The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity

Details The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity

2005-12-27

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0512615v1

Astrophys.J.641:1010-1017,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/500655

Until recently, X-ray flares during the afterglow of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) were a rarely detected phenomenon, thus their nature is unclear. During the afterglow of GRB 050502B, the largest X-ray flare ever recorded rose rapidly above the afterglow lightcurve detected by the Swift X-ray Telescope. The peak flux of the flare was >500 times that of the underlying afterglow, and it occurred at >12 minutes after the nominal prompt burst emission. The fluence of this X-ray flare, (1.0 +/- 0.05) x 10^{-6} erg cm^{-2} in the 0.2-10.0 keV energy band, exceeded the fluence of the nominal prompt burst. The spectra during the flare were significantly harder than those measured before and after the flare. Later in time, there were additional flux increases detected above the underlying afterglow, as well as a break in the afterglow lightcurve. All evidence presented below, including spectral and particularly timing information during and around the giant flare, suggests that this giant flare was the result of internal dissipation of energy due to late central engine activity, rather than an afterglow-related effect. We also find that the data are consistent with a second central engine activity episode, in which the ejecta is moving slower than that of the initial episode, causing the giant flare and then proceeding to overtake and refresh the afterglow shock, thus causing additional activity at even later times in the lightcurve.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Giant X-ray Flare of GRB 050502B: Evidence for Late-Time Internal Engine Activity will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-290460