S. Schmidl

A very luminous magnetar-powered supernova associated with an ultra-long gamma-ray burst

A new class of ultra-long-duration (more than 10,000 seconds) γ-ray bursts has recently been suggested. They may originate in the explosion of stars with much larger radii than those producing normal long-duration γ-ray bursts or in the tidal disruption of a star. No clear supernova has yet been associated with an ultra-long-duration γ-ray burst. Here we report that a supernova (SN 2011kl) was associated with the ultra-long-duration γ-ray burst GRB 111209A, at a redshift z of 0.677. This supernova is more than three times more luminous than type Ic supernovae associated with long-duration γ-ray bursts, and its spectrum is distinctly different. The slope of the continuum resembles those of super-luminous supernovae, but extends further down into the rest-frame ultraviolet implying a low metal content. The light curve evolves much more rapidly than those of super-luminous supernovae. This combination of high luminosity and low metal-line opacity cannot be reconciled with typical type Ic supernovae, but can be reproduced by a model where extra energy is injected by a strongly magnetized neutron star (a magnetar), which has also been proposed as the explanation for super-luminous supernovae.

The Afterglow of GRB 130427A from 1 to 10^(16) GHz

We present multiwavelength observations of the afterglow of GRB 130427A, the brightest (in total fluence) gamma-ray burst (GRB) of the past 29 yr. Optical spectroscopy from Gemini-North reveals the redshift of the GRB to be z = 0.340, indicating that its unprecedented brightness is primarily the result of its relatively close proximity to Earth; the intrinsic luminosities of both the GRB and its afterglow are not extreme in comparison to other bright GRBs. We present a large suite of multiwavelength observations spanning from 300 s to 130 days after the burst and demonstrate that the afterglow shows relatively simple, smooth evolution at all frequencies, with no significant late-time flaring or rebrightening activity. The entire data set from 1 GHz to 10 GeV can be modeled as synchrotron emission from a combination of reverse and forward shocks in good agreement with the standard afterglow model, providing strong support to the applicability of the underlying theory and clarifying the nature of the GeV emission observed to last for minutes to hours following other very bright GRBs. A tenuous, wind-stratified circumburst density profile is required by the observations, suggesting a massive-star progenitor with a low mass-loss rate, perhaps due to low metallicity. GRBs similar in nature to GRB 130427A, inhabiting low-density media and exhibiting strong reverse shocks, are probably not uncommon but may have been difficult to recognize in the past owing to their relatively faint late-time radio emission; more such events should be found in abundance by the new generation of sensitive radio and millimeter instruments.

GRB 120422A/SN 2012bz: Bridging the gap between low- and high-luminosity gamma-ray bursts*

