arXiv subjects

A. Y. Lien

Publications and source records attributed to A. Y. Lien.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Evidence of extended emission in GRB 181123B and other high-redshift short GRBs

We study the high-energy properties of GRB 181123B, a short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) at redshift $z\approx$1.75. We show that, despite its nominal short duration with $T_{90}<$2 s, this burst displays evidence of a temporally extended emission (EE) at high energies and that the same trend is observed in the majority of sGRBs at $z\gtrsim$1. We discuss the impact of instrumental selection effects on the GRB classification, stressing that the measured $T_{90}$ is not an unambiguous indicator of the burst physical origin. By examining their environment (e.g. stellar mass, star formation, offset distribution), we find that these high-$z$ sGRBs share many properties of long GRBs at a similar distance and are consistent with a short-lived progenitor system. If produced by compact binary mergers, these sGRBs with EE may be easier to localize at large distances and herald a larger population of sGRBs in the early universe.

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arXiv2022

Hard X-ray emission in Centaurus A

We used 13 years of Swift/BAT observations to probe the nature and origin of hard X-ray (14-195 KeV) emission in Centaurus A. Since the beginning of the Swift operation in 2004, significant X-ray variability in the 14-195 KeV band is detected, with mild changes in the source spectrum. Spectral variations became more eminent after 2013, following a softer-when-brighter trend. Using the power spectral density method, we found that the observed hard X-ray photon flux variations are consistent with a red-noise process of slope, $-1.3$ with no evidence for a break in the PSD. We found a significant correlation between hard X-ray and 230 GHz radio flux variations, with no time delay longer than 30 days. The temporal and spectral analysis rules out the ADAF (advection-dominated accretion flow) model, and confirms that the hard X-ray emission is produced in the inner regions of the radio jet.

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arXiv2022

The early afterglow of GRB 190829A

GRB 190829A at z=0.0785 is the fourth closest long GRB ever detected by the Neil Gehrels Swift observatory, and the third confirmed case with a very high energy component. We present our multi-wavelength analysis of this rare event, focusing on its early stages of evolution, and including data from Swift, the MASTER global network of optical telescopes, ALMA, and ATCA. We report sensitive limits on the linear polarization of the optical emission, disfavouring models of off-axis jets to explain the delayed afterglow peak. The study of the multi-wavelength light curves and broadband spectra supports a model with at least two emission components: a bright reverse shock emission, visible at early times in the optical and X-rays and, later, in the radio band; and a forward shock component dominating at later times and lower radio frequencies. A combined study of the prompt and afterglow properties shows many similarities with cosmological long GRBs, suggesting that GRB 190829A is an example of classical GRBs in the nearby universe.

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arXiv2022

Constraints on the electromagnetic counterpart of the Neutron Star Black Hole merger GW200115

We report the results of our follow-up campaign for the neutron star - black hole (NSBH) merger GW200115 detected during the O3 run of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. We obtained wide-field observations with the Deca-Degree Optical Transient Imager (DDOTI) covering ~20% of the total probability area down to a limiting magnitude of $w$=20.5 AB at ~23 h after the merger. Our search for counterparts returns a single candidate (AT2020aeo), likely not associate to the merger. In total, only 25 sources of interest were identified by the community and later discarded as unrelated to the GW event. We compare our upper limits with the emission predicted by state-of-the-art kilonova simulations and disfavor high mass ejecta (>0.1$M_{\odot}$), indicating that the spin of the system is not particularly high. By combining our optical limits with gamma-ray constraints from $Swift$ and $Fermi$, we disfavor the presence of a standard short duration burst for viewing angles $\lesssim$15 deg from the jet axis. Our conclusions are however limited by the large localization region of this GW event, and accurate prompt positions remain crucial to improving the efficiency of follow-up efforts.

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arXiv2020

X-ray and Radio Bursts from the Magnetar 1E1547.0-5408

We report on simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the radio-emitting magnetar 1E1547.0-5408 on 2009 January 25 and February 3, with the 64-m Parkes radio telescope and the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observatories. The magnetar was observed in a period of intense X-ray bursting activity and enhanced X-ray emission. We report here on the detection of two radio bursts from 1E1547.0-5408, reminiscent of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). One of the radio bursts was anticipated by ~1s (about half a rotation period of the pulsar) by a bright SGR-like X-ray burst, resulting in a F_radio/F_X ~ 10^-9. Radio pulsations were not detected during the observation showing the FRB-like radio bursts, while they were detected in the previous radio observation. We also found that the two radio bursts are neither aligned with the latter radio pulsations nor with the peak of the X-ray pulse profile (phase shift of ~0.2). Comparing the luminosity of these FRB-like bursts and those reported from SGR1935+2154, we find that the wide range in radio efficiency and/or luminosity of magnetar bursts in the Galaxy may bridge the gap between "ordinary" pulsar radio bursts and the extragalactic FRB phenomenon.

