We report hard X-ray and gamma-ray observations of the impulsive phase of the SOL2017-09-06T11:55 X9.3 solar flare. We focus on a high-energy part of the spectrum, >100 keV, and perform time resolved ...spectral analysis for a portion of the impulsive phase, recorded by the Konus-Wind experiment, that displayed prominent gamma-ray emission. Given a variety of possible emission components contributing to the gamma-ray emission, we employ a Bayesian inference to build the most probable fitting model. The analysis confidently revealed contributions from nuclear deexcitation lines, electron-positron annihilation line at 511 keV, and a neutron capture line at 2.223 MeV along with two components of the bremsstrahlung continuum. The revealed time evolution of the spectral components is particularly interesting. The low-energy bremsstrahlung continuum shows a soft-hard-soft pattern typical for impulsive flares, while the high-energy one shows a persistent hardening at the course of the flare. The neutron capture line emission shows an unusually short time delay relative to the nuclear deexcitation line component, which implies that the production of neutrons was significantly reduced soon after the event onset. This in turn may imply a prominent softening of the accelerated proton spectrum at the course of the flare, similar to the observed softening of the low-energy component of the accelerated electrons responsible for the low-energy bremsstrahlung continuum. We discuss possible physical scenarios, which might result in the obtained relationships between these gamma-ray components.
The recent discoveries in multi-messenger astronomy allow us to study the Universe in a new way. The Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave (GW) detectors have opened the possibility for ...regular detection of transients from compact binary merger events. The Konus-Wind (KW) spectrometer continuously observes the whole sky and enables searches for transient events over various timescales from milliseconds to hours. It provides a unique opportunity to study high energy transients, in particular, gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational wave detections. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of the search for gamma-ray counterparts to 56 GW events in KW data. While no counterpart candidate was found in our search, we report upper limits on soft gamma-ray emission from these events, including several events not observed by other wide-field high-energy instruments such as Fermi-GBM, INTEGRAL-SPI-ACS and Swift-BAT. We finally discuss the potential of KW to detect bursts as weak as GRB 170817A.
Abstract
We present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of SN 2020bvc (=ASASSN-20bs, ZTF 20aalxlis), a nearby (
z
=
0.0252
;
d
= 114 Mpc) broad-line (BL) Type Ic supernova (SN) and the first ...double-peaked Ic-BL discovered without a gamma-ray burst (GRB) trigger. Our observations show that SN 2020bvc shares several properties in common with the Ic-BL SN 2006aj, which was associated with the low-luminosity gamma-ray burst (LLGRB) 060218. First, the 10 GHz radio luminosity (
L
radio
≈
10
37
erg
s
−
1
) is brighter than ordinary core-collapse SNe but fainter than LLGRB SNe such as SN 1998bw (associated with LLGRB 980425). We model our VLA observations (spanning 13–43 days) as synchrotron emission from a mildly relativistic (
v
≳ 0.3
c
) forward shock. Second, with Swift and Chandra, we detect X-ray emission (
L
X
≈ 10
41
erg
s
−
1
) that is not naturally explained as inverse Compton emission or part of the same synchrotron spectrum as the radio emission. Third, high-cadence (6× night
–1
) data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) show a double-peaked optical light curve, the first peak from shock cooling of extended low-mass material (mass
M
e
<
10
−
2
M
⊙
at radius
R
e
> 10
12
cm) and the second peak from the radioactive decay of
56
Ni
. SN 2020bvc is the first double-peaked Ic-BL SN discovered without a GRB trigger, so it is noteworthy that it shows X-ray and radio emission similar to LLGRB SNe. For four of the five other nearby (
z
≲ 0.05) Ic-BL SNe with ZTF high-cadence data, we rule out a first peak like that seen in SN 2006aj and SN 2020bvc, i.e., that lasts ≈1 day and reaches a peak luminosity
M
≈ −18. Follow-up X-ray and radio observations of Ic-BL SNe with well-sampled early optical light curves will establish whether double-peaked optical light curves are indeed predictive of LLGRB-like X-ray and radio emission.
The detection of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) in the solar neighborhood would have very important implications for GRB phenomenology. The leading theories for cosmological GRBs would not be able to ...explain such events. The final bursts of evaporating primordial black holes (PBHs), however, would be a natural explanation for local GRBs. We present a novel technique that can constrain the distance to GRBs using detections from widely separated, non-imaging spacecraft. This method can determine the actual distance to the burst if it is local. We applied this method to constrain distances to a sample of 36 short-duration GRBs detected by the Interplanetary Network (IPN) that show observational properties that are expected from PBH evaporations. These bursts have minimum possible distances in the 10{sup 13}–10{sup 18} cm (7–10{sup 5} au) range, which are consistent with the expected PBH energetics and with a possible origin in the solar neighborhood, although none of the bursts can be unambiguously demonstrated to be local. Assuming that these bursts are real PBH events, we estimate lower limits on the PBH burst evaporation rate in the solar neighborhood.
