Swift observations of GRB 070110: an extraordinary X-ray afterglow powered by the central engine

Details Swift observations of GRB 070110: an extraordinary X-ray afterglow powered by the central engine Swift observations of GRB 070110: an extraordinary X-ray afterglow powered by the central engine

2007-02-08

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702220v2

Astrophys.J.665:599-607,2007

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

10 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. Main change: refined analysis of optical data

Scientific paper

10.1086/519450

We present a detailed analysis of Swift multi-wavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 d after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~20 ks after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and spectral properties of the plateau phase point towards a continuous central engine emission rather than the episodic emission of X-ray flares. We suggest that the observed X-ray plateau is powered by a spinning down central engine, possibly a millisecond pulsar, which dissipates energy at an internal radius before depositing energy into the external shock.

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