Time evolution of the spectral break in the high-energy extra component of GRB 090926A

Abstract

We report on a new time-resolved analysis of the GRB 090926A broad-band spectrum during its prompt phase, and on its interpretation in the framework of prompt emission models. We characterize the high-energy extra component of GRB 090926A using Pass 8 data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), which offer a greater sensitivity than any data set used in previous studies of this burst, particularly in the 30-100 MeV energy band. Then, we combine the LAT data with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) in joint spectral fits in order to characterize the time evolution of the broad-band spectrum from keV to GeV energies. Careful attention is paid to the LAT systematic effects. Finally, we perform a temporal analysis of the light curves and we compute the variability time scales during and after the bright spike at ~10 s post-trigger. Our analysis confirms and better constrains the spectral break in the high-energy extra component, which has been previously reported during the bright spike. Furthermore, it reveals that the spectral attenuation persists at later times, with an increase of the break characteristic energy up to the GeV domain until the end of the prompt phase. We interpret the high-energy spectral break as caused by photon opacity to pair creation. Requiring that all emissions are produced above the photosphere of GRB 090926A, we compute the bulk Lorentz factor of the outflow, $\Gamma$. The latter decreases from 230 during the spike to 100 at the end of the prompt emission. Assuming, instead, that the spectral break reflects the natural curvature of the inverse Compton spectrum, lower limits corresponding to larger values of $\Gamma$ are also derived. Combined with the extreme temporal variability of GRB 090926A, these Lorentz factors lead to emission radii $R\sim10^{14}$ cm which are consistent with an internal origin of both the keV-MeV and GeV prompt emissions.