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arXiv · 1005.5229

The bulk Lorentz factors of Fermi-LAT GRBs

Xiaohong Zhao·Zhuo Li·Jinming Bai
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Abstract

The Lorentz factor (LF) of gamma-ray burst (GRB) ejecta may be constrained by observations of high-energy (HE) spectral attenuation. The recent Fermi-LAT observations of prompt GeV emission from several bright GRBs have leaded to conclusions of unexpectedly large LFs, $Γ>10^3$. Here we revisit this problem with two main concerns. (1) With one-zone assumption where all photons are assumed to be generated in the same region (radius) and time, we {\em self-consistently} calculate the $γγ$ optical depth by adopting a target photon spectrum with HE cutoff. We find that this might be important when the GRB LF is below a few hundreds. (2) Recent Fermi-LAT observations suggest that the bulk MeV-range and HE ($\ga100$ MeV) emission may arise from different regions. We then consider a two-zone case where HE emission is generated in much larger radii than that of the MeV-range emission. We find that the HE emission may be mainly attenuated by MeV-range emission and that the attenuated HE spectrum does not show an exponential spectral cutoff but a slight steepening. This suggests that there may be no abrupt cutoff due to $γγ$ attenuation if relaxing the one-zone assumption. By studying the spectra of three bright Fermi-LAT GRBs 080916C, 090510 and 090902B, we show that a bulk LF of\textbf{ $Γ\sim600$ }can be consistent with observations in the two-zone case. Even lower LFs can be obtained in the multi-zone case.

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Xiaohong Zhao, Zhuo Li, Jinming Bai. 2010-11-06. The bulk Lorentz factors of Fermi-LAT GRBs. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x%2F726%2F2%2F89

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