arXiv · 0912.0709
The luminosity function and the rate of Swift's Gamma Ray Bursts
Abstract
We invert directly the redshift - luminosity distribution of observed long Swift GRBs to obtain their rate and luminosity function. Our best fit rate is described by a broken power law that rises like (1+z)^2.1{+0.5-0.6} for 0 3. The local rate is 1.3^{+0.6-0.7} [Gpc^-3 yr^-1]. The luminosity function is well described by a broken power law with a break at L* = 10^52.5{+-0.2}[erg/sec] and with indices alpha = 0.2^{+0.2-0.1} and beta = 1.4^{+0.3-0.6}. The recently detected GRB 090423, with redshift ~8, fits nicely into the model's prediction, verifying that we are allowed to extend our results to high redshifts. While there is a possible agreement with the star formation rate (SFR) for z<3, the high redshift slope is shallower than the steep decline in the SFR for 4<z. However we cannot rule out a GRB rate that follows one of the recent SFR models.
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David Wanderman, Tsvi Piran. 2010-03-11. The luminosity function and the rate of Swift's Gamma Ray Bursts. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16787.x
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