arXiv subjects

Asaf Pe'er

Publications and source records attributed to Asaf Pe'er.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

A backscattering dominated prompt emission model for the prompt phase of Gamma ray bursts

As gamma-ray burst (GRB) jet drills its way through the collapsing star, it traps a baryonic cork ahead of it. Here we explore a prompt emission model for GRBs in which the jet does not cross the cork, but rather photons that are emitted deep in the flow largely by pair annihilation are scattered inside the expanding cork and escape largely from the back end of it as they push it from behind. Due to the relativistic motion of the cork, these photons are easily seen by an observer close to the jet axis peaking at $\varepsilon_{peak}\sim~few \times 100 keV$. We show that this model naturally explains several key observational features including: (1) High energy power law index $β_1 \sim -2 {~\rm to~} -5$ with an intermediate thermal spectral region; (2) decay of the prompt emission light curve as $\sim t^{-2}$; (3) Delay of soft photons; (4) peak energy - isotropic energy (the so-called Amati) correlation, $\varepsilon_{peak} \sim \varepsilon_{iso}^m$, with $m\sim 0.45$, resulting from different viewing angles. At low luminosities, our model predicts an observable turn off in the Amati relation. (4) An anti-correlation between the spectral full width half maxima (FWHM) and time as $t^{-1}$. (5) Temporal evolution $\varepsilon_{peak} \sim t^{-1}$, accompanied by an increase of the high energy spectral slope with time. (6) Distribution of peak energies $\varepsilon_{peak}$ in the observed GRB population. The model is applicable for a single pulse GRB lightcurves and respective spectra. We discuss the consequence of our model in view of the current and future prompt emission observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Bridging the gap between collisional and collisionless shock waves

While the front of a fluid shock is a few mean-free-paths thick, the front of a collisionless shock can be orders of magnitude thinner. By bridging between a collisional and a collisionless formalism, we assess the transition between these two regimes. We consider non-relativistic, un-magnetized, planar shocks in electron/ion plasmas. In addition, our treatment of the collisionless regime is restricted to high Mach number electrostatic shocks. We find that the transition can be parameterized by the upstream plasma parameter $Λ$ which measures the coupling of the upstream medium. For $Λ\lesssim 1.12$, the upstream is collisional, i.e. strongly coupled, and the strong shock front is about $\mathcal{M}_1 λ_{\mathrm{mfp},1}$ thick, where $λ_{\mathrm{mfp},1}$ and $\mathcal{M}_1 $ are the upstream mean-free-path and Mach number respectively. A transition occurs for $Λ\sim 1.12$ beyond which the front is $\sim \mathcal{M}_1λ_{\mathrm{mfp},1}\ln Λ/Λ$ thick for $Λ\gtrsim 1.12$. Considering $Λ$ can reach billions in astrophysical settings, this allows to understand how the front of a collisionless shock can be orders of magnitude smaller than the mean-free-path, and how physics transitions continuously between these 2 extremes.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Constraining Low-luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts as Ultra-high-energy Cosmic Ray Sources Using GRB 060218 as a Proxy

We study the connection between low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts (llGRBs) and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) using the canonical low-luminosity GRB 060218 as a proxy. We focus on the consequential synchrotron emission from electrons that are coaccelerated in the UHECR acceleration region, comparing this emission to observations. Both the prompt and afterglow phases are considered. For the prompt phase, we assume the coaccelerated electrons are injected with a power law distribution instantaneously (without additional heating or reacceleration), which results in bright optical-UV emission in tension with observations. For the afterglow phase, we constrain the total kinetic energy of the blast wave by comparing electron thermal synchrotron radiation to available radio data at $\sim~3$ days. Considering mildly relativistic outflows with bulk Lorentz factor $Γ\gtrsim 2$ (slower trans-relativistic outflows are not treated), we find that the limited available energy does not allow for GRB 060218-like afterglows to be the main origin of UHECRs. This analysis independently constrains the prompt phase as a major UHECR source as well, given that the prompt energy budget is comparable to that of the afterglow kinetic energy. More generally, our study demonstrates that synchrotron emission from thermal electrons is a powerful diagnostic of the physics of mildly relativistic shocks.

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arXiv2020

Classification of Photospheric Emission in Short GRBs

In order to better understand the physical origin of short duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), we perform time-resolved spectral analysis on a sample of 70 pulses in 68 short GRBs with burst duration $T_{90}\lesssim2$ s detected by the \textit{Fermi}/GBM. We apply a Bayesian analysis to all spectra that have statistical significance $S\ge15$ within each pulse and apply a cut-off power law (CPL) model. We then select in each pulse the timebin that has the maximal value of the low energy spectral index, %$α_{\rm max}$, for further analysis. Under the assumption that the main emission mechanism is the same throughout each pulse, such an analysis is indicative of pulse emission. We find that $\sim$1/3 of short GRBs are consistent with a pure, non-dissipative photospheric model, at least, around the peak of the pulse. This fraction is larger compare to the corresponding one (1/4) obtained for long GRBs. For these bursts, we find (i) a bi-modal distribution in the values of the Lorentz factors and the hardness ratios; (ii) an anti-correlation between $T_{90}$ and the peak energy, $E_{\rm pk}$: $T_{90} \propto E_{\rm pk}^{-0.50\pm0.19}$. This correlation disappears when we consider the entire sample. Our results thus imply that the short GRB population may in fact be composed of two separate populations: one being a continuation of the long GRB population to shorter durations, and the other one being distinctly separate with different physical properties. Furthermore, thermal emission is initially ubiquitous, but is accompanied at longer times by additional radiation (likely synchrotron).

