Forward Shock Region Research Articles

TeV afterglow from GRB 221009A: photohadronic origin?

ABSTRACT Gamma-ray burst (GRB), GRB 221009A, a long-duration GRB, was observed simultaneously by the Water Cherenkov Detector Array (WCDA) and the Kilometer Squared Array (KM2A) of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) during the prompt emission and the afterglow periods. Characteristic multi-TeV photons up to 13 TeV were observed in the afterglow phase. The observed very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray spectra by WCDA and KM2A during different time intervals and in different energy ranges can be explained very well in the context of the photohadronic model with the inclusion of extragalactic background light models. In the photohadronic scenario, interaction of high-energy protons with the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) photons in the forward shock region of the jet is assumed to be the source of these VHE photons. The observed VHE spectra from the afterglow of GRB 221009A are similar to the VHE gamma-ray spectra observed from the temporary extreme high-energy peaked BL Lac (EHBL), 1ES 2344+514 only during the 11th and the 12th of August, 2016. Such spectra are new and have been observed for the first time in a GRB.

Parameter Inference of a State-of-the-Art Physical Afterglow Model for GRB 190114C

A state-of-the-art semi-analytic gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow model with synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission has been applied for the first time for parameter inference using real GRB data. We analyzed the famous GRB 190114C as a case study. GRB 190114C, characterized by its long duration and high luminosity, was observed by many ground-based and orbiting telescopes spanning a wide range of electromagnetic wavelengths, from radio to GeV gamma rays. We used two advanced algorithms for inference: a nested sampling algorithm called UltraNest and an MCMC algorithm emcee. Evoking the standard afterglow model, the inference result and the best-fit values lead to an initial bulk Lorentz factor (a rough estimate of Γ=526), which aligns with the values often seen in GRBs identified by the Fermi-LAT instrument. Similarly to the best-fit values of other studies in the literature, the derived values of microphysical parameters, the circumburst density, and the kinetic efficiency are consistent with those found after modeling the multi-wavelength observations in GRB 190114C. We show that the SSC from the forward-shock region can only describe the highest-energy photons above a few GeVs.

A Photohadronic Interpretation of H.E.S.S. Afterglow Observations of GRB 221009A

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) started observing the extremely powerful long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) GRB 221009A starting 53 hr after the triggering event. The H.E.S.S. collaboration carried out observations on 2022 October 11, 12, and 17 under poor atmospheric conditions, without detecting significant very-high-energy photons from the source and computed the upper limits of the fluxes for the different nights. We study these flux upper limits by using the photohadronic model and show that the interaction of high-energy protons with synchrotron seed photons in the forward-shock region of the GRB jet exhibits behavior compatible with the upper limits computed by the H.E.S.S. collaboration.

Afterglow Polarizations in a Stratified Medium with Effect of the Equal Arrival Time Surface

The environment of a γ-ray burst has an important influence on the evolution of jet dynamics and its afterglow. Here we investigate the afterglow polarizations in a stratified medium with the equal arrival time surface (EATS) effect. Polarizations of multiband afterglows are predicted. The effects of the parameters of the stratified medium on the afterglow polarizations are also investigated. We found the influences of the EATS effect on the afterglow polarizations become important for off-axis detections and polarization degree (PD) bumps move to later times with the EATS effect. Even if the magnetic field configurations, jet structure, and observational angles are fixed, polarization properties of the jet emission could still evolve. Here, we assume a large-scale ordered magnetic field in the reverse-shock region and a two-dimensional random field in the forward-shock region. Then, PD evolution is mainly determined by the evolution of the f 32 parameter (the flux ratio between the reverse-shock region and forward-shock region) at the early stage and by the evolution of the bulk Lorentz factor γ at the late stage. Through the influences on the f 32 or γ, the observational energy band, observational angles, and the parameters of the stratified medium will finally affect the afterglow polarizations.

Deciphering the ∼18 TeV Photons from GRB 221009A

On 2022 October 9, an extremely powerful gamma-ray burst, GRB 221009A, was detected by several instruments. Despite being obstructed by the Milky Way galaxy, its afterglow outburst outshone all other GRBs seen before. LHAASO detected several thousand very high energy photons extending up to 18 TeV. Detection of such energetic photons is unexpected due to the large opacity of the universe. It is possible that in the afterglow epoch, the intrinsic very high energy photon flux from the source might have increased manifolds, which could compensate for the attenuation by pair production with the extragalactic background light. We propose such a scenario and show that very high energy photons can be observed on the Earth from the interaction of very high energy protons with the seed synchrotron photons in the external forward shock region of the GRB jet.

