arXiv · 1805.08338
Prediction of the second peak in the afterglow of GW170817
Abstract
We performed calculations of the late radio and X-ray afterglow of GRB/GW170817 in the cocoon-jet paradigm, predicting the appearance of a second peak in the afterglow light curve ~ one-three years after the explosion. The model assumes that the prompt emission and early afterglows originate from a cocoon generated during break-out of the delayed magnetically powered jet. As the jet breaks out from the torus-generated wind, a nearly isotropic mildly relativistic outflow is generated; at the same time the primary jet accelerates to high Lorentz factors and avoids detection. As the fast jet slows down, it should become visible to the off-axis observer. Thus, the model has a clear prediction: the X-ray and radio afterglows should first experience a decay, as the cocoon slows down, followed by a rebrightening when the primary jet starts emitting toward an observer.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Maxim V. Barkov, Adithan Kathirgamaraju, Yonggang Luo, Maxim Lyutikov, Dimitrios Giannios. 2018-05-22. Prediction of the second peak in the afterglow of GW170817. https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.08338
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.