts with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (2) ◽  
pp. 1847-1863
Author(s):  
James K Leung ◽  
Tara Murphy ◽  
Giancarlo Ghirlanda ◽  
David L Kaplan ◽  
Emil Lenc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Density Parameter ◽  
Square Kilometre Array ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Celestial Sphere

ABSTRACT We present a search for radio afterglows from long gamma-ray bursts using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). Our search used the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey, covering the entire celestial sphere south of declination +41○, and three epochs of the Variables and Slow Transients Pilot Survey (Phase 1), covering ∼5000 square degrees per epoch. The observations we used from these surveys spanned a nine-month period from 2019 April 21 to 2020 January 11. We cross-matched radio sources found in these surveys with 779 well-localized (to ≤15 arcsec) long gamma-ray bursts occurring after 2004 and determined whether the associations were more likely afterglow- or host-related through the analysis of optical images. In our search, we detected one radio afterglow candidate associated with GRB 171205A, a local low-luminosity gamma-ray burst with a supernova counterpart SN 2017iuk, in an ASKAP observation 511 d post-burst. We confirmed this detection with further observations of the radio afterglow using the Australia Telescope Compact Array at 859 and 884 d post-burst. Combining this data with archival data from early-time radio observations, we showed the evolution of the radio spectral energy distribution alone could reveal clear signatures of a wind-like circumburst medium for the burst. Finally, we derived semi-analytical estimates for the microphysical shock parameters of the burst: electron power-law index p = 2.84, normalized wind-density parameter A* = 3, fractional energy in electrons ϵe = 0.3, and fractional energy in magnetic fields ϵB = 0.0002.

scholarly journals GRB 190114C: from prompt to afterglow?

2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A12 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Ravasio ◽  
G. Oganesyan ◽  
O. S. Salafia ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Range ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Lorentz Factor ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Spectral Evolution ◽  
Gamma Ray Burst

GRB 190114C is the first gamma-ray burst detected at very high energies (VHE, i.e., > 300 GeV) by the MAGIC Cherenkov telescope. The analysis of the emission detected by the Fermi satellite at lower energies, in the 10 keV–100 GeV energy range, up to ∼50 s (i.e., before the MAGIC detection) can hold valuable information. We analyze the spectral evolution of the emission of GRB 190114C as detected by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) in the 10 keV–40 MeV energy range up to ∼60 s. The first 4 s of the burst feature a typical prompt emission spectrum, which can be fit by a smoothly broken power-law function with typical parameters. Starting on ∼4 s post-trigger, we find an additional nonthermal component that can be fit by a power law. This component rises and decays quickly. The 10 keV–40 MeV flux of the power-law component peaks at ∼6 s; it reaches a value of 1.7 × 10−5 erg cm−2 s−1. The time of the peak coincides with the emission peak detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The power-law spectral slope that we find in the GBM data is remarkably similar to that of the LAT spectrum, and the GBM+LAT spectral energy distribution seems to be consistent with a single component. This suggests that the LAT emission and the power-law component that we find in the GBM data belong to the same emission component, which we interpret as due to the afterglow of the burst. The onset time allows us to estimate that the initial jet bulk Lorentz factor Γ0 is about 500, depending on the assumed circum-burst density.

scholarly journals Gamma Ray Bursts Spectral–Energy correlations: recent results

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 344-348
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Ghirlanda
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Direct Proof ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Selection Effects ◽  
Radiation Mechanism ◽  
Isotropic Energy ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Open Issue ◽  
Short Grbs ◽  
Prompt Emission

AbstractThe correlations between the rest frame peak of the νFν spectrum of GRBs (Epeak) and their isotropic energy (Eiso) or luminosity (Liso) could have several implications for the understanding of the GRB prompt emission. These correlations are presently founded on the time–averaged spectral properties of a sample of 95 bursts, with measured redshifts, collected by different instruments in the last 13 years (pre–Fermi). One still open issue is wether these correlations have a physical origin or are due to instrumental selection effects. By studying 10 long and 14 short GRBs detected by Fermi we find that a strong time–resolved correlation between Epeak and the luminosity Liso is present within individual GRBs and that it is consistent with the time–integrated correlation. This result is a direct proof of the existence in both short and long GRBs of a similar physical link between the hardness and the luminosity which is not due to instrumental selection effects. The origin of the Epeak – Liso correlation should be searched in the radiation mechanism of the prompt emission.

scholarly journals A complete sample of long bright Swift gamma ray bursts

2013 ◽  
Vol 371 (1992) ◽  
pp. 20120235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianpiero Tagliaferri ◽  
Ruben Salvaterra ◽  
Sergio Campana ◽  
Stefano Covino ◽  
Paolo D’Avanzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Luminosity Function ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Cosmic Time ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Complete Sample ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
S Peak ◽  
Prompt Emission

Complete samples are the basis of any population study. To this end, we selected a complete subsample of Swift long bright gamma ray bursts (GRBs). The sample, made up of 58 bursts, was selected by considering bursts with favourable observing conditions for ground-based follow-up observations and with the 15–150 keV 1 s peak flux above a flux threshold of 2.6 photons cm −2  s −1 . This sample has a redshift completeness level higher than 90 per cent. Using this complete sample, we investigate the properties of long GRBs and their evolution with cosmic time, focusing in particular on the GRB luminosity function, the prompt emission spectral-energy correlations and the nature of dark bursts.

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