UVES - VLT High Resolution Spectroscopy of GRB Afterglows

Abstract

We present early time, high resolution spectroscopy of three GRB afterglows: GRB050730, GRB050922C and GRB060418. These data give us precious information on the kinematics, ionization and metallicity of the interstellar matter of GRB host galaxies up to a redshift z = 4, and of intervening absorbers along the line of sight. The absorption spectra show that elements are present both with high and low ionization states, and even forbidden, fine structure levels are commonly observed. These features allow us to evaluate the physical parameters of the absorbing gas. In details, the density of the gas regions lie in the range n = 10 - 10^6 cm-3, and the temperatures are of the order of T = 10^3 - 10^4 K. The metallicity of the GRB host galaxies is computed using the hydrogen absorption features. We find undersolar abundances for our GRBs, namely, Z = 0.001 - 0.01. However, depletion has not been considered. It can be taken into account using as metallicity indicators Zn and Cr, which tend to remain in the gas phase. We find metallicities higher than the previous values and in agreement with other measurements for GRB host galaxies. Finally, the observed [C/Fe] ratio for GRB050730 (z = 3.967) agrees with values expected for a galaxy younger than a Gyr undergoing bursts of star-formation. In addition, the [C/Fe] ratio evaluated component by component can give informations on the relative distances of the components from the GRB explosion site, since Fe dust is more efficiently destroyed than graphite.