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arXiv2020

Short gamma-ray bursts within 200 Mpc

We present a systematic search for short-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in the local Universe based on 14 years of observations with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. We cross-correlate the GRB positions with the GLADE catalogue of nearby galaxies, and find no event at a distance $\lesssim$100 Mpc and four plausible candidates in the range 100 Mpc$\lesssim$$D$$\lesssim$200 Mpc. Although affected by low statistics, this number is higher than the one expected for chance alignments to random galaxies, and possibly suggests a physical association between these bursts and nearby galaxies. By assuming a local origin, we use these events to constrain the range of properties for X-ray counterparts of neutron star mergers. Optical upper limits place tight constraints on the onset of a blue kilonova, and imply either low masses ($\lesssim10^{-3}\,M_{\odot}$) of lanthanide-poor ejecta or unfavorable orientations ($θ_{obs}\gtrsim$30 deg). Finally, we derive that the all-sky rate of detectable short GRBs within 200 Mpc is $1.3^{+1.7}_{-0.8}$ yr$^{-1}$ (68\% confidence interval), and discuss the implications for the GRB outflow structure. If these candidates are instead of cosmological origin, we set a upper limit of $\lesssim$2.0 yr$^{-1}$ (90\% confidence interval) to the rate of nearby events detectable with operating gamma-ray observatories, such as Swift and Fermi.

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arXiv2019

The afterglow and kilonova of the short GRB 160821B

GRB 160821B is a short duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected and localized by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the outskirts of a spiral galaxy at z=0.1613, at a projected physical offset of 16 kpc from the galaxy's center. We present X-ray, optical/nIR and radio observations of its counterpart and model them with two distinct components of emission: a standard afterglow, arising from the interaction of the relativistic jet with the surrounding medium, and a kilonova, powered by the radioactive decay of the sub-relativistic ejecta. Broadband modeling of the afterglow data reveals a weak reverse shock propagating backward into the jet, and a likely jet-break at 3.5 d. This is consistent with a structured jet seen slightly off-axis while expanding into a low-density medium. Analysis of the kilonova properties suggests a rapid evolution toward red colors, similar to AT2017gfo, and a low nIR luminosity, possibly due to the presence of a long-lived neutron star. The global properties of the environment, the inferred low mass (M_ej < 0.006 Msun) and velocities (v > 0.05 c) of lanthanide-rich ejecta are consistent with a binary neutron star merger progenitor.

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arXiv2018

Swift follow-up of gravitational wave triggers: results from the first aLIGO run and optimisation for the future

During its first observing run, in late 2015, the advanced LIGO facility announced 3 gravitational wave (GW) triggers to electromagnetic follow-up partners. Two of these have since been confirmed as being of astrophysical origin: both are binary black hole mergers at ~500 Mpc; the other trigger was later found not to be astrophysical. In this paper we report on the Swift follow up observations of the second and third triggers, including details of 21 X-ray sources detected; none of which can be associated with the GW event. We also consider the challenges that the next GW observing run will bring as the sensitivity and hence typical distance of GW events will increase. We discuss how to effectively use galaxy catalogues to prioritise areas for follow up, especially in the presence of distance estimates from the GW data. We also consider two galaxy catalogues and suggest that the high completeness at larger distances of the 2MASS Photometric Redshift Catalogue (2MPZ) makes it very well suited to optimise Swift follow-up observations.

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arXiv2018

The largest glitch observed in the Crab pulsar

We have observed a large glitch in the Crab pulsar (PSR B0531+21). The glitch occurred around MJD 58064 (2017 November 8) when the pulsar underwent an increase in the rotation rate of $Δν= 1.530 \times 10^{-5}$ Hz, corresponding to a fractional increase of $Δν/ ν= 0.516 \times 10^{-6}$ making this event the largest glitch ever observed in this source. Due to our high-cadence and long-dwell time observations of the Crab pulsar we are able to partially resolve a fraction of the total spin-up of the star. This delayed spin-up occurred over a timescale of $\sim$1.7 days and is similar to the behaviour seen in the 1989 and 1996 large Crab pulsar glitches. The spin-down rate also increased at the glitch epoch by $Δ\dotν / \dotν = 7 \times 10^{-3}$. In addition to being the largest such event observed in the Crab, the glitch occurred after the longest period of glitch inactivity since at least 1984 and we discuss a possible relationship between glitch size and waiting time. No changes to the shape of the pulse profile were observed near the glitch epoch at 610 MHz or 1520 MHz, nor did we identify any changes in the X-ray flux from the pulsar. The long-term recovery from the glitch continues to progress as $\dotν$ slowly rises towards pre-glitch values. In line with other large Crab glitches, we expect there to be a persistent change to $\dotν$. We continue to monitor the long-term recovery with frequent, high quality observations.

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arXiv2017

The environment of the binary neutron star merger GW170817

We present Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra imaging, combined with Very Large Telescope MUSE integral field spectroscopy of the counterpart and host galaxy of the first binary neutron star merger detected via gravitational wave emission by LIGO & Virgo, GW170817. The host galaxy, NGC 4993, is an S0 galaxy at z=0.009783. There is evidence for large, face-on spiral shells in continuum imaging, and edge-on spiral features visible in nebular emission lines. This suggests that NGC 4993 has undergone a relatively recent (<1 Gyr) ``dry'' merger. This merger may provide the fuel for a weak active nucleus seen in Chandra imaging. At the location of the counterpart, HST imaging implies there is no globular or young stellar cluster, with a limit of a few thousand solar masses for any young system. The population in the vicinity is predominantly old with <1% of any light arising from a population with ages <500 Myr. Both the host galaxy properties and those of the transient location are consistent with the distributions seen for short-duration gamma-ray bursts, although the source position lies well within the effective radius (r_e ~ 3 kpc), providing an r_e-normalized offset that is closer than ~90% of short GRBs. For the long delay time implied by the stellar population, this suggests that the kick velocity was significantly less than the galaxy escape velocity. We do not see any narrow host galaxy interstellar medium features within the counterpart spectrum, implying low extinction, and that the binary may lie in front of the bulk of the host galaxy.

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