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arXiv2020

The late-time afterglow evolution of long gamma-ray bursts GRB 160625B and GRB 160509A

We present post-jet-break \textit{HST}, VLA and \textit{Chandra} observations of the afterglow of the long $γ$-ray bursts GRB 160625B (between 69 and 209 days) and GRB 160509A (between 35 and 80 days). We calculate the post-jet-break decline rates of the light curves, and find the afterglow of GRB 160625B inconsistent with a simple $t^{-3/4}$ steepening over the break, expected from the geometric effect of the jet edge entering our line of sight. However, the favored optical post-break decline ($f_ν \propto t^{-1.96 \pm 0.07}$) is also inconsistent with the $f_ν \propto t^{-p}$ decline (where $p \approx 2.3$ from the pre-break light curve), which is expected from exponential lateral expansion of the jet; perhaps suggesting lateral expansion that only affects a fraction of the jet. The post-break decline of GRB 160509A is consistent with both the $t^{-3/4}$ steepening and with $f_ν \propto t^{-p}$. We also use {\sc boxfit} to fit afterglow models to both light curves and find both to be energetically consistent with a millisecond magnetar central engine, although the magnetar parameters need to be extreme (i.e. $E \sim 3 \times 10^{52}$ erg). Finally, the late-time radio light curves of both afterglows are not reproduced well by {\sc boxfit} and are inconsistent with predictions from the standard jet model; instead both are well represented by a single power law decline (roughly $f_ν \propto t^{-1}$) with no breaks. This requires a highly chromatic jet break ($t_{j,\mathrm{radio}} > 10 \times t_{j,\mathrm{optical}}$) and possibly a two-component jet for both bursts.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

The Fraction of Gamma-ray Bursts with an Observed Photospheric Emission Episode

There is no complete description of the emission physics during the prompt phase in gamma-ray bursts. Spectral analyses, however, indicate that many spectra are narrower than what is expected for non-thermal emission models. Here, we reanalyse the sample of 37 bursts in \citet{Yu2019}, by fitting the narrowest time-resolved spectrum in each burst. We perform model comparison between a photospheric and a synchrotron emission model based on Bayesian evidence. We choose to compare the shape of the narrowest expected spectra: emission from the photosphere in a non-dissipative flow and slow-cooled synchrotron emission from a narrow electron distribution. We find that the photospheric spectral shape is preferred by $54 \pm 8 \%$ of the spectra (20/37), while $38 \pm 8 \%$ of the spectra (14/37) prefer the synchrotron spectral shape; three spectra are inconclusive. We hence conclude that GRB spectra are indeed very narrow and that more than half of the bursts have a photospheric emission episode. We also find that a third of all analysed spectra, not only prefer, but are also compatible with a non-dissipative photosphere, confirming previous similar findings. Furthermore, we notice that the spectra, that prefer the photospheric model, all have a low-energy power-law indices $α> -0.5$. This means that $α$ is a good estimator of which model is preferred by the data. Finally, we argue that the spectra which statistically prefer the synchrotron model, could equally well be caused by subphotospheric dissipation. If that is the case, photospheric emission during the early, prompt phase would be even more dominant.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Investigating subphotospheric dissipation in gamma-ray bursts using joint Fermi-Swift observations

The jet photosphere has been proposed as the origin for the gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission. In many such models, characteristic features in the spectra appear below the energy range of the $\textit{Fermi}$ GBM detectors, so joint fits with X-ray data are important in order to assess the photospheric scenario. Here we consider a particular photospheric model which assumes localized subphotospheric dissipation by internal shocks in a non-magnetized outflow. We investigate it using Bayesian inference and a sample of 8 GRBs with known redshifts which are observed simultaneously with $\textit{Fermi}$ GBM and $\textit{Swift}$ XRT. This provides us with an energy range of $0.3$~keV to $40$~MeV and much tighter parameter constraints. We analyze 32 spectra and find that 16 are well described by the model. We also find that the estimates of the bulk Lorentz factor, $Γ$, and the fireball luminosity, $L_{0,52}$, decrease while the fraction of dissipated energy, $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{d}}$, increase in the joint fits compared to GBM only fits. These changes are caused by a small excess of counts in the XRT data, relative to the model predictions from fits to GBM only data. The fact that our limited implementation of the physical scenario yields 50\% accepted spectra is promising, and we discuss possible model revisions in the light of the new data. Specifically, we argue that the inclusion of significant magnetization, as well as removing the assumption of internal shocks, will provide better fits at low energies.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

