P. Ferrero

An optical supernova associated with the X-ray flash XRF 060218

Long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) are associated with type Ic supernovae that are more luminous than average and that eject material at very high velocities. Less-luminous supernovae were not hitherto known to be associated with GRBs, and therefore GRB–supernovae were thought to be rare events. Whether X-ray flashes—analogues of GRBs, but with lower luminosities and fewer γ-rays—can also be associated with supernovae, and whether they are intrinsically ‘weak’ events or typical GRBs viewed off the axis of the burst, is unclear. Here we report the optical discovery and follow-up observations of the type Ic supernova SN 2006aj associated with X-ray flash XRF 060218. Supernova 2006aj is intrinsically less luminous than the GRB–supernovae, but more luminous than many supernovae not accompanied by a GRB. The ejecta velocities derived from our spectra are intermediate between these two groups, which is consistent with the weakness of both the GRB output and the supernova radio flux. Our data, combined with radio and X-ray observations, suggest that XRF 060218 is an intrinsically weak and soft event, rather than a classical GRB observed off-axis. This extends the GRB–supernova connection to X-ray flashes and fainter supernovae, implying a common origin. Events such as XRF 060218 are probably more numerous than GRB–supernovae.

A dust-obscured massive maximum-starburst galaxy at a redshift of 6.34

Massive present-day early-type (elliptical and lenticular) galaxies probably gained the bulk of their stellar mass and heavy elements through intense, dust-enshrouded starbursts—that is, increased rates of star formation—in the most massive dark-matter haloes at early epochs. However, it remains unknown how soon after the Big Bang massive starburst progenitors exist. The measured redshift (z) distribution of dusty, massive starbursts has long been suspected to be biased low in z owing to selection effects, as confirmed by recent findings of systems with redshifts as high as ∼5 (refs 2–4). Here we report the identification of a massive starburst galaxy at z = 6.34 through a submillimetre colour-selection technique. We unambiguously determined the redshift from a suite of molecular and atomic fine-structure cooling lines. These measurements reveal a hundred billion solar masses of highly excited, chemically evolved interstellar medium in this galaxy, which constitutes at least 40 per cent of the baryonic mass. A ‘maximum starburst’ converts the gas into stars at a rate more than 2,000 times that of the Milky Way, a rate among the highest observed at any epoch. Despite the overall downturn in cosmic star formation towards the highest redshifts, it seems that environments mature enough to form the most massive, intense starbursts existed at least as early as 880 million years after the Big Bang.

GRB 090423 at a redshift of z ≈ 8.1

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced by rare types of massive stellar explosion. Their rapidly fading afterglows are often bright enough at optical wavelengths that they are detectable at cosmological distances. Hitherto, the highest known redshift for a GRB was z = 6.7 (ref. 1), for GRB 080913, and for a galaxy was z = 6.96 (ref. 2). Here we report observations of GRB 090423 and the near-infrared spectroscopic measurement of its redshift, z = . This burst happened when the Universe was only about 4 per cent of its current age. Its properties are similar to those of GRBs observed at low/intermediate redshifts, suggesting that the mechanisms and progenitors that gave rise to this burst about 600,000,000 years after the Big Bang are not markedly different from those producing GRBs about 10,000,000,000 years later.

Evidence for supernova-synthesized dust from the rising afterglow of GRB 071025 at z∼ 5

We present observations and analysis of the broad-band afterglow of Swift GRB 071025. Using optical and infrared (RIYJHK) photometry, we derive a photometric redshift of 4.4 < z < 5.2; at this redshift our simultaneous multicolour observations begin at ∼30 s after the gamma-ray burst trigger in the host frame, during the initial rising phase of the afterglow. We associate the light-curve peak at ∼580 s in the observer frame with the formation of the forward shock, giving an estimate of the initial Lorentz factor � 0 ∼ 200. The red spectral energy distribution (even in regions not affected by the Lyman α break) provides secure evidence of a large dust column. However, the inferred extinction curve shows a prominent flat component between 2000 and 3000 A in the rest frame, inconsistent with any locally observed template but well fitted by models of dust formed by supernovae. Time-dependent fits to the extinction profile reveal no evidence of dust destruction and limit the decrease in

