Predictions for The Very Early Afterglow and The Optical Flash

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

23 pages including 4 figures

Scientific paper

10.1086/307508

According to the internal-external shocks model for $\gamma $-ray bursts (GRBs), the GRB is produced by internal shocks within a relativistic flow while the afterglow is produced by external shocks with the ISM. We explore the early afterglow emission. For short GRBs the peak of the afterglow will be delayed, typically, by few dozens of seconds after the burst. For long GRBs the early afterglow emission will overlap the GRB signal. We calculate the expected spectrum and the light curves of the early afterglow in the optical, X-ray and $\gamma $-ray bands. These characteristics provide a way to discriminate between late internal shocks emission (part of the GRB) and the early afterglow signal. If such a delayed emission, with the characteristics of the early afterglow, will be detected it can be used both to prove the internal shock scenario as producing the GRB, as well as to measure the initial Lorentz factor of the relativistic flow. The reverse shock, at its peak, contains energy which is comparable to that of the GRB itself, but has a much lower temperature than that of the forward shock so it radiates at considerably lower frequencies. The reverse shock dominates the early optical emission, and an optical flash brighter than 15th magnitude, is expected together with the forward shock peak at x-rays or $\gamma$-rays. If this optical flash is not observed, strong limitations can be put on the baryonic contents of the relativistic shell deriving the GRBs, leading to a magnetically dominated energy density.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Predictions for The Very Early Afterglow and The Optical Flash 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 Predictions for The Very Early Afterglow and The Optical Flash, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Predictions for The Very Early Afterglow and The Optical Flash will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-494435

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.