363 research outputs found
The Redshift Distribution of the TOUGH Survey
We present the redshift results from a Very Large Telescope program aimed at
optimizing the legacy value of the Swift mission: to characterize a
homogeneous, X-ray selected, sample of 69 GRB host galaxies. 19 new redshifts
have been secured, resulting in a 83% (57/69) redshift completion, making the
survey the most comprehensive in terms of redshift completeness of any sample
to the full Swift depth, available to date. We present the cumulative redshift
distribution and derive a conservative, yet small, associated uncertainty. We
constrain the fraction of Swift GRBs at high redshift to a maximum of 10% (5%)
for z > 6 (z > 7). The mean redshift of the host sample is assessed to be >
2.2. Using this more complete sample, we confirm previous findings that the GRB
rate at high redshift (z > 3) appears to be in excess of predictions based on
assumptions that it should follow conventional determinations of the star
formation history of the universe, combined with an estimate of its likely
metallicity dependence. This suggests that either star formation at high
redshifts has been significantly underestimated, for example due to a dominant
contribution from faint, undetected galaxies, or that GRB production is
enhanced in the conditions of early star formation, beyond those usually
ascribed to lower metallicity.Comment: 7th Huntsville Gamma-Ray Burst Symposium, GRB 2013: paper 34 in eConf
Proceedings C130414
A nearby GRB host prototype for z~7 Lyman-break galaxies: Spitzer-IRS and X-shooter spectroscopy of the host galaxy of GRB031203
Gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies have been studied extensively in optical
photometry and spectroscopy. Here we present the first mid-infrared spectrum of
a GRB host, HG031203. It is one of the nearest GRB hosts at z=0.1055, allowing
both low and high-resolution spectroscopy with Spitzer-IRS. Medium resolution
UV-to-K-band spectroscopy with the X-shooter spectrograph on the VLT is also
presented, along with Spitzer IRAC and MIPS photometry, as well as radio and
sub-mm observations. These data allow us to construct a UV-to-radio spectral
energy distribution with almost complete spectroscopic coverage from 0.3-35
micron of a GRB host galaxy for the first time, potentially valuable as a
template for future model comparisons. The IRS spectra show strong,
high-ionisation fine structure line emission indicative of a hard radiation
field in the galaxy, suggestive of strong ongoing star-formation and a very
young stellar population. The selection of HG031203 via the presence of a GRB
suggests that it might be a useful analogue of very young star-forming galaxies
in the early universe, and hints that local BCDs may be used as more reliable
analogues of star-formation in the early universe than typical local
starbursts. We look at the current debate on the ages of the dominant stellar
populations in z~7 and z~8 galaxies in this context. The nebular line emission
is so strong in HG031203, that at z~7, it can reproduce the spectral energy
distributions of z-band dropout galaxies with elevated IRAC 3.6 and 4.5 micron
fluxes without the need to invoke a 4000A break.Comment: Published in ApJ. 9 pages, 6 figures, emulateapj styl
GRB 130427A Afterglow: A Test for GRB Models
Gamma-ray Burst 130427A had the largest fluence for almost 30 years. With an isotropic energy output of 8.5×1053 erg and redshift of 0.34, it combined a very high energy release with a relative proximity to Earth in an unprecedented fashion. Sensitive X-ray facilities such as {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it Chandra} detected the afterglow of this event for a record-breaking baseline of 90 Ms. We show the X-ray light curve of GRB 130427A of this event over such an interval. The light curve shows an unbroken power law decay with a slope of α=1.31 over more than three decades in time. In this presentation, we investigate the consequences of this result for the scenarios proposed to interpret GRB 130427A and the implications in the context of the forward shock model (jet opening angle, energetics, surrounding medium). We also remark the chance of extending GRB afterglow observations for several hundreds of Ms with {\it Athena}
Dust extinction for an unbiased sample of GRB afterglows
In this paper we compute rest-frame extinctions for the afterglows of a
sample of gamma-ray bursts complete in redshift. The selection criteria of the
sample are based on observational high-energy parameters of the prompt emission
and therefore our sample should not be biased against dusty sight-lines. It is
therefore expected that our inferences hold for the general population of
gamma-ray bursts. Our main result is that the optical/near-infrared extinction
of gamma-ray burst afterglows in our sample does not follow a single
distribution. 87% of the events are absorbed by less than 2 mag, and 50% suffer
