GRB Spectral Hardness and Afterglow Properties

Abstract

A possible relationship between the presence of a radio afterglow and gamma-ray burst spectral hardness is discussed. The correlation is marginally significant; the spectral hardness of the bursts with radio afterglows apparently results from a combination of the break energy Ebreak and the high-energy spectral index beta. If valid, this relationship would indicate that the afterglow does carry information pertaining to the GRB central engine.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, presented at the 5th Huntsville Gamma-Ray Burst Symposiu