No Arabic abstract
In a new classification of merging binary neutron stars (NSs) we separate short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in two sub-classes. The ones with $E_{iso}lesssim10^{52}$ erg coalesce to form a massive NS and are indicated as short gamma-ray flashes (S-GRFs). The hardest, with $E_{iso}gtrsim10^{52}$ erg, coalesce to form a black hole (BH) and are indicated as genuine short-GRBs (S-GRBs). Within the fireshell model, S-GRBs exhibit three different components: the P-GRB emission, observed at the transparency of a self-accelerating baryon-$e^+e^-$ plasma; the prompt emission, originating from the interaction of the accelerated baryons with the circumburst medium; the high-energy (GeV) emission, observed after the P-GRB and indicating the formation of a BH. GRB 090510 gives the first evidence for the formation of a Kerr BH or, possibly, a Kerr-Newman BH. Its P-GRB spectrum can be fitted by a convolution of thermal spectra whose origin can be traced back to an axially symmetric dyadotorus. A large value of the angular momentum of the newborn BH is consistent with the large energetics of this S-GRB, which reach in the 1--10000 keV range $E_{iso}=(3.95pm0.21)times10^{52}$ erg and in the 0.1--100 GeV range $E_{LAT}=(5.78pm0.60)times10^{52}$ erg, the most energetic GeV emission ever observed in S-GRBs. The theoretical redshift $z_{th}=0.75pm0.17$ that we derive from the fireshell theory is consistent with the spectroscopic measurement $z=0.903pm0.003$, showing the self-consistency of the theoretical approach. All S-GRBs exhibit GeV emission, when inside the Fermi-LAT field of view, unlike S-GRFs, which never evidence it. The GeV emission appears to be the discriminant for the formation of a BH in GRBs, confirmed by their observed overall energetics.
GRB 050911, discovered by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope, was not seen 4.6 hr later by the Swift X-ray Telescope, making it one of the very few X-ray non-detections of a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) afterglow at early times. The gamma-ray light-curve shows at least three peaks, the first two of which (~T_0 - 0.8 and T_0 + 0.2 s, where T_0 is the trigger time) were short, each lasting 0.5 s. This was followed by later emission 10-20 s post-burst. The upper limit on the unabsorbed X-ray flux was 1.7 x 10^-14 erg cm^-2 s^-1 (integrating 46 ks of data taken between 11 and 18 September), indicating that the decay must have been rapid. All but one of the long bursts detected by Swift were above this limit at ~4.6 hr, whereas the afterglows of short bursts became undetectable more rapidly. Deep observations with Gemini also revealed no optical afterglow 12 hr after the burst, down to r=24.0 (5-sigma limit). We speculate that GRB 050911 may have been formed through a compact object (black hole-neutron star) merger, with the later outbursts due to a longer disc lifetime linked to a large mass ratio between the merging objects. Alternatively, the burst may have occured in a low density environment, leading to a weak, or non-existent, forward shock - the so-called naked GRB model.
Long-lived high-energy (>100MeV) emission, a common feature of most Fermi-LAT detected gamma-ray burst, is detected up to sim 10^2 s in the short GRB 090510. We study the origin of this long-lived high-energy emission, using broad-band observations including X-ray and optical data. We confirm that the late > 100 MeV, X-ray and optical emission can be naturally explained via synchrotron emission from an adiabatic forward shock propagating into a homogeneous ambient medium with low number density. The Klein-Nishina effects are found to be significant, and effects due to jet spreading and magnetic field amplification in the shock appear to be required. Under the constraints from the low-energy observations, the adiabatic forward shock synchrotron emission is consistent with the later-time (t>2s) high-energy emission, but falls below the early-time (t < 2s) high energy emission. Thus we argue that an extra high energy component is needed at early times. A standard reverse shock origin is found to be inconsistent with this extra component. Therefore, we attribute the early part of the high-energy emission (t< 2s) to the prompt component, and the long-lived high energy emission (t>2s) to the adiabatic forward shock synchrotron afterglow radiation. This avoids the requirement for an extremely high initial Lorentz factor.