from less than 0.3-0.4 mag extinction. The remaining 13% of the afterglows are
highly absorbed. The true percentage of gamma-ray burst afterglows showing high
absorption could be even higher since a fair fraction of the events without
reliable redshift measurement are probably part of this class. These events may
be due to highly dusty molecular clouds/star forming regions associated with
the gamma-ray burst progenitor or along the afterglow line of sight, and/or to
massive dusty host galaxies. No clear evolution in the dust extinction
properties is evident within the redshift range of our sample, although the
largest extinctions are at z~1.5-2, close to the expected peak of the star
formation rate. Those events classified as dark are characterized, on average,
by a higher extinction than typical events in the sample. A correlation between
optical/near-infrared extinction and hydrogen-equivalent column density based
on X-ray studies is shown although the observed NH appears to be well in excess
compared to those observed in the Local Group. Dust extinction does not seem to
correlate with GRB energetics or luminosity.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, 10 tables, MNRAS, in pres
Discovery of the Very Red Near-Infrared and Optical Afterglow of the Short-Duration GRB 070724A
[Abridged] We report the discovery of the near-infrared and optical afterglow
of the short-duration gamma-ray burst GRB070724A. The afterglow is detected in
i,J,H,K observations starting 2.3 hr after the burst with K=19.59+/-0.16 mag
and i=23.79+/-0.07 mag, but is absent in images obtained 1.3 years later.
Fading is also detected in the K-band between 2.8 and 3.7 hr at a 4-sigma
significance level. The optical/near-IR spectral index, beta_{O,NIR}=-2, is
much redder than expected in the standard afterglow model, pointing to either
significant dust extinction, A_{V,host}~2 mag, or a non-afterglow origin for
the near-IR emission. The case for extinction is supported by a shallow optical
to X-ray spectral index, consistent with the definition for ``dark bursts'',
and a normal near-IR to X-ray spectral index. Moreover, a comparison to the
optical discovery magnitudes of all short GRBs with optical afterglows
indicates that the near-IR counterpart of GRB070724A is one of the brightest to
date, while its observed optical emission is one of the faintest. In the
context of a non-afterglow origin, the near-IR emission may be dominated by a
mini-supernova, leading to an estimated ejected mass of M~10^-4 Msun and a
radioactive energy release efficiency of f~0.005 (for v~0.3c). However, the
mini-SN model predicts a spectral peak in the UV rather than near-IR,
suggesting that this is either not the correct interpretation or that the
mini-SN models need to be revised. Finally, the afterglow coincides with a star
forming galaxy at z=0.457, previously identified as the host based on its
coincidence with the X-ray afterglow position (~2" radius). Our discovery of
the optical/near-IR afterglow makes this association secure.Comment: Submitted to ApJ; 10 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl
Swift observations of GRB 060614: an anomalous burst with a well behaved afterglow
GRB 060614 is a remarkable GRB observed by Swift with puzzling properties,
which challenge current progenitor models. The lack of any bright SN down to
very strict limits and the vanishing spectral lags are typical of short GRBs,
strikingly at odds with the long (102s) duration of this event. Here we present
spectral and temporal analysis of the Swift observations. We show that the
burst presents standard optical, UV and X-ray afterglows. An achromatic break
is observed simultaneously in optical and X-rays, at a time consistent with the
break in the R-band light curve measured by the VLT. The achromatic behaviour
and the consistent post-break decay slopes make GRB 060614 one of the best
examples of a jet break for a Swift burst. The optical, UV and X-rays afterglow
light curves have also an earlier break at ~30 ks. In the optical, there is
strong spectral evolution around this break, suggesting the passage of a break
frequency through the optical/UV band. The very blue spectrum at early times
and the trend in the light curves (rising at low frequencies, and decaying at
higher energies) suggest this may be the injection frequency. The early X-ray
light curve is well interpreted as the X-ray counterpart of the burst extended
emission. Spectral analysis of BAT/XRT data in the 80s overlap time show that
the Ep of the burst has decreased to as low as 8keV at the beginning of the XRT
observation. The Ep continues to decrease through the XRT energy band and exits
it at about 500s after the trigger. The average Ep of the burst is likely < 24
keV but larger than 8 keV. The initial peak observed by BAT is however
distinctly harder than the rest with Ep ~300 keV as measured by Konus Wind.
