Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-03-23
Nature 435 (2005) 178-180
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
9 pages, 4 figures. Note: This paper has been accepted for publication in Nature, but is embargoed for discussion in the popul
Scientific paper
10.1038/nature03515
The prompt optical emission that arrives with gamma-rays from a cosmic gamma-ray burst (GRB) is a signature of the engine powering the burst, the properties of the ultra-relativistic ejecta of the explosion, and the ejecta's interactions with the surroundings. Until now, only GRB 990123 had been detected at optical wavelengths during the burst phase. Its prompt optical emission was variable and uncorrelated with the prompt gamma-ray emission, suggesting that the optical emission was generated by a reverse shock arising from the ejecta's collision with the surrounding material. Here we report prompt optical emission from GRB 041219a. It is variable and correlated with the prompt gamma-rays, indicating a common origin for the optical light and the gamma-rays. Within the context of the standard fireball model of GRBs, we attribute this new optical component to internal shocks driven into the burst ejecta by variations of the inner engine. The correlated optical emission is a direct probe of the jet isolated from the medium. The timing of the uncorrelated optical emission is strongly dependent on the nature of the medium.
Asa J. W.
Barthelmy Scott D.
Casperson Don
Cummings Jay R.
Davis Heath
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