ABSTRACT
Multipulsed GRB 190530A, detected by the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) and Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi, is the sixth most fluent GBM burst detected so far. This paper presents the ...timing, spectral, and polarimetric analysis of the prompt emission observed using AstroSat and Fermi to provide insight into the prompt emission radiation mechanisms. The time-integrated spectrum shows conclusive proof of two breaks due to peak energy and a second lower energy break. Time-integrated (55.43 ± 21.30 per cent) as well as time-resolved polarization measurements, made by the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) onboard AstroSat, show a hint of high degree of polarization. The presence of a hint of high degree of polarization and the values of low energy spectral index (αpt) do not run over the synchrotron limit for the first two pulses, supporting the synchrotron origin in an ordered magnetic field. However, during the third pulse, αpt exceeds the synchrotron line of death in few bins, and a thermal signature along with the synchrotron component in the time-resolved spectra is observed. Furthermore, we also report the earliest optical observations constraining afterglow polarization using the MASTER (P < 1.3 per cent) and the redshift measurement (z = 0.9386) obtained with the 10.4 m GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) telescopes. The broad-band afterglow can be described with a forward shock model for an ISM (interstellar medium)-like medium with a wide jet opening angle. We determine a circumburst density of n0 ∼ 7.41, kinetic energy EK ∼ 7.24 × 1054 erg, and radiated gamma-ray energy Eγ,iso ∼ 6.05 × 1054 erg.
The Nobeyama Radioheliograph observation results and data from the KONUS-Wind spectrometer mounted at the Wind and RHESSI satellites on several solar flares are jointly analyzed. The analysis results ...for data on the flare of July 18, 2002 are described. The hard X-rays were measured in the 18 keV-15 MeV range (KONUS-Wind), and spectroheliograph measurements were carried out in the radio range at frequencies of 17 and 34 GHz. Spatial distributions of the radio brightness were calculated for the flare of July 18, 2002; they show the presence of two sources at the footpoints and one source at the top of the supposed flaring loop. The energy spectra of hard X-rays, energy flux, and the total number of accelerated electrons were found from the KONUS spectrometer data. The number of accelerated X-ray emitted electrons was estimated as
N
≥ 10
36
, and the maximum X-ray energy flux was estimated as ∼5 × 10
−6
erg cm
−2
s
−1
. The spectrum index varies in time from −4.6 to −3.6, i.e., the soft-hard-harder trend is implemented. The spectral index of the radio waves is α ≈ −0.3 at the flare start, attains the value α ≈ −0.5 at the flux maximum, and even change the sign further. The accelerated electron transport model in the flare loop plasma is suggested for interpretation of relationships between parameters of the radio emission and hard X-rays.
ABSTRACT
We report on MASTER optical observations of an afterglow-like optical and X-ray transient AT2021lfa/ZTF21aayokph. We detected the initial steady brightening of the transient at 7σ confidence ...level. This allowed us to use smooth optical self-similar emission of GRBs model to constrain the explosion time to better than 14 min as well as to estimate its initial Lorentz factor Γ0 = 20 ± 10. Taking into consideration the low Γ0 and non-detection in gamma-rays, we classify this transient as the first failed GRB afterglow.
We present a broadband study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 091024A within the context of other ultra-long-duration GRBs. An unusually long burst detected by Konus-Wind (KW), Swift, and Fermi, GRB 091024A ...has prompt emission episodes covering ~1300 s, accompanied by bright and highly structured optical emission captured by various rapid-response facilities, including the 2 m autonomous robotic Faulkes North and Liverpool Telescopes, KAIT, S-LOTIS, and the Sonoita Research Observatory. We also observed the burst with 8 and 10 m class telescopes and determine the redshift to be z = 1.0924 + or - 0.0004. We find no correlation between the optical and gamma -ray peaks and interpret the optical light curve as being of external origin, caused by the reverse and forward shock of a highly magnetized jet (R sub(B) approximately 100-200). Low-level emission is detected throughout the near-background quiescent period between the first two emission episodes of the KW data, suggesting continued central-engine activity; we discuss the implications of this ongoing emission and its impact on the afterglow evolution and predictions. We summarize the varied sample of historical GRBs with exceptionally long durations in gamma-rays (gap1000 s) and discuss the likelihood of these events being from a separate population; we suggest ultra-long GRBs represent the tail of the duration distribution of the long GRB population.
Abstract
This article presents the early results of synchronous multiwavelength observations of one of the brightest gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) GRB 160625B with the detailed continuous fast optical ...photometry of its optical counterpart obtained by MASTER and with hard X-ray and gamma-ray emission, obtained by the Lomonosov and Konus-Wind spacecraft. The detailed photometry led us to detect the quasi-periodical emission components in the intrinsic optical emission. As a result of our analysis of synchronous multiwavelength observations, we propose a three-stage collapse scenario for this long and bright GRB. We suggest that quasiperiodic fluctuations may be associated with forced precession of a self-gravitating rapidly rotating superdense body (spinar), whose evolution is determined by a powerful magnetic field. The spinar’s mass allows it to collapse into a black hole at the end of evolution.
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