Context. At low redshift, a handful of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been discovered with luminosities that are substantially lower (Liso 10 49.5 erg s −1 ). It has been suggested that the properties of several low-luminosity (low-L) GRBs are due to shock break-out, as opposed to the emission from ultrarelativistic jets. This has led to much debate about how the populations are connected. Aims. The burst at redshift z = 0.283 from 2012 April 22 is one of the very few examples of intermediate-L GRBs with a γ-ray luminosity of Liso ∼ 10 49.6−49.9 erg s −1 that have been detected up to now. With the robust detection of its accompanying supernova SN 2012bz, it has the potential to answer important questions on the origin of low- and high-L GRBs and the GRB-SN connection. Methods. We carried out a spectroscopy campaign using medium- and low-resolution spectrographs with 6–10-m class telescopes, which covered a time span of 37.3 days, and a multi-wavelength imaging campaign, which ranged from radio to X-ray energies over a duration of ∼270 days. Furthermore, we used a tuneable filter that is centred at Hα to map star-formation in the host and the surrounding galaxies. We used these data to extract and model the properties of different radiation components and fitted the spectral energy distribution to extract the properties of the host galaxy. Results. Modelling the light curve and spectral energy distribution from the radio to the X-rays revealed that the blast wave expanded with an initial Lorentz factor of Γ0 ∼ 50, which is a low value in comparison to high-L GRBs, and that the afterglow had an exceptionally low peak luminosity density of <2 × 10 30 erg s −1 Hz −1 in the sub-mm. Because of the weak afterglow component, we were able to recover the signature of a shock break-out in an event that was not a genuine low-L GRB for the first time. At 1.4 hr after the burst, the stellar envelope had a blackbody temperature of kBT ∼ 16 eV and a radius of ∼7 × 10 13 cm (both in the observer frame). The accompanying SN 2012bz reached a peak luminosity of MV = −19.7 mag, which is 0.3 mag more luminous than SN 1998bw. The synthesised nickel mass of 0.58 M� , ejecta mass of 5.87 M� ,a nd kinetic energy of 4.10 × 10 52 erg were among the highest for GRB-SNe, which makes it the most luminous spectroscopically confirmed SN to date. Nebular emission lines at the GRB location were visible, which extend from the galaxy nucleus to the explosion site. The host and the explosion site had close-to-solar metallicity. The burst occurred in an isolated star-forming region with an SFR that is 1/10 of that in the galaxy’s nucleus. Conclusions. While the prompt γ-ray emission points to a high-L GRB, the weak afterglow and the low Γ0 were very atypical for such a burst. Moreover, the detection of the shock break-out signature is a new quality for high-L GRBs. So far, shock break-outs were exclusively detected for low-L GRBs, while GRB 120422A had an intermediate Liso of ∼10 49.6−49.9 erg s −1 . Therefore, we conclude that GRB 120422A was a transition object between low- and high-L GRBs, which supports the failed-jet model that connects low-L GRBs that are driven by shock break-outs and high-L GRBs that are powered by ultra-relativistic jets.

Molecular hydrogen in the damped Lyman α system towards GRB 120815A at z = 2.36

We present the discovery of molecular hydrogen (H2), including the presence of vibrationally-excited H2* in the optical spectrum of the afterglow of GRB 120815A at z = 2.36 obtained with X-shooter at the VLT. Simultaneous photometric broad-band data from GROND and X-ray observations by Swift/XRT place further constraints on the amount and nature of dust along the sightline. The galactic environment of GRB 120815A is characterized by a strong DLA with log(N(H i)/cm-2) = 21.95 ± 0.10, prominent H2 absorption in the Lyman-Werner bands (log (N(H2)/cm-2) = 20.54 ± 0.13) and thus a molecular gas fraction log f(H2) = -1.14 ± 0.15. The distance d between the absorbing neutral gas and GRB 120815A is constrained via photo-excitation modeling of fine-structure and meta-stable transitions of Fe ii and Ni ii to d = 0.5 ± 0.1 kpc. The DLA metallicity ([Zn/H] = -1.15 ± 0.12), visual extinction (AV ≲ 0.15 mag) and dust depletion ([Zn/Fe] = 1.01 ± 0.10) are intermediate between the values of well-studied, H2-deficient GRB-DLAs observed at high spectral resolution, and the approximately solar metallicity, highly-obscured and H2-rich GRB 080607 sightline. With respect to N(H i), metallicity, as well as dust-extinction and depletion, GRB 120815A is fairly representative of the average properties of GRB-DLAs. This demonstrates that molecular hydrogen is present in at least a fraction of the more typical GRB-DLAs, and H2 and H2* are probably more wide-spread among GRB-selected systems than the few examples of previous detections would suggest. Because H2* transitions are located redwards of the Lyman α absorption, H2* opens a second route for positive searches for molecular absorption also in GRB afterglows at lower redshifts and observed at lower spectral resolution. Further detections of molecular gas in GRB-DLAs would allow statistical studies, and, coupled with host follow-up and sub-mm spectroscopy, provide unprecedented insights into the process and conditions of star-formation at high redshift.

