Origin Of Gamma-ray Bursts Research Articles

On the origin of short GRBs with extended emission and long GRBs without associated SN

Abstract The Burst and Transient Source Experiment classifies cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) into short (less than 2 s) and long (over 2 s) events, commonly attributed to mergers of compact objects and, respectively, peculiar core-collapse supernovae. This standard classification has recently been challenged by the Swift discovery of short GRBs showing extended emission (SGRBEE) and nearby long GRBs without an accompanying supernovae (LGRBN). Both show an initial hard pulse, characteristic of SGRBs, followed by a long duration soft tail. We here consider the spectral peak energy (Ep, i)–radiated energy (Eiso) correlation and the redshift distributions to probe the astronomical and physical origin of these different classes of GRBs. We consider Swift events of 15 SGRBs, 7 SGRBEEs, 3 LGRBNs and 230 LGRBs detected by Swift. The spectral-energy properties of the initial pulse of both SGRBEE and LGRBNs are found to coincide with those of SGRBs. A Monte Carlo simulation shows that the redshift distributions of SGRBs, SGRBEE and LGRBNs fall outside the distribution of LGRBs at 4.75σ, 4.67σ and 4.31σ, respectively. A distinct origin of SGRBEEs with respect to LGRBs is also supported by the elliptical host galaxies of the SGRBEE events 050509B and 050724. This combined evidence supports the hypothesis that SGRBEE and LGRBNs originate in mergers as SGRBs. Moreover, long/soft tail of SGRB and LGRBNs satisfy the same Ep, i-Eiso Amati correlation holding for normal LGRBs. This fact points to rapidly rotating black holes as a common long-lived inner engine produced by different astronomical progenitors (mergers and supernovae).

GAMMA-RAY BURST PROMPT EMISSION

The origin of gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission, bursts of γ-rays lasting from shorter than one second to thousands of seconds, remains not fully understood after more than 40 years of observations. The uncertainties lie in several open questions in the GRB physics, including jet composition, energy dissipation mechanism, particle acceleration mechanism and radiation mechanism. Recent broad-band observations of prompt emission with Fermi sharpen the debates in these areas, which stimulated intense theoretical investigations invoking very different ideas. I will review these debates, and argue that the current data suggest the following picture: A quasi-thermal spectral component originating from the photosphere of the relativistic ejecta has been detected in some GRBs. Even though in some cases (e.g. GRB 090902B) this component dominates the spectrum, in most GRBs, this component either forms a sub-dominant "shoulder" spectral component in the low energy spectral regime of the more dominant "Band" component, or is not detectable at all. The main "Band" spectral component likely originates from the optically thin region due to synchrotron radiation. The diverse magnetization in the GRB central engine is likely the origin of the observed diverse prompt emission properties among bursts.

THE BURST CLUSTER: DARK MATTER IN A CLUSTER MERGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORT GAMMA-RAY BURST, GRB 050509B

We have identified a merging galaxy cluster with evidence of two distinct sub-clusters. The X-ray and optical data suggest that the subclusters are moving away from each other after closest approach. This cluster merger was discovered from observations of the well localized short-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB), GRB 050509B. The Swift/Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) source position is coincident with a cluster of galaxies ZwCl 1234.0+02916. The subsequent Swift/X-Ray Telescope (XRT) localization of the X-ray afterglow found the GRB coincident with 2MASX J12361286+2858580, a giant red elliptical galaxy in the cluster. Deep multi-epoch optical images were obtained to constrain the evolution of the GRB afterglow, including a 27480s exposure in the F814W band with Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), among the deepest imaging ever obtained towards a known galaxy cluster in a single passband. We perform a weak gravitational lensing analysis, including mapping the total mass distribution of the merger system. Combined with Chandra X-ray Observatory and Swift/XRT observations, we investigate the dynamical state of the merger to probe the nature of the dark matter component. Our weak gravitational lensing measurements reveal a separation of the X-ray centroid of the western subcluster from the center of the mass and galaxy light distributions, similar to that of the famous "Bullet cluster". We conclude that the "Burst cluster" is another candidate merger system for determining the nature of dark matter and for studying the environment of short GRBs. We discuss connections between the cluster dynamical state and/or matter composition and compact object mergers, the leading model for the origin of short GRBs. Finally, we present results from a weak lensing survey based on archival Very Large Telescope (VLT) images in the areas of 5 other short GRBs.