The short-duration ($lesssim2;$s) GRB 170817A in the nearby ($D=40;$Mpc) elliptical galaxy NGC 4993 is the first electromagnetic counterpart of the first gravitational wave (GW) detection of a binary neutron-star (NS-NS) merger. It was followed by optical, IR, and UV emission from half a day up to weeks after the event, as well as late time X-ray and radio emission. The early UV, optical, and IR emission showed a quasi-thermal spectrum suggestive of radioactive-decay powered kilonova-like emission. Comparison to kilonova models favors the formation of a short-lived ($sim1;$s) hypermassive NS, which is also supported by the $Delta tapprox1.74;$s delay between the GW chirp signal and the prompt GRB onset. However, the late onset of the X-ray (8.9$;$days) and radio (16.4$;$days) emission, together with the low isotropic equivalent $gamma$-ray energy output ($E_{rmgamma,iso}approx5times10^{46};$erg), strongly suggest emission from a narrow relativistic jet viewed off-axis. Here we set up a general framework for off-axis GRB jet afterglow emission, comparing analytic and numerical approaches, and showing their general predictions for short-hard GRBs that accompany binary NS mergers. The prompt GRB emission suggests a viewing angle well outside the jets core, and we compare the afterglow lightcurves expected in such a case to the X-ray to radio emission from GRB 170817A. We fit an afterglow off-axis jet model to the X-ray and radio data and find that the observations are explained by a viewing angle $theta_{rm obs}approx16^circ-26^circ$, GRB jet energy $Esim10^{48.5}-10^{49.5}~{rm erg}$, and external density $nsim10^{-5}-10^{-1}~{rm cm}^{-3}$ for a $xi_esim 0.1$ non-thermal electron acceleration efficiency.
(Shortened) CONTEXT: [...] GRB060614 is the first nearby long duration GRB clearly not associated to a bright Ib/c supernova. Moreover, its duration (T_{90} ~ 100s) makes it hardly classifiable as a short GRB. It presents strong similarities with GRB970228, the prototype of the new class of fake short GRBs that appear to originate from the coalescence of binary neutron stars or white dwarfs spiraled out into the galactic halo. AIMS: Within the canonical GRB scenario based on the fireshell model, we test if GRB060614 can be a fake or disguised short GRB. [...] METHODS: We fit GRB060614 light curves in Swifts BAT (15-150keV) and XRT (0.2-10keV) energy bands. Within the fireshell model, light curves are formed by two well defined and different components: the Proper-GRB (P-GRB), emitted at the fireshell transparency, and the extended afterglow, due to the interaction between the leftover accelerated baryonic and leptonic shell and the CBM. RESULTS: We determine the two free parameters describing the GRB source within the fireshell model. [...] A small average CBM density [...] is inferred, typical of galactic halos. The first spikelike emission is identified with the P-GRB and the following prolonged emission with the extended afterglow peak.[...] CONCLUSIONS: The anomalous GRB060614 finds a natural interpretation within our canonical GRB scenario: it is a disguised short GRB. [...] This result points to an old binary system, likely formed by a white dwarf and a neutron star, as the progenitor of GRB060614 and well justify the absence of an associated SN Ib/c. Particularly important for further studies of the final merging process are the temporal structures in the P-GRB down to 0.1s.
Context. X-shooter is the first second-generation instrument to become operative at the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). It is a broad-band medium-resolution spectrograph designed with gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow spectroscopy as one of its main science drivers. Aims. During the first commissioning night on sky with the instrument fully assembled, X-shooter observed the afterglow of GRB 090313 as a demonstration of the instruments capabilities. Methods. GRB 090313 was observed almost two days after the burst onset, when the object had already faded to R~21.6. Furthermore, the 90% illuminated Moon was just 30 degrees away from the field. In spite of the adverse conditions, we obtained a spectrum that, for the first time in GRB research, covers simultaneously the range from 5700 to 23000 Angstroms. Results. The spectrum shows multiple absorption features at a redshift of 3.3736, the redshift of the GRB. These features are composed of 3 components with different ionisation levels and velocities. Some of the features have never been observed before in a GRB at such a high redshift. Furthermore, we detect two intervening systems at redshifts of 1.8005 and 1.9597. Conclusions. These results demonstrate the potential of X-shooter in the GRB field, as it was capable of observing a GRB down to a magnitude limit that would include 72% of long GRB afterglows 2 hours after the burst onset. Coupled with the rapid response mode available at VLT, allowing reaction times of just a few minutes, X-shooter constitutes an important leap forward on medium resolution spectroscopic studies of GRBs, their host galaxies and intervening systems, probing the early history of the Universe.