paper

Analysis of GRB 080319B and GRB 050904 within the fireshell model: evidence for a broader spectral energy distribution

arXiv:1206.5605 · doi:10.1088/0004-637X/756/1/16

Abstract

(Shortened) GRB080319B, with an isotropic energy E_{iso}=1.32x10^{54}erg, and GRB050904, with E_{iso}=1.04x10^{54}erg, offer the possibility of studying the spectral properties of the prompt radiation of two of the most energetic Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). This allows us to probe the validity of the fireshell model for GRBs beyond 10^{54}erg, well outside the energy range where it has been successfully tested up to now (10^{49}-10^{53}erg). We find that in the low energy region, the prompt emission spectra observed by Swift BAT reveals more power than theoretically predicted. The opportunities offered by these observations to improve the fireshell model are outlined. One of the distinguishing features of the fireshell model is that it relates the observed spectra to the spectrum in the comoving frame of the fireshell. Originally, a fully radiative condition and a comoving thermal spectrum were adopted. An additional power-law in the comoving thermal spectrum is required [...] in the fireshell model for GRBs 080319B and 050904. A new phenomenological parameter αis correspondingly introduced in the model. We perform numerical simulations of the prompt emission in the Swift BAT bandpass by assuming different values of α[...]. We compare them with the GRB080319B and GRB050904 observed time-resolved spectra, as well as with their time-integrated spectra and light curves. Although GRB080319B and GRB050904 are at very different redshifts (z=0.937 and z=6.29 respectively), a value of α=-1.8 leads for both of them to a good agreement between the numerical simulations and the observed BAT light curves, time-resolved and time-integrated spectra. Such a modified spectrum is also consistent with the observations of previously analyzed less energetic GRBs and reasons for this additional agreement are given. Perspectives for future low energy missions are outlined.

arXiv comment15 pages, 12 figures, some small additions to the Introduction and to the Reference List, as well as some typo fixes, to match the version actually published on ApJ

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