Probing gamma-ray burst environments with time variability : ULTRASPEC fast imaging of GRB 080210

Research output not available from this repository.

Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

We present high time resolution (1.09 s) photometry of GRB 080210 obtained with ULTRASPEC mounted on the ESO/3.6-m telescope, starting 68.22 min after the burst and lasting for 26.45 min. The light curve is smooth on both short (down to 2.18 s) and long time scales, confirmed by a featureless power spectrum. On top of the fireball power-law decay, bumps and wiggles at different time scales can, in principle, be produced by density fluctuations in the circumburst medium, by substructures in the jet or by refreshed shocks. Comparing our constraints with variability limits derived from kinematic arguments, we exclude under-density fluctuations producing flux dips larger than 1 per cent with time scales delta t > 9.2 min (2 per cent on delta t > 2.3 min for many fluctuating regions). In addition, we study the VLT/FORS2 afterglow spectrum, the optical-to-X-ray spectral energy distribution (SED) and the time decay. The SED is best fitted with a broken power law with slopes beta(opt) = 0.71 +/- 0.01 and beta(X) = 1.59 +/- 0.07, in disagreement with the fireball model, suggesting a non-standard afterglow for GRB 080210. We find A(V) = 0.18 +/- 0.03 mag optical extinction due to SMC-like dust and an excess X-ray absorption of log(N(H)/cm-2) = 21.58+0.18(-0.26) assuming solar abundances. The spectral analysis reveals a damped Ly alpha absorber (log<file name="mnr_18046_mu1.gif" type="gif"/>cm-2) = 21.90 +/- 0.10) with a low metallicity ([X/H] = -1.21 +/- 0.16), likely associated with the interstellar medium of the GRB host galaxy (z = 2.641).

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Gamma ray bursts, Gamma ray detectors, Cosmic abundances, Interstellar matter, Kinematics
Journal or Publication Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher: Wiley
ISSN: 0035-8711
Official Date: 2011
Dates:
Date
Event
2011
Published
Volume: Volume 412
Number: Number 4
Page Range: pp. 2229-2240
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.18046.x
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Funder: Háskóli Íslands, Seventh Framework Programme (European Commission) (FP7), Icelandic Research Fund, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond [Danish National Research Foundation], Science and Technology Facilities Council (Great Britain) (STFC)
URI: https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/41446/

Export / Share Citation


Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item