X-Ray Polarization Detection of Cassiopeia A with IXPE

We report on a ∼5σ detection of polarized 3–6 keV X-ray emission from the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The overall polarization degree of 1.8% ± 0.3% is detected by summing over a large region, assuming circular symmetry for the polarization vectors. The measurements imply an average polarization degree for the synchrotron component of ∼2.5%, and close to 5% for the X-ray synchrotron-dominated forward shock region. These numbers are based on an assessment of the thermal and nonthermal radiation contributions, for which we used a detailed spatial-spectral model based on Chandra X-ray data. A pixel-by-pixel search for polarization provides a few tentative detections from discrete regions at the ∼ 3σ confidence level. Given the number of pixels, the significance is insufficient to claim a detection for individual pixels, but implies considerable turbulence on scales smaller than the angular resolution. Cas A’s X-ray continuum emission is dominated by synchrotron radiation from regions within ≲1017 cm of the forward and reverse shocks. We find that (i) the measured polarization angle corresponds to a radially oriented magnetic field, similar to what has been inferred from radio observations; (ii) the X-ray polarization degree is lower than in the radio band (∼5%). Since shock compression should impose a tangential magnetic-field structure, the IXPE results imply that magnetic fields are reoriented within ∼1017 cm of the shock. If the magnetic-field alignment is due to locally enhanced acceleration near quasi-parallel shocks, the preferred X-ray polarization angle suggests a size of 3 × 1016 cm for cells with radial magnetic fields.

X-ray polarization detection of Cassiopeia A with IXPE

We report on a $\sim 5\sigma$ detection of polarized 3-6 keV X-ray emission from the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The overall polarization degree of $1.8 \pm 0.3$% is detected by summing over a large region, assuming circular symmetry for the polarization vectors. The measurements imply an average polarization degree for the synchrotron component of $\sim 2.5$%, and close to 5% for the X-ray synchrotron-domimated forward-shock region. These numbers are based on an assessment of the thermal and non-thermal radiation contributions, for which we used a detailed spatial-spectral model based on Chandra X-ray data. A pixel-by-pixel search for polarization provides a few tentative detections from discrete regions at the $\sim 3\sigma$ confidence level. Given the number of pixels, the significance is {insufficient} to claim a detection for individual pixels, but implies considerable turbulence on scales smaller than the angular resolution. Cas A's X-ray continuum emission is dominated by synchrotron radiation from regions within $\lesssim 10^{17}$ cm of the forward- and reverse shocks. We find that i) the measured polarization angle corresponds to a radially-oriented magnetic field, similar to what has been inferred from radio observations; ii) the X-ray polarization degree is lower than in the radio band ($\sim 5$%). Since shock compression should impose a tangential magnetic field structure, the IXPE results imply that magnetic-fields are reoriented within $\sim 10^{17}$cm of the shock. If the magnetic-field alignment is due to locally enhanced acceleration near quasi-parallel shocks, the preferred X-ray polarization angle suggests a size of $3\times 10^{16}$ cm for cells with radial magnetic fields.

Very High-energy Afterglow Emission of GRB 190829A: Evidence for Its Hadronic Origin?

The detection of multi-TeV gamma rays from the afterglow phase of GRB 190829A by the High Energy Stereoscopic System telescope is an addition to the already existing list of two GRBs observed in very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays in recent years. Jets of blazars and GRBs have many similarities and the photohadronic model is very successful in explaining the VHE gamma-ray spectra from the high-energy blazars. Recently, the photohadronic model has been successfully applied to study the sub-TeV gamma rays from the afterglow phases of GRB 180720B and GRB 190114C. We employed this model again to explain the VHE spectra observed for the two consecutive nights from GRB 190829A. We show that the spectra of GRB 190829A can be due to the interactions of high-energy protons with the synchrotron self-Compton photons in the forward shock region of the GRB jet, similar to the low emission state of the VHE flaring events of high-energy blazars. We speculate that, if in the future, it is possible to observe the VHE gamma-ray spectra from nearby GRBs in their afterglow phases, then some of them could only be explained by employing two different spectral indices. If confirmed, such VHE spectra could be interpreted as a result of the interactions of the high-energy protons with the photons, both from the synchrotron background and the synchrotron self-Compton background in the forward shock region.

Post-merger Jets from Supermassive Black Hole Coalescences as Electromagnetic Counterparts of Gravitational Wave Emission

Abstract As a powerful source of gravitational waves (GW), a supermassive black hole (SMBH) merger may be accompanied by a relativistic jet that leads to detectable electromagnetic (EM) emission. We model the propagation of post-merger jets inside a pre-merger wind bubble formed by disk winds, and calculate multiwavelength EM spectra from the forward shock region. We show that the nonthermal EM signals from SMBH mergers are detectable up to the detection horizon of future GW facilities such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Calculations based on our model predict slowly fading transients with time delays from days to months after the coalescence, leading to implications for EM follow-up observations after the GW detection.