The long, the short and the weak: the origin of gamma-ray bursts

The origin of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is one of the most interesting puzzles in recent astronomy. During the last decade a consensus has formed that long GRBs (LGRBs) arise from the collapse of massive stars, and that short GRBs (SGRBs) have a different origin, most likely neutron star mergers. A key ingredient of the collapsar model that explains how the collapse of massive stars produces a GRB is the emergence of a relativistic jet that penetrates the stellar envelope. The condition that the emerging jet penetrates the envelope imposes strong constraints on the system. Using these constraints we show the following. (i) Low-luminosity GRBs (llGRBs), a subpopulation of GRBs with very low luminosities (and other peculiar properties: single-peaked, smooth and soft), cannot be formed by collapsars. llGRBs must have a different origin (most likely a shock breakout). (ii) On the other hand, regular LGRBs must be formed by collapsars. (iii) While for BATSE the dividing line between collapsars and non-collapsars is indeed at approximately 2 s, the dividing line is different for other GRB detectors. In particular, most Swift bursts longer than 0.8 s are of a collapsar origin. This last result requires a revision of many conclusions concerning the origin of Swift SGRBs, which were based on the commonly used 2 s limit.

EPISODIC JETS AS THE CENTRAL ENGINE OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

Most Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have erratic light curves, which demand that the GRB central engine launches an episodic outflow. Recent Fermi observations of some GRBs indicate a lack of the thermal photosphere component as predicted by the baryonic fireball model, which suggests a magnetic origin of GRBs. In view that powerful episodic jets have been observed along with continuous jets in other astrophysical black hole systems, here we propose an intrinsically episodic, magnetically-dominated jet model for GRB central engine. Accumulation and eruption of free magnetic energy in the corona of a differentially-rotating, turbulent accretion flow around a hyperaccreting black hole lead to ejections of episodic, magnetically dominated plasma blobs. These blobs are accelerated magnetically, collide with each other at large radii, trigger rapid magnetic reconnection and turbulence, efficient particle acceleration and radiation, and power the observed episodic prompt gamma-ray emission from GRBs.

LIMITS ON PROMPT, DISPERSED RADIO PULSES FROM GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

We have searched for prompt radio emission from nine Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) with a 12 m telescope at 1.4 GHz, with a time resolution of 64 us to 1 s. We detected single dispersed radio pulses with significances >6 sigma in the few minutes following two GRBs. The dispersion measures of both pulses are well in excess of the expected Galactic values, and the implied rate is incompatible with known sources of single dispersed pulses. The arrival times of both pulses also coincide with breaks in the GRB X-ray light curves. A null trial and statistical arguments rule out random fluctuations as the origin of these pulses with >95% and 97% confidence, respectively, although a simple population argument supports a GRB origin with confidence of only 2%. We caution that we cannot rule out RFI as the origin of these pulses. If the single pulses are not related to the GRBs we set an upper limit on the flux density of radio pulses emitted between 200 to 1800 s after a GRB of 1.27 w^{-1/2} Jy, where 64 us < w < 32 ms is the pulse width. We set a limit of less than 760 Jy for long timescale (>1 s) variations. These limits are some of the most constraining at high time resolution and GHz frequencies in the early stages of the GRB phenomenon.

