Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-03-30
Astrophys.J. 589 (2003) L69-L72
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
16 pages, 1 figure, submitted to ApJL
Scientific paper
10.1086/376352
Wind-interaction models for gamma-ray burst afterglows predict that the optical emission from the reverse shock drops below that from the forward shock within 100s of seconds of the burst. The typical frequency $\nu_m$ of the synchrotron emission from the forward shock passes through the optical band typically on a timescale of minutes to hours. Before the passage of $\nu_m$, the optical flux evolves as $t^{-1/4}$ and after the passage, the decay steepens to $t^{-(3p-2)/4}$, where $p$ is the exponent for the assumed power-law energy distribution of nonthermal electrons and is typically $\sim 2$. The steepening in the slope of temporal decay should be readily identifiable in the early afterglow light curves. We propose that such a steepening was observed in the R-band light curve of GRB 021004 around day 0.1. Available data at several radio frequencies are consistent with this interpretation, as are the X-ray observations around day~1. The early evolution of GRB 021004 contrasts with that of GRB 990123, which can be described by emission from interaction with a constant density medium.
Chevalier Roger A.
Li Zhi-Yun
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