Multi-year X-Ray Variations of Iron-K and Continuum Emissions in the Young Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Abstract We found a simultaneous decrease of the Fe–K line and 4.2–6 keV continuum of Cassiopeia A with the monitoring data taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 2000–2013. The flux change rates in the whole remnant are −0.65 ± 0.02% yr−1 in the 4.2–6.0 keV continuum and −0.6 ± 0.1% yr−1 in the Fe–K line. In the eastern region where the thermal emission is considered to dominate, the variations show the largest values: −1.03 ± 0.05% yr−1 (4.2–6 keV band) and −0.6 ± 0.1% yr−1 (Fe–K line). In this region, the time evolution of the emission measure and the temperature have a decreasing trend. This could be interpreted as adiabatic cooling with the expansion of m = 0.66. On the other hand, in the non-thermal emission dominated regions, variations of the 4.2–6 keV continuum show smaller rates: −0.60 ± 0.04% yr−1 in the southwestern region, −0.46 ± 0.05% yr−1 in the inner region, and +0.00 ± 0.07% yr−1 in the forward shock region. In particular, flux does not show significant change in the forward shock region. These results imply that strong braking in shock velocity has not been occurring in Cassiopeia A (<5 km s−1 yr−1). All of our results support the idea that X-ray flux decay in the remnant is mainly caused by thermal components.

THE MAGNETIZATION DEGREE OF THE OUTFLOW POWERING THE HIGHLY POLARIZED REVERSE-SHOCK EMISSION OF GRB 120308A

GRB 120308A, a long duration $\gamma-$ray burst detected by {\it Swift}, was distinguished by a highly-polarized early optical afterglow emission that strongly suggests an ordered magnetic field component in the emitting region. In this work we model the optical and X-ray emission in the reverse and forward shock scenario and show that the strength of the magnetic field in reverse shock region is $\sim 10$ times stronger than that in the forward shock region. Consequently the outflow powering the highly-polarized reverse shock optical emission was mildly-magnetized at a degree $\sigma \sim$ a few percent. Considering the plausible magnetic energy dissipation in both the acceleration and prompt emission phases of the Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) outflow, the afterglow data of GRB 120308A provides us the compelling evidence that at least for some GRBs a non-ignorable fraction of the energy was released in the form of Poynting-flux, confirming the finding firstly made in the reverse-forward shock emission modeling of the optical afterglow of GRB 990123 (Fan et al. 2002; Zhang et al. 2003).

ChandraObservations of Type Ia Supernovae: Upper Limits to the X‐Ray Flux of SN 2002bo, SN 2002ic, SN 2005gj, and SN 2005ke

We set sensitive upper limits to the X-ray emission of four Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. SN 2002bo, a normal, although reddened, nearby SN Ia, was observed 9.3 days after explosion. For an absorbed, high-temperature bremsstrahlung model the flux limits are 3.2 × 10-16 ergs cm-2 s-1 (0.5-2 keV band) and 4.1 × 10-15 ergs cm-2 s-1 (2-10 keV band). Using conservative model assumptions and a 10 km s-1 wind speed, we derive a mass-loss rate of ~ 2 × 10-5 M☉ yr-1, which is comparable to limits set by the nondetection of Hα lines from other SNe Ia. Two other objects, SN 2002ic and SN 2005gj, observed 260 and 80 days after explosion, respectively, are the only SNe Ia showing evidence for circumstellar interaction. The SN 2002ic X-ray flux upper limits are ~4 times below predictions of the interaction model currently favored to explain the bright optical emission. To resolve this discrepancy, we invoke the mixing of cool dense ejecta fragments into the forward shock region, which produces increased X-ray absorption. A modest amount of mixing allows us to accommodate the Chandra upper limit. SN 2005gj is less well studied at this time. Assuming the same circumstellar environment as for SN 2002ic, the X-ray flux upper limits for SN 2005gj are ~4 times below the predictions, suggesting that mixing of cool ejecta into the forward shock has also occurred here. Our reanalysis of Swift and Chandra data on SN 2005ke does not confirm a previously reported X-ray detection. The host galaxies NGC 3190 (SN 2002bo) and NGC 1371 (SN 2005ke) each harbor a low-luminosity [LX ~ (3-4) × 1040 ergs s-1] active nucleus in addition to widespread diffuse soft X-ray emission.