Origins of short gamma-ray bursts deduced from offsets in their host galaxies revisited

The spatial distribution of short Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in their host galaxies provides us with an opportunity to investigate their origins. Based on the currently observed distribution of short GRBs relative to their host galaxies, we obtain the fraction of the component that traces the mergers of binary compact objects and the one that traces star formation rate (such as massive stars) in early- and late-type host galaxies. From the analysis of projected offset distribution and only based on population synthesis and massive star models, we find that the fraction of massive stars is 0.37+0.42−0.37 with an error at the 1σ level for a sample with 22 short GRBs in the literature. From these results, it is hard to accept that the origin of short GRBs with observed statistics is well described by current models using only the offset distribution. The uncertainties in observational localizations of short GRBs also strongly affect the resulting fraction.

Time evolution of the probability density function of a gamma-ray burst: a possible indication of the turbulent origin of gamma-ray bursts

Gamma ray burst (GRB) time series is a non-stationary time series with all its statistical properties varying with time. Considering that each GRB is a different manifestation of the same stochastic process we studied the time dependent as well as time averaged probability density function (\emph{pdf}) characterizing the underlying stochastic process. The \emph{pdf}s are fitted with Gaussian distribution function and it has been argued that the Gaussian \emph{pdf}s possibly indicate the turbulence origin of GRB. The spectral and temporal evolution of GRBs are also studied through the evolution of spectral forms, color-color diagrams and hysteresis loops. The results do not contradict the turbulence interpretation of GRB.

GRBs on probation: Testing the UHE CR paradigm with IceCube

Gamma ray burst (GRB) fireballs provide one of very few astrophysical environments where one can contemplate the acceleration of cosmic rays to energies that exceed 10 20 eV. The assumption that GRBs are the sources of the observed cosmic rays generates a calculable flux of neutrinos produced when the protons interact with fireball photons. With data taken during construction IceCube has already reached a sensitivity to observe neutrinos produced in temporal coincidence with individual GRBs provided that they are the sources of the observed extra-galactic cosmic rays. We here point out that the GRB origin of cosmic rays is also challenged by the IceCube upper limit on a possible diffuse flux of cosmic neutrinos which should not be exceeded by the flux produced by all GRB over Hubble time. Our alternative approach has the advantage of directly relating the diffuse flux produced by all GRBs to measurements of the cosmic ray flux. It also generates both the neutrino flux produced by the sources and the associated cosmogenic neutrino flux in a synergetic way.

A common envelope binary star origin of long gamma-ray bursts

The stellar origin of gamma-ray bursts can be explained by the rapid release of energy in a highly collimated, extremely relativistic jet. This in turn appears to require a rapidly spinning highly magnetised stellar core that collapses into a magnetic neutron star or a black hole within a relatively massive envelope. They appear to be associated with type Ib/c supernovae but, with a birthrate of around 10^{-6}-10^{-5} per year per galaxy, they are considerably rarer than such supernovae in general. To satisfy all these requirements we hypothesize a binary star model that ends with the merging of an oxygen neon white dwarf with the carbon-oxygen core of a naked helium star during a common envelope phase of evolution. The rapid spin and high magnetic field are natural consequences of such a merging. The evolution that leads to these progenitors is convoluted and so naturally occurs only very rarely. To test the hypothesis we evolve a population of progenitors and find that the rate is as required. At low metallicity we calculate that a similar fraction of stars evolve to this point and so would expect the gamma-ray burst rate to correlate with the star formation rate in any galaxy. This too is consistent with observations. These progenitors, being of intermediate mass, differ radically from the usually postulated high-mass stars. Thus we can reconcile observations that the bursts occur close to but not within massive star associations.