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 low-extinction afterglow in the solar-metallicity host galaxy of γ-ray burst 110918A

Galaxies selected through long γ-ray bursts (GRBs) could be of fundamental importance when mapping the star formation history out to the highest redshifts. Before using them as efficient tools in the early Universe, however, the environmental factors that govern the formation of GRBs need to be understood. Metallicity is theoretically thought to be a fundamental driver in GRB explosions and energetics, but it is still, even after more than a decade of extensive studies, not fully understood. This is largely related to two phenomena: a dust-extinction bias, which prevented high-mass and thus likely high-metallicity GRB hosts from being detected in the first place, and a lack of efficient instrumentation, which limited spectroscopic studies, including metallicity measurements, to the low-redshift end of the GRB host population. The subject of this work is the very energetic GRB 110918A (E γ,iso = 1.9 × 1054 erg), for which we measure a redshift of z = 0.984. GRB 110918A gave rise to a luminous afterglow with an intrinsic spectral slope of β = 0.70, which probed a sight-line with little extinction (AGRB V = 0.16 magAVGRB=0.16 mag) and soft X-ray absorption (NH,X = (1.6 ± 0.5) × 1021 cm-2) typical of the established distributions of afterglow properties. However, photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations of the galaxy hosting GRB 110918A, including optical/near-infrared photometry with the Gamma-Ray burst Optical Near-infrared Detector and spectroscopy with the Very Large Telescope/X-shooter, reveal an all but average GRB host in comparison to the z ∼1 galaxies selected through similar afterglows to date. It has a large spatial extent with a half-light radius of R 1/2 ∼10R1210 kpc, the highest stellar mass for z < 1.9 (log (M -/MâS™) = 10.68 ± 0.16), and an Hα-based star formation rate of SFRHα = 41 +28 -16SFRHα=41-16+28 M âS™ yr-1. We measure a gas-phase extinction of Agas V ∼1.8 magAVgas1.8 mag through the Balmer decrement and one of the largest host-integrated metallicities ever of around solar using the well-constrained ratios of [N ii]/Hα and [N ii]/[O ii] (12 + log (O/H) = 8.93 ± 0.13 and 8.85+0.14 -0.188.85-0.18+0.14, respectively). This presents one of the very few robust metallicity measurements of GRB hosts at z ∼1, and establishes thatGRB hosts at z ∼1 can also be very metal rich. It conclusively rules out a metallicity cut-off in GRB host galaxies and argues against an anti-correlation between metallicity and energy release in GRBs.

GRB 090426: Discovery of a jet break in a short burst afterglow

Context. The link between the duration of GRBs and the nature of their progenitors remains disputed. Short bursts (with durations of less than ∼2 s) are less frequently observed, technically more difficult to localize, and exhibit significantly fainter afterglows. Aims. It is of critical importance to establish whether the burst duration can reliably distinguish the different GRB population models of collapsars and compact stellar mergers. The Swift GRB 090426 provides an unique opportunity to address this question. Its duration (T90 = 1.28 s) places GRB 090426 firmly in the short burst population, while the high redshift (z = 2.609), host galaxy properties, and prompt emission spectral characteristics are more similar to those of long-duration GRBs. Methods. On the basis of data obtained with the Tautenburg 2 m telescope (Germany) and the 7-channel imager GROND (La Silla, Chile), we compiled the most finely sampled light curve available for a short burst optical/NIR afterglow. The light curve was then analysed in a standard fashion. GROND and XRT data were used to determine the broad-band spectral energy distribution of the afterglow across more than three orders of magnitude. Results. Our data show that a light curve break exists at 0.4 days, which is followed by a steep decay. This light curve decay is achromatic in the optical/NIR bands, and interpreted as a post-jet break phase. The X-ray data do not disagree with this interpretation. Conclusions. The half-opening angle of the suspected jet as well as the luminosity of the optical afterglow provide additional evidence that GRB 090426 is probably linked to the death of a massive star rather than to the merger of two compact objects.