Swift gamma-ray burst afterglows and the forward-shock model

The X-ray light curves of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows monitored by Swift display one to four phases of power-law decay. In the chronological order they are: the burst tail, the ‘hump’, the standard decay, and the post-jet-break decay. We compare the decay indices and spectral slopes measured during each phase with the expectations for the forward-shock model to identify the processes which may be at work and to constrain some of their properties. The large-angle emission produced during the burst, but arriving at observer later, is consistent with the GRB tail decay for less than half of bursts. Several afterglows exhibit a slow, unbroken power-law decay from burst end until 1 d, showing that the forward-shock emission is, sometimes, present from the earliest afterglow observations. In fact, the forward-shock synchrotron emission from a very narrow jet (half-angle less than 1 ◦ ) is consistent with the decay of 75 per cent of GRB tails. The forward-shock inverse-Compton emission from a narrow jet that does not expand sideways also accommodates the decay of 80 per cent of GRB tails. The X-ray light curve hump can be attributed to an increasing kinetic energy per solid angle of the forward-shock region visible to the observer. This increase could be due to the emergence of the emission from an outflow seen from a location outside its opening. However, the correlations among the hump timing, flux, and decay index expected in this model are not confirmed by observations. Thus, the increase in the forward-shock kinetic energy is more likely caused by some incoming ejecta arriving at the shock during the afterglow phase. The jet interpretation for the burst tails and the energy injection scenario for the hump lead to a double-jet outflow structure consisting of a narrow GRB jet which precedes a wider afterglow outflow of lower kinetic energy per solid angle but higher total energy.

Decay phases of Swift X-ray afterglows and the forward-shock model

The X-ray flux of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows monitored by the Swift satellite from January 2005 to July 2006 displays one to four phases of flux power-law decay. In chronological order, they are: the GRB tail, the 'hump', the standard decay and the post-jet-break decay. More than half of the GRB tails can be identified with the large-angle emission produced during the burst (but arriving later at observer). The remaining, slower GRB tails imply that the gamma-ray mechanism continues to radiate after the burst, as also suggested by the frequent occurrence of X-ray flares during the burst tail. The several GRB tails exhibiting a slow unbroken power-law decay until 100ks must be attributed to the forward shock. In fact, the decay of most GRB tails is also consistent with that of the forward-shock emission from a narrow jet. The X-ray light-curve hump may be due to an increase of the kinetic energy per solid angle of the forward-shock region visible to the observer, caused by either the transfer of energy from ejecta to the forward shock or the emergence of the emission from an outflow seen from a location outside the jet opening. The decay following the X-ray light-curve hump is consistent with the emission from an adiabatic blast wave but, contrary to expectations, the light-curve decay index and spectral slope during this phase are not correlated. The X-ray light curves of two dozens X-ray afterglows that followed for more than a week do not exhibit a jet break, in contrast with the behaviour of pre-Swift optical afterglows, which displayed jet breaks at 0.5-2 days. Nevertheless, the X-ray light curves of several Swift afterglows show a second steepening break at 0.4-3 days that is consistent with the break expected for a jet when its edge becomes visible to the observer.

Early Photon‐Shock Interaction in a Stellar Wind: A Sub‐GeV Photon Flash and High‐Energy Neutrino Emission from Long Gamma‐Ray Bursts

For gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) born in a stellar wind, as the reverse shock crosses the ejecta, usually the shocked regions are still precipitated by the prompt MeV gamma-ray emission. Because of the tight overlapping of the MeV photon flow with the shocked regions, the optical depth for the GeV photons produced in the shocks is very large. These high-energy photons are absorbed by the MeV photon flow and generate relativistic e(+/-) pairs. These pairs rescatter the soft X-ray photons from the forward shock as well as the prompt gamma-ray photons and power detectable high-energy emission, a significant part of which is in the sub-GeV energy range. Since the total energy contained in the forward shock region and the reverse shock region are comparable, the predicted sub-GeV emission is independent of whether the GRB ejecta are magnetized ( in which case the reverse shock inverse Compton and synchrotron self-Compton emission is suppressed). As a result, a sub-GeV flash is a generic signature for the GRB wind model, and it should be usually detectable by the future Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope ( GLAST). Overlapping also influences neutrino emission. Besides the 10(15) - 10(17) eV neutrino emission powered by the interaction of the shock-accelerated protons with the synchrotron photons in both the forward and reverse shock regions, there comes another 10(14) eV neutrino emission component powered by protons interacting with the MeV photon flow. This last component has a similar spectrum to that generated in the internal shock phase, but the typical energy is slightly lower.

