A Unified Model for GRB Prompt Emission from Optical to γ\gamma-Rays; Exploring GRBs as Standard Candle

Jun 23, 2016
6 pages
Published in:
  • Astrophys.J.Lett. 831 (2016) 1, L8
  • Published: Oct 27, 2016
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Abstract: (IOP)
The origin of prompt emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) remains to be an open question. Correlated prompt optical and γ-ray emission observed in a handful of GRBs strongly suggests a common emission region, but failure to adequately fit the broadband GRB spectrum prompted the hypothesis of different emission mechanisms for the low- and high-energy radiations. We demonstrate that our multi-component model for GRB γ-ray prompt emission provides an excellent fit to GRB 110205A from optical to γ-ray energies. Our results show that the optical and highest γ-ray emissions have the same spatial and spectral origin, which is different from the bulk of the X- and softest γ-ray radiation. Finally, our accurate redshift estimate for GRB 110205A demonstrates promise for using GRBs as cosmological standard candles.
Note:
  • 6 pages of article (4 figures and 1 table). Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters on 2016 August 31 and published on 2016 October 27
  • acceleration of particles
  • black hole physics
  • distance scale
  • gamma-ray burst: general
  • radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
  • radiation mechanisms: thermal
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