THE HIGH ENERGY BUDGET ALLOCATIONS IN SHOCKS AND GAMMA RAY BURSTS

The statistical distribution of energies among particles responsible for long Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) emission is analyzed in light of recent results of the Fermi Observatory. The allsky flux, $F_{\gamma}$, recorded by the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) is shown, despite its larger energy range, to be not significantly larger than that reported by the Burst and Transient Explorer (BATSE), suggesting a relatively small flux in the 3 - 30 MeV energy range. The present-day energy input rate in $\gamma$-rays recorded by the GBM from long GRB is found, assuming star-formation rates in the literature, to be $\dot W(0)=0.5 F_{\gamma} H/c = 5 \times 10^{42}\ \rm{erg/Mpc^3 yr}$. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) fluence, when observed, is about 5-10\% per decade of the total, in good agreement with the predictions of saturated, non-linear shock acceleration. The high-energy component of long GRBs, as measured by Fermi, is found to contain only $\sim 10^{-2.5}$ of the energy needed to produce ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) above 4 Eev, assuming the latter to be extragalactic, when various numerical factors are carefully included, if the cosmic ray source spectrum has a spectral index of -2. The observed $\gamma$-ray fraction of the required UHECR energy is even smaller if the source spectrum is softer than $E^{-2}$. The AMANDA II limits rule out such a GRB origin for UHECR if much more than $10^{-2}$ of the cosmic ray energy goes into neutrinos that are within, and simultaneous with, the $\gamma$-ray beam. It is suggested that "orphan" neutrinos out of the $\gamma$-ray beam might be identifiable via orphan afterglow { or other wide angle signatures of GRB in lieu of coincidence with prompt $\gamma$-rays}, and it is recommended that feasible single neutrino trigger criteria be established to search for such coincidences.

A systematic description of shocks in gamma-ray bursts - I. Formulation

Since the suggestion of relativistic shocks as the origin of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in early 90's, the mathematical formulation of this process has stayed at phenomenological level. One of the reasons for the slow development of theoretical works in this domain has been the simple power-law behaviour of the afterglows hours or days after the prompt gamma-ray emission. Nowadays with the launch of the Swift satellite, gamma-ray bursts can be observed in multi-wavelength from a few tens of seconds after trigger onward. These observations have leaded to the discovery of features unexplainable by the simple formulation of the shocks and emission processes used up to now. But "devil is in details" and some of these features may be explained with a more detailed formulation of phenomena and without adhoc addition of new processes. Such a formulation is the goal of this work. We present a consistent formulation of the collision between two spherical relativistic shells. The model can be applied to both internal and external shocks. Notably, we propose two phenomenological models for the evolution of the emitting region during the collision. One of these models is more suitable for the internal shocks and the other for the external collisions. We calculate radiation flux, lags, and hardness ratios. One of our aims has been a formulation enough complex to include the essential processes, but enough simple such that the data can be directly compared with the theory to extract the value and evolution of physical quantities. To accomplish this goal, we also suggest a procedure for extracting parameters of the model from data. In a following paper we numerically calculate the evolution of some simulated models and compare their features with the properties of the observed gamma-ray bursts.(abbreviated)

On the origin of long gamma-ray bursts

Abstract The HETE II and Swift discoveries of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with and without supernovae reveal a diversity in their astronomical origin with otherwise a common inner engine. The durations, spectral-energy correlations and light curves in gamma-rays are in remarkable agreement with viscous spin-down of stellar mass black holes against surrounding high-density matter, as may ensue in core collapse of massive stars and by tidal break-up of neutron stars in mergers with a companion black hole or another neutron star. While mergers produce a preceding positive chirp in gravitational-wave emissions, black hole spin-down produces a negative chirp in relaxation to a nearly Schwarzschild black hole, followed by quasi-normal mode ringing of the event horizon. Chirps hereby provide unambiguous identification of the origin of long GRBs.

