The fraction of gamma-ray bursts with an observed photospheric emission episode
File(s)Acuner_2020_ApJ_893_128.pdf (1.54 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Acuner, Zeynep
Ryde, Felix
Pe'er, Asaf
Mortlock, Daniel
Ahlgren, Bjorn
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
There is no complete description of the emission physics during the prompt phase in gamma-ray bursts. Spectral analyses, however, indicate that many spectra are narrower than what is expected for nonthermal emission models. Here, we reanalyze the sample of 37 bursts in Yu et al. by fitting the narrowest time-resolved spectrum in each burst. We perform a model comparison between photospheric and synchrotron emission models based on Bayesian evidence. We compare the shapes of the narrowest expected spectra: emission from the photosphere in a non-dissipative flow and slow cooled synchrotron emission from a narrow electron distribution. We find that the photospheric spectral shape is preferred by 54% ± 8% of the spectra (20/37), while 38% ± 8% of the spectra (14/37) prefer the synchrotron spectral shape; three spectra are inconclusive. We hence conclude that GRB spectra are indeed very narrow and that more than half of the bursts have a photospheric emission episode. We also find that a third of all analyzed spectra, not only prefer, but are also compatible with a non-dissipative photosphere, confirming previous similar findings. Furthermore, we notice that the spectra that prefer the photospheric model all have low-energy power-law indices α gsim −0.5. This means that α is a good estimator for which model is preferred by the data. Finally, we argue that the spectra that statistically prefer the synchrotron model could equally as well be caused by subphotospheric dissipation. If that is the case, photospheric emission during the early, prompt phase would be even more dominant.
Date Issued
2020-04-23
Date Acceptance
2020-03-12
Citation
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 2020, 893 (2), pp.1-17
ISSN
0004-637X
Publisher
IOP PUBLISHING LTD
Start Page
1
End Page
17
Journal / Book Title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Volume
893
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2020. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any further
distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title
of the work, journal citation and DOI.
of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any further
distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title
of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000529874400001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gamma-ray bursts
Burst astrophysics
Gamma-ray sources
PROMPT EMISSION
GRB
MODEL
SPECTRA
FERMI
EVOLUTION
RADIATION
OUTFLOW
SIMULATIONS
VARIABILITY
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 128
Date Publish Online
2020-04-23