The Highly Energetic Expansion of SN 2010bh Associated with GRB 100316D

Wepresentthespectroscopicandphotometricevolutionofthenearby(z = 0.059)spectroscopicallyconfirmedType Ic supernova, SN 2010bh, associated with the soft, long-duration gamma-ray burst (X-ray flash) GRB 100316D. Intensive follow-up observations of SN 2010bh were performed at the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) using the X-shooter and FORS2 instruments. Thanks to the detailed temporal coverage and the extended wavelength range (3000‐24800 A), we obtained an unprecedentedly rich spectral sequence among the hypernovae, making SN 2010bh one of the best studied representatives of this SN class. We find that SN 2010bh has a more rapid rise to maximum brightness (8.0 ± 1.0 rest-frame days) and a fainter absolute peak luminosity (Lbol ≈ 3 × 10 42 ergs −1 ) than previously observed SN events associated with GRBs. Our estimate of the ejected 56 Ni mass is 0.12±0.02 M� . From the broad spectral features, we measure expansion velocities up to 47,000 km s −1 , higher than those of SNe 1998bw (GRB 980425) and 2006aj (GRB 060218). Helium absorption lines Hei λ5876 and Hei 1.083 μm, blueshifted by ∼20,000‐30,000 km s −1 and ∼28,000‐38,000 km s −1 , respectively, may be present in the optical spectra. However, the lack of coverage of the Hei 2.058 μm line prevents us from confirming such identifications. The nebular spectrum, taken at ∼186 days after the explosion, shows a broad but faint [Oi] emission at 6340 A. The light curve shape and photospheric expansion velocities of SN 2010bh suggest that we witnessed a highly energetic

A deep search for the host galaxies of GRBs with no detected optical afterglow

Gamma-Ray Bursts can provide information about star formation at high redshifts. Even in the absence of a optical/near-infrared/radio afterglow, the high detection rate of X-ray afterglows by swift/XRT and its localization precision of 2-3 arcsec facilitates the identification and study of GRB host galaxies. We focus on the search for the host galaxies of a sample of 17 bursts with XRT error circles but no detected long-wavelength afterglow. Three of these events can also be classified as truly dark bursts: the observed upper limit on the optical flux of the afterglow was less than expected based on the X-ray flux. Our study is based on deep R and K-band observations performed with ESO/VLT instruments, supported by GROND and NEWFIRM. To be conservative, we searched for host galaxies in an area with a radius twice the 90% swift/XRT error circle. For 15 of the 17 bursts we find at least one galaxy inside the doubled XRT error circle. In seven cases we discover extremely red objects in the error circles. The most remarkable case is the host of GRB 080207 which as a colour of R-K~4.7 mag (AB), one of the reddest galaxies ever associated with a GRB. As a by-product of our study we identify the optical afterglow of GRB 070517A. Optically dim afterglows result from cosmological Lyman drop out and dust extinction, but the former process is only equired for a minority of cases (<1/3). Extinction by dust in the host galaxies might explain all other events. Thereby, a seemingly non-negligible fraction of these hosts are globally dust-enshrouded, extremely red galaxies. This suggests that bursts with optically dim afterglows trace a subpopulation of massive starburst galaxies, which are markedly different from the main body of the GRB host galaxy population, namely the blue, subluminous, compact galaxies.

A deep search for the host galaxies of gamma-ray bursts with no detected optical afterglow

Gamma-Ray Bursts can provide information about star formation at high redshifts. Even in the absence of a optical/near-infrared/radio afterglow, the high detection rate of X-ray afterglows by swift/XRT and its localization precision of 2-3 arcsec facilitates the identification and study of GRB host galaxies. We focus on the search for the host galaxies of a sample of 17 bursts with XRT error circles but no detected long-wavelength afterglow. Three of these events can also be classified as truly dark bursts: the observed upper limit on the optical flux of the afterglow was less than expected based on the X-ray flux. Our study is based on deep R and K-band observations performed with ESO/VLT instruments, supported by GROND and NEWFIRM. To be conservative, we searched for host galaxies in an area with a radius twice the 90% swift/XRT error circle. For 15 of the 17 bursts we find at least one galaxy inside the doubled XRT error circle. In seven cases we discover extremely red objects in the error circles. The most remarkable case is the host of GRB 080207 which as a colour of R-K~4.7 mag (AB), one of the reddest galaxies ever associated with a GRB. As a by-product of our study we identify the optical afterglow of GRB 070517A. Optically dim afterglows result from cosmological Lyman drop out and dust extinction, but the former process is only equired for a minority of cases (<1/3). Extinction by dust in the host galaxies might explain all other events. Thereby, a seemingly non-negligible fraction of these hosts are globally dust-enshrouded, extremely red galaxies. This suggests that bursts with optically dim afterglows trace a subpopulation of massive starburst galaxies, which are markedly different from the main body of the GRB host galaxy population, namely the blue, subluminous, compact galaxies.