On the gamma ray burst origin of extremely energetic cosmic rays

Air shower experiments have detected cosmic ray events of energies up to 300 EeV. Most likely these cosmic rays have originated from compact objects. Their exact sources are yet to be identified. It has been suggested before that gamma ray bursts are possible sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. The two models of gamma ray burst emissions most often discussed are the internal and external shock models. We have calculated the proton spectrum above 60 EeV from all gamma ray bursts distributed up to a redshift of 0.02 in the internal shock model assuming redshift and luminosity distributions consistent with observations, log normal distributions for their values of Lorentz factors, variability times and duration of bursts. Within the external shock model we have calculated the proton flux above 60 EeV from all nearby gamma ray bursts assuming log normal distributions in their values of total energies, Lorentz factors at the deceleration epoch and compared with the observed data. We find that gamma ray bursts can produce cosmic ray proton flux comparable to the flux observed by the Pierre Auger experiment both within the internal and external shock models. We have also studied the dependence of the maximum proton energies and the cooling breaks in the proton spectrum on the various parameters like Lorentz factor, energy of the GRB fireball, variability time (in case of internal shocks), ambient particle density (in case of external shocks). Our results are important to understand how the various observable parameters determine which mechanism e.g. p γ interactions, synchrotron cooling of protons will dominate over one another inside these sources.

On the origin of gamma-ray bursts

Gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic explosions in the Universe, occurring at cosmological distances. The initial phase of the emission from these bursts is predominantly of gamma rays and stems from a highly relativistic outflow. The nature of this emission is still under debate. Here, I present the interpretation that the peak in the photon spectrum can be attributed to the black-body emission of the photosphere of the outflow, having a temperature of approximately 109K. An additional non-thermal spectral component can be attributed to additional dissipation of the kinetic energy in the outflow. This two-component model can be well fitted to most instantaneous spectra. Interestingly, the thermal component exhibits a recurring behaviour over emission pulse structures. Both the temperature and the energy flux vary as broken power laws. During the pre-break phase, the temperature is approximately constant while the energy flux rises. Furthermore, the ratio of the observed thermal flux to the emergent flux increases as a power law over the whole pulse. It is argued that these observations hold the key to our understanding of the prompt emission and the properties of the site from which it emanates.

Spectropolarimetry of Supernovae

Overwhelming evidence has accumulated in recent years that supernova explosions are intrinsically three-dimensional phenomena with significant departures from spherical symmetry. We review the evidence derived from spectropolarimetry that has established several key results: Virtually all supernovae are significantly aspherical near maximum light; core-collapse supernovae behave differently than thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernovae; the asphericity of core-collapse supernovae is more pronounced in the inner layers, showing that the explosion process is strongly aspherical; core-collapse supernovae tend to establish a preferred direction of asymmetry; and the asphericity is stronger in the outer layers of thermonuclear supernovae, providing constraints on the burning process. We emphasize the utility of the Q/U plane as a diagnostic tool and revisit SN 1987A and SN 1993J in a contemporary context. An axially symmetric geometry can explain many basic features of core-collapse supernovae, but significant departures from axial symmetry are needed to explain most events. We introduce a spectropolarimetry type to classify the range of behavior observed in polarized supernovae. Understanding asymmetries in supernovae is important for phenomena as diverse as the origins of gamma-ray bursts and the cosmological applications of Type Ia supernovae in studies of the dynamics of the universe.

The Amati relation in the “fireshell” model

Context. The cosmological origin of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) has been firmly established, with redshifts up to z = 6.29. GRBs are possible candidates to be used as distance indicators to test cosmological models in a redshift range hardly achievable by other cosmological probes. Asserting the validity of the empirical relations among GRB observables is now crucial for their calibration. Aims. Motivated by the relation proposed by Amati and collaborators, we look within the model for a relation betwee n the peak energy Ep of theFtotal time-integrated spectrum of the afterglow and the tot al energy of the afterglow Ea f t, which in our model encompasses and extends the prompt emission. Methods. The fit within the fireshell model, as for the canonical GRB0 50315, uses the complete arrival time coverage given by the Swift satellite. It is performed simultaneously, self- consistently and recursively in the four BAT energy bands (15-25 keV, 25-50 keV, 50-100 keV and 100-150 keV) as well as in the XRT one (0.2-10 keV). It uniquely determines the two free parameters charac- terizing the GRB source, the total energy E e ± tot of the e ± plasma and its baryon loading B, as well as the effective CircumBurst medium (CBM) distribution. We can then build two sets of gedanken GRBs varying the total energy of the electron-positron plasma E e ± tot and keeping the same baryon loading B of GRB050315. The first set assumes for the effective CBM density the one obtained in the fit of GRB050315. The second set assumes instead a constant CBM density equal to the average value of the GRB050315 prompt phase. Results. For the first set of gedanken GRBs we find a relation Ep∝ (Ea f t) a , with a = 0.45± 0.01, whose slope strictly agrees with the Amati one. Such a relation, in the limit B→ 10 −2 , coincides with the Amati one. Instead, in the second set of gedanken GRBs no correlation is found. Conclusions. Our analysis excludes the Proper-GRB (P-GRB) from the prompt emission, extends all the way to the latest afterglow phases and is independent on the assumed cosmological model, since all gedanken GRBs are at the same redshift. The Amati rela- tion, on the other hand, includes also the P-GRB, focuses on the prompt emission only, and is therefore influenced by the in strumental threshold which fixes the end of the prompt emission, and depe nds on the assumed cosmology. This may well explain the intrinsic scatter observed in the Amati relation.