Considering the time-averaged spectral properties, GRB 060614 is consistent
with the Eiso-Ep_rest, Egamma-Ep_rest, and Liso-Ep correlations.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, 8 tables. Abstract shortened for posting on
astro-ph. Accepted for publication by A&
AT2023fhn (the Finch): a Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient at a large offset from its host galaxy
Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs) - the prototypical example
being AT 2018cow - are a rare class of events whose origins are poorly
understood. They are characterised by rapid evolution, featureless blue spectra
at early times, and luminous X-ray and radio emission. LFBOTs thus far have
been found exclusively at small projected offsets from star-forming host
galaxies. We present Hubble Space Telescope, Gemini, Chandra and Very Large
Array observations of a new LFBOT, AT2023fhn. The Hubble Space Telescope data
reveal a large offset (greater than 3.5 half-light radii) from the two closest
galaxies, both at a redshift of 0.24. The isolated environment of AT 2023fhn is
in stark contrast with previous events, is challenging to explain with most
LFBOT progenitor models, and calls into question the homogeneity of LFBOTs as a
class.Comment: Submitted to MNRASL. 7 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
AT2023fhn (the Finch):a luminous fast blue optical transient at a large offset from its host galaxy
Luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs) – the prototypical example being AT 2018cow – are a rare class of events whose origins are poorly understood. They are characterized by rapid evolution, featureless blue spectra at early times, and luminous X-ray and radio emission. LFBOTs thus far have been found exclusively at small projected offsets from star-forming host galaxies. We present Hubble Space Telescope, Gemini, Chandra, and Very Large Array observations of a new LFBOT, AT 2023fhn. The Hubble Space Telescope data reveal a large offset (>3.5 half-light radii) from the two closest galaxies, both at redshift z ∼ 0.24. The location of AT 2023fhn is in stark contrast with previous events, and demonstrates that LFBOTs can occur in a range of galactic environments
The frontier of darkness: the cases of GRB 040223, GRB 040422, GRB 040624
Understanding the reasons for the faintness of the optical/near-infrared
afterglows of the so-called dark bursts is essential to assess whether they
form a subclass of GRBs, and hence for the use of GRBs in cosmology. With VLT
and other ground-based telescopes, we searched for the afterglows of the
INTEGRAL bursts GRB 040223, GRB 040422 and GRB 040624 in the first hours after
the triggers. A detection of a faint afterglow and of the host galaxy in the K
band was achieved for GRB 040422, while only upper limits were obtained for GRB
040223 and GRB 040624, although in the former case the X-ray afterglow was
observed. A comparison with the magnitudes of a sample of afterglows clearly
shows the faintness of these bursts, which are good examples of a population
that an increasing usage of large diameter telescopes is beginning to unveil.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 16th Annual
October Astrophysics Conference in Maryland "Gamma Ray Bursts in the Swift
Era", eds. S. Holt, N. Gehrels & J. Nouse
The galaxies in the field of the nearby GRB980425/SN1998bw
We present spectroscopic observations of ESO 184-G82, the host galaxy of
GRB980425/SN1998bw, and six galaxies in its field. A host redshift of
z=0.0087+/-0.0006 is derived, consistent with that measured by Tinney et al.
(1998). Redshifts are obtained for the six surrounding galaxies observed. Three
of these galaxies lie within 11 Mpc of each other, confirming the suggestion
that some of these galaxies form a group. However, all of the field galaxies
observed lie at significantly greater distances than ESO 184-G82 and are
therefore not associated with it. The host galaxy of GRB980425/SN1998bw thus
appears to be an isolated dwarf galaxy and interactions with other galaxies do
not seem to be responsible for its star formation.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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