The circumburst density profile around GRB progenitors: a statistical study

According to our present understanding, long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) originate from the collapse of massive stars, while short bursts are caused by to the coalescence of compact stellar objects. Because the afterglow evolution is determined by the circumburst density profile, n(r), traversed by the fireball, it can be used to distinguish between a constant density medium, n(r) = const., and a free stellar wind, n(r) ∝ r -2 . Our goal is to derive the most probable circumburst density profile for a large number of Swift-detected bursts using well-sampled afterglow light curves in the optical and X-ray bands. We combined all publicly available optical and Swift/X-ray afterglow data from June 2005 to September 2009 to find the best-sampled late-time afterglow light curves. After applying several selection criteria, our final sample consists of 27 bursts, including one short burst. The afterglow evolution was then studied within the framework of the fireball model. We find that the majority (18) of the 27 afterglow light curves are compatible with a constant density medium (ISM case). Only 6 of the 27 afterglows show evidence of a wind profile at late times. In particular, we set upper limits on the wind termination-shock radius, R T , for GRB fireballs that are propagating into an ISM profile and lower limits on R T for those that were found to propagate through a wind medium. Observational evidence for ISM profiles dominates in GRB afterglow studies, implying that most GRB progenitors might have relatively small wind termination-shock radii. A smaller group of progenitors, however, seems to be characterised by significantly more extended wind regions.

The Swift/Fermi GRB 080928 from 1 eV to 150 keV

We present the results of a comprehensive study of the gamma-ray burst 080928 and of its afterglow. GRB 080928 was a long burst detected by Swift/BAT and Fermi/GBM. It is one of the exceptional cases where optical emission had already been detected when the GRB itself was still radiating in the gamma-ray band. For nearly 100 s simultaneous optical, X-ray and gamma-ray data provide a coverage of the spectral energy distribution of the transient source from about 1 eV to 150 keV. In particular, we show that the SED during the main prompt emission phase agrees with synchrotron radiation. We constructed the optical/near-infrared light curve and the spectral energy distribution based on Swift/UVOT, ROTSE-IIIa (Australia), and GROND (La Silla) data and compared it to the X-ray light curve retrieved from the Swift/XRT repository. We show that its bumpy shape can be modeled by multiple energy-injections into the forward shock. Furthermore, we investigate whether the temporal and spectral evolution of the tail emission of the first strong flare seen in the early X-ray light curve can be explained by large-angle emission (LAE). We find that a nonstandard LAE model is required to explain the observations. Finally, we report on the results of our search for the GRB host galaxy, for which only a deep upper limit can be provided.

GRB 060605: multi-wavelength analysis of the first GRB observed using integral field spectroscopy

The long and relatively faint gamma-ray burst GRB 060605 detected by Swift/BAT lasted about 20 sec. Its afterglow could be observed with Swift/XRT for nearly 1 day, while Swift/UVOT could detect the afterglow during the first 6 hours after the event. Here, we report on integral field spectroscopy of its afterglow performed with PMAS /PPak mounted at the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope. In addition, we report on a detailed analysis of XRT and UVOT data and on the results of deep late-time VLT observations that reveal the GRB host galaxy. We find t hat the burst occurred at a redshift of z=3.773, possibly associated with a faint, RC = 26.4± 0.3 host. Based on the optical and X-ray data, we deduce information on the SED of the afterglow, the position of the cooling frequency in the SED, the nature of the circumburst environment, its collimation factor, and its energetics. We find that the GRB fi reball was expanding into a constant-density medium and that the explosion was collimated with a narrow half-opening angle of about 2.4 degrees. The initial Lorentz factor of the fireball was about 250; however, its beaming-corrected energy release in the gamma-ray band was comparably low. The optical, X-ray afterglow, on the other hand, was rather luminous. Finally, we find that the data are consistent withi n the error bars with an achromatic evolution of the afterglo w during the suspected jet break time at about 0.27 days after the burst.