High-energy afterglow emission from giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters: the case of the 2004 December 27 event from SGR 1806-20

We discuss the high-energy afterglow emission (including high-energy photons, neutrinos and cosmic rays) following the 2004 December 27 giant flare from the soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR) 1806-20. If the initial outflow is relativistic with a bulk Lorentz factor Gamma(0) similar to tens, the high-energy tail of the synchrotron emission from electrons in the forward shock region gives rise to a prominent sub-GeV emission, if the electron spectrum is hard enough and if the initial Lorentz factor is high enough. This signal could serve as a diagnosis of the initial Lorentz factor of the giant flare outflow. This component is potentially detectable by the Gamma-Ray Large Area Telescope (GLAST) if a similar giant flare occurs in the GLAST era. With the available 10-MeV data, we constrain that Gamma(0) < 50 if the electron distribution is a single power law. For a broken power-law distribution of electrons, a higher Gamma(0) is allowed. At energies higher than I GeV, the flux is lower because of a high-energy cut-off of the synchrotron emission component. The synchrotron self-Compton emission component and the inverse Compton scattering component off the photons in the giant flare oscillation tail are also considered, but they are found not significant given a moderate Gamma(0) (e.g. < 10). The forward shock also accelerates cosmic rays to the maximum energy 10(17) eV, and generates neutrinos with a typical energy 10(14) eV through photomeson interaction with the X-ray tail photons. However, they are too weak to be detectable.

Variability of the Optical Emission from Black Hole Accretion Disks and Jets

We report on our optical observations of black hole X-ray transients (BHXTs) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which were obtained by the VSNET (Variable Star Network) Collaboration. The BHXT V4641 Sgr has been one of main campaign targets since 1999. when it experienced a short super-Eddington outburst. Our observation revealed an anticorrelation between the optical and X-ray flux during the outburst in 1999 September. It implies the formation of an optically thick cloud which absorbed the X-ray flux and reemitted in the optical range. V4641 Sgr again entered an active phase in 2002 May. During this active phase, repetitive short (0.1 d) flares were detected with non-thermal rapid optical fluctuations, which presumably originated from an inner region of the accretion flow. As well as BHXTs, we have performed prompt observations of GRB afterglows. Our observations of the afterglow of GRB030329 revealed a few hours variations on a power-law decay component. These variations may have occurred due to energy variations in the forward shock region of a blast wave.

External Shock Model for the Large‐Scale, Relativistic X‐Ray Jets from the Microquasar XTE J1550−564

Large-scale, decelerating, relativistic X-ray jets due to material ejected from the black-hole candidate X-ray transient and microquasar XTE J1550-564 has been recently discovered with Chandra by Corbel et al. (2002). We find that the dynamical evolution of the eastern jet at the late time is consistent with the well-known Sedov evolutionary phase. A trans-relativistic external shock dynamic model by analogy with the evolution of gamma-ray burst remnants, is shown to be able to fit the observation data reasonably well. The inferred interstellar medium density around the source is well below the canonical value $n_ISM \sim 1 cm^{-3}$. We find that the emission from the continuously shocked interstellar medium (forward shock region) decays too slowly to be a viable mechanism for the eastern X-ray jet. However, the rapidly fading X-ray emission can be interpreted as synchrotron radiation from the non-thermal electrons in the adiabatically expanding ejecta. These electrons were accelerated by the reverse shock (moving back into the ejecta) which becomes important when the inertia of the swept external matter leads to an appreciable slowing down of the original ejecta. To ensure the dominance of the emission from the shocked ejecta over that from the forward shock region during the period of the observations, the magnetic field and electron energy fractions in the forward shock region must be far below equipartition. Future continuous, follow-up multi-wavelength observations of new ejection events from microquasars up to the significant deceleration phase should provide more valuable insight into the nature of the interaction between the jets and external medium.

Discovery of a Short Plateau Phase in the Early Evolution of a Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow

Abstract We report on optical observations during the first hour of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow of GRB 021004. Our observations revealed the existence of a short plateau phase, in which the afterglow remained at almost constant brightness, before an ordinary rapid-fading phase. This plateau phase lasted for about 2 hours from 0.024 to 0.10 d after the burst, which corresponds to a missing blank of the early afterglow light curve of GRB 990123. We propose that the plateau phase can be interpreted as being the natural evolution of synchrotron emission from the forward shock region of a blast wave. The time when the typical frequency of the synchrotron emission passes through the optical range has been predicted to be about 0.1 d after the burst, which is consistent with the observed light curve. Our scenario hence implies that the observed feature in GRB 021004 is a common nature of GRB afterglows.