Gamma-Ray Bursts trace uv metrics of star formation over 3 < z < 5

We present the first uniform treatment of long duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxy detections and upper limits over the redshift range , a key epoch for observational and theoretical efforts to understand the processes, environments, and consequences of early cosmic star formation (SF). We contribute deep imaging observations of 13 GRB positions yielding the discovery of 8 new host galaxies. We use this data set in tandem with previously published observations of 31 further GRB positions to estimate or constrain the host galaxy rest-frame ultraviolet (UV; ?) absolute magnitudes . We then use the combined set of 44 estimates and limits to construct the luminosity function (LF) for GRB host galaxies over and compare it to expectations from Lyman break galaxy (LBG) photometric surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope. Adopting standard prescriptions for the luminosity dependence of galaxy dust obscuration (and hence, total SF rate), we find that our LF is compatible with LBG observations over a factor of 600? in host luminosity, from = ?22.5 mag to >?15.6 mag, and with extrapolations of the assumed Schechter-type LF well beyond this range. We review proposed astrophysical and observational biases for our sample, and find that they are for the most part minimal. We therefore conclude, as the simplest interpretation of our results, that GRBs successfully trace UV metrics of cosmic SF over the range . Our findings suggest that GRBs provide an accurate picture of star formation processes from out to the highest redshifts.

The unusual afterglow of the gamma-ray burst 100621A

Aims. With the afterglow of GRB 100621A being the brightest detected so far in X-rays, and superb GROND coverage in the optical/near-infrared during the first few hours, an observational verification of basic fireball predictions seemed possible. Methods. In order to constrain the broad-band spectral energy distribution of the afterglow of GRB 100621A, dedicated observations were performed in the optical/near-infrared with the 7-channel Gamma-Ray Burst Optical and Near-infrared Detector (GROND) at the 2.2 m MPG/ESO telescope, in the sub-millimeter band with the large bolometer array LABOCA at APEX, and at radio frequencies with ATCA. Utilizing also Swift X-ray observations, we attempt an interpretation of the observational data within the fireball scenario. Results. The afterglow of GRB 100621A shows a very complex temporal and spectral evolution. We identify three different emission components, the most spectacular one causing a sudden intensity jump about one hour after the prompt emission. The spectrum of this component is much steeper than the canonical afterglow. We interpret this component using a two-shell collision prescription after the first shell has been decelerated by the circumburst medium. We use the fireball scenario to derive constraints on the microphysical parameters of the first shell. Long-term energy injection into a narrow jet seems to provide an adequate description. Another noteworthy result is the large (AV = 3.6 mag) line-of-sight host extinction of the afterglow in an otherwise extremely blue host galaxy. Conclusions. Some GRB afterglows have shown complex features, and that of GRB 100621A is another good example. Yet, detailed observational campaigns of the brightest afterglows promise to deepen our understanding of the formation of afterglows and the subsequent interaction with the circumburst medium.

Multi-color observations of short GRB afterglows: 20 events observed between 2007 and 2010

We report on follow-up observations of 20 short-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs; T90 < 2 s) performed in grizJHKs with the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical Near-Infrared Detector (GROND) between mid-2007 and the end of 2010. This is one of the most compre- hensive data sets on GRB afterglow observations of short bursts published so far. In three cases, GROND was on target within less than 10 min after the trigger, leading to the discovery of the afterglow of GRB 081226A and its faint underlying host galaxy. In addition, GROND was able to image the optical afterglow and follow the light curve evolution in five further cases: GRBs 090305, 090426, 090510, 090927, and 100117A. In all other cases, optical/near-infrared upper limits can be provided on the afterglow magnitudes. After shifting all light curves to a common redshift, we find that the optical luminosities of the six events with light curves group into two subsamples. GRBs 090426 and 090927 are situated in the regime occupied by long-duration events (collapsars), while the other four bursts occupy the parameter space typical for merger events, confirming that the short-burst population is contaminated by collapsar events. Three of the aforementioned six bursts with optical light curves show a break: GRBs 090426 and 090510 (Papers I and II) as well as GRB 090305. For GRB 090927, no break is seen in the optical/X-ray light curve until about 150 ks/600 ks after the burst. The GROND multi-color data support the view that this burst is related to a collapsar event. A decay slope of the optical afterglow of GRB 100117A could be measured. For all six GRBs a lower limit on the corresponding jet opening angle can be set. Using these data supplemented by about ten events taken from the literature, we compare the jet half-opening angles of long and short bursts. We find tentative evidence that short bursts have wider opening angles than long bursts. However, the statistics are still very poor.