High-energy γ-ray emission from gamma-ray bursts — before GLAST

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short and intense emission of soft gamma-rays, which have fascinated astronomers and astrophysicists since their unexpected discovery in 1960s. The X-ray/optical/radio afterglow observations confirm the cosmological origin of GRBs, support the fireball model, and imply a long-activity of the central engine. The high energy gamma-ray emission (>20 MeV) from GRBs is particularly important because they shed some lights on the radiation mechanisms and can help us to constrain the physical processes giving rise to the early afterglows. In this work, we review observational and theoretical studies of the high energy emission from GRBs. Special attention is given to the expected high energy emission signatures accompanying the canonical early-time X-ray afterglow that was observed by the Swift X-ray Telescope. We also discuss the detection prospect of the upcoming GLAST satellite and the current ground-based Cerenkov detectors.

Diagnosing the site of gamma-ray burst prompt emission with spectral cut-off energy

Abstract The site and mechanism of gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission is still unknown. Although internal shocks have been widely discussed as the emission site of GRBs, evidence supporting other emission sites, including the closer-in photosphere where the fireball becomes transparent and further-out radii near the fireball deceleration radius where magnetic dissipation may be important, have been also suggested recently. With the successful operation of the GLAST experiment, prompt high-energy emission spectra from many GRBs would be detected in the near future. We suggest that the cut-off energy of the prompt emission spectrum from a GRB depends on both the fireball bulk Lorentz factor and the unknown emission radius from the central engine. If the bulk Lorentz factor could be independently measured (e.g. from early afterglow observations), the observed spectral cut-off energy can be used to diagnose the emission site of gamma-rays. This would provide valuable information to understand the physical origin of GRB prompt emission.

Detection of Wolf-Rayet stars in host galaxies of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs): are GRBs produced by runaway massive stars ejected from high stellar density regions?

We have obtained deep spectroscopic observations of several nearby gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies revealing for the first time the presence of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and numerous O stars located in rich and compact clusters or star forming regions. Surprisingly, high spatial resolution imaging shows that the GRBs and the associated supernovae did not occur in these regions, but several hundreds of parsec away. Considering various scenarios for GRB progenitors, we do not find any simple explanation of why they should be preferentially born in regions with low stellar densities. All the examined GRBs and associated SNe have occurred 400 to 800 pc from very high density stellar environments including large numbers of WR stars. Such distances can be travelled through at velocities of 100 km s-1 or larger, assuming the travel time to be the typical life time of WR stars. It leads us to suggest that GRB progenitors may be runaway massive stars ejected from compact massive star clusters. The ejection from such super star clusters may lead to a spin-up of these stars, producing the loss of the hydrogen and/or helium envelopes leading to the origin of the type Ibc supernovae associated with GRBs. If this scenario applies to all GRBs, it provides a natural explanation of the very small fraction of massive stars that emit a GRB at the end of their life. An alternative to this scenario could be a binary origin for GRBs, but this still requires an explanation of why it would preferentially occur in low stellar density regions.