GRB 110731A: Early afterglow in stellar wind powered by a magnetized outflow

Abstract

One of the most energetic gamma-ray burst GRB 110731A was observed from optical to GeV energy range. Previous analysis on the prompt phase revealed similarities with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) bursts observed by Fermi: i) a delayed onset of the high-energy emission ($>100$ MeV), ii) a short-lasting bright peak at later times and iii) a temporally extended component from this phase and lasting hundreds of seconds. Additionally to the prompt phase, multiwavelength observations over different epochs showed that the spectral energy distribution was better fitted by a wind afterglow model. We present a leptonic model based on an early afterglow that evolves in a stellar wind of its progenitor. We apply this model to interpret the temporally extended LAT emission and the brightest LAT peak exhibited by the prompt phase of GRB 110731A. Additionally, using the same set of parameters, we describe the multiwavelength afterglow observations. The origin of the temporally extended LAT, X-ray and optical flux is explained through synchrotron radiation from the forward shock and the brightest LAT peak is described evoking the synchrotron self-Compton emission from the reverse shock. The bulk Lorentz factor required in this model ($\Gamma \simeq 520$) lies in the range of values demanded for most LAT-detected gamma-ray bursts. We show that the strength of the magnetic field in the reverse-shock region is $\sim$ 50 times stronger than in the forward-shock region. This result suggests that for GRB 110731A, the central engine is likely entrained with strong magnetic fields.

Accepted in ApJ (13 Pages, 4 figures)

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