A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

GRB 201015A and the nature of low-luminosity soft gamma-ray bursts




AuthorsPatel M, Gompertz BP, O'Brien PT, Lamb GP, Starling RLC, Evans PA, Amati L, Levan AJ, Nicholl M, Ackley K, Dyer MJ, Lyman J, Ulaczyk K, Steeghs D, Galloway DK, Dhillon VS, Ramsay G, Noysena K, Kotak R, Breton RP, Nuttall LK, Palle E, Pollacco D

PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS

Publication year2023

JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Journal name in sourceMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Journal acronymMON NOT R ASTRON SOC

Volume523

Issue4

First page 4923

Last page4937

Number of pages15

ISSN0035-8711

eISSN1365-2966

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad1703

Web address https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/523/4/4923/7191856

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/180570157


Abstract

GRB 201015A is a peculiarly low luminosity, spectrally soft gamma-ray burst (GRB), with T90 = 9.8 ± 3.5 s (time interval of detection of 90  per cent of photons from the GRB), and an associated supernova (likely to be type Ic or Ic-BL). GRB 201015A has an isotropic energy Eγ,iso=1.75+0.60−0.53×1050 erg, and photon index Γ=3.00+0.50−0.42 (15–150 keV). It follows the Amati relation, a correlation between Eγ,iso and spectral peak energy Ep followed by long GRBs. It appears exceptionally soft based on Γ, the hardness ratio of HR  = 0.47 ± 0.24, and low-Ep, so we have compared it to other GRBs sharing these properties. These events can be explained by shock breakout, poorly collimated jets, and off-axis viewing. Follow-up observations of the afterglow taken in the X-ray, optical, and radio reveal a surprisingly late flattening in the X-ray from t = (2.61 ± 1.27) × 104 s to t=1.67+1.14−0.65×106 s. We fit the data to closure relations describing the synchrotron emission, finding the electron spectral index to be p=2.42+0.44−0.30 and evidence of late-time energy injection with coefficient q=0.24+0.24−0.18⁠. The jet half opening angle lower limit (θj ≥ 16°) is inferred from the non-detection of a jet break. The launch of SVOM and Einstein Probe in 2023 should enable detection of more low-luminosity events like this, providing a fuller picture of the variety of GRBs.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 19:03