New three-parameter correlation for gamma-ray bursts with a plateau phase in the afterglow

Abstract

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have great advantages for their huge burst energies, luminosities and high redshifts in probing the Universe. A few interesting luminosity correlations of GRBs have been used to test cosmology models. Especially, for a subsample of long GRBs with known redshifts and a plateau phase in the afterglow, a correlation between the end time of the plateau phase (in the GRB rest frame) and the corresponding X-ray luminosity has been found. In this paper, we re-analyze the subsample and found that a significantly tighter correlation exists when we add a third parameter, i.e. the isotropic $\gamma$-ray energy release, into the consideration. Additionally, both long and intermediate duration GRBs are consistent with the same three-parameter correlation equation. It is argued that the new three-parameter correlation is consistent with the hypothesis that the subsample of GRBs with a plateau phase in the afterglow be associated with the birth of rapidly rotating magnetars, and that the plateau be due to the continuous energy-injection from the magnetar. It is suggested that the newly born millisecond magnetars associated with GRBs might provide a good standard candle in the Universe.