The Limited Contribution of Low- and High-Luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts to Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

The acceleration site for ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) is still an open question despite extended research. In this paper, we reconsider the prompt phase of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as a possible candidate for this acceleration and constrain the maximum proton energy in optically thin synchrotron and photospheric models, using properties of the prompt photon spectra. We find that neither of the models favour acceleration of protons to $10^{20}$ eV in high-luminosity bursts. We repeat the calculations for low-luminosity GRBs (llGRBs) considering both protons and completely stripped iron and find that the highest obtainable energies are $< 10^{19}$ eV and $< 10^{20}$ eV for protons and iron respectively, regardless of the model. We conclude therefore that for our fiducial parameters, GRBs, including low-luminosity bursts, contribute little to none to the UHECR observed. We further constrain the conditions necessary for an association between UHECR and llGRBs and find that iron can be accelerated to $10^{20}$ eV in photospheric models, given very efficiency acceleration and/or a small fractional energy given to a small fraction of accelerated electrons. This will necessarily result in high prompt optical fluxes, and the detection of such a signal could therefore be an indication of successful UHECR acceleration at the source.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Plasmas in Gamma-Ray Bursts: particle acceleration, magnetic fields, radiative Processes and environments

Being the most extreme explosions in the universe, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) provide a unique laboratory to study various plasma physics phenomena. The complex lightcurve and broad-band, non-thermal spectra indicate a very complicated system on the one hand, but on the other hand provide a wealth of information to study it. In this chapter I focus on recent progress in some of the key unsolved physical problems. These include: (1) Particle acceleration and magnetic field generation in shock waves; (2) Possible role of strong magnetic fields in accelerating the plasmas, and accelerating particles via magnetic reconnection process; (3) Various radiative processes that shape the observed lightcurve and spectra, both during the prompt and the afterglow phases, and finally (4) GRB environments and their possible observational signature.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Testing a model for subphotospheric dissipation in GRBs: fits to Fermi data constrain the dissipation scenario

It has been suggested that the prompt emission in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) could be described by radiation from the photosphere in a hot fireball. Such models must be tested by directly fitting them to data. In this work we use data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and consider a specific photospheric model, in which kinetic energy of a low-magnetisation outflow is dissipated locally by internal shocks below the photosphere. We construct a table model with a physically motivated parameter space and fit it to time-resolved spectra of the 36 brightest Fermi GRBs with known redshift. We find that about two thirds of the examined spectra cannot be described by the model, as it typically under-predicts the observed flux. However, since the sample is strongly biased towards bright GRBs, we argue that this fraction will be significantly lowered when considering the full population. From the successful fits we find that the model can reproduce the full range of spectral slopes present in the sample. For these cases we also find that the dissipation consistently occurs at a radius of $\sim 10^{12}$ cm and that only a few percent efficiency is required. Furthermore, we find a positive correlation between the fireball luminosity and the Lorentz factor. Such a correlation has been previously reported by independent methods. We conclude that if GRB spectra are due to photospheric emission, the dissipation cannot only be the specific scenario we consider here.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Pitch-Angle Diffusion and Bohm-type Approximations in Diffusive Shock Acceleration

The problem of accelerating cosmic rays is one of fundamental importance, particularly given the uncertainty in the conditions inside the acceleration sites. Here we examine Diffusive Shock Acceleration in arbitrary turbulent magnetic fields, constructing a new model that is capable of bridging the gap between the very weak ($δB/B_0 \ll 1$) and the strong turbulence regimes. To describe the diffusion we provide quantitative analytical description of the "Bohm exponent" in each regime. We show that our results converge to the well known quasi-linear theory in the weak turbulence regime. In the strong regime, we quantify the limitations of the Bohm-type models. Furthermore, our results account for the anomalous diffusive behaviour which has been noted previously. Finally, we discuss the implications of our model in the study of possible acceleration sites in different astronomical objects.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

On the $α$-Intensity Correlation in Gamma-Ray Bursts: Subphotospheric Heating with Varying Entropy

The emission mechanism during the prompt phase in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) can be investigated through correlations between spectral properties. Here, we revisit the correlation relating the instantaneous flux, $F$, and the photon index below the spectral break, $α$, in individual emission pulses, by studying the 38 most prominent pulses in the Fermi/GBM GRB catalogue. First, we search for signatures of the bias in the determination of $α$ due to the limited spectral coverage (window effect) expected in the synchrotron case. The absence of such a characteristic signature argues against the simplest synchrotron models. We instead find that the observed correlation between $F$ and $α$ can, in general, be described by the relation $F(t) \propto {\rm e}^{k\,α(t)}$, for which the median $k = 3$. We suggest that this correlation is a manifestation of subphotospheric heating in a flow with a varying entropy. Around the peak of the light curve, a large entropy causes the photosphere to approach the saturation radius, leading to an intense emission with a narrow spectrum. As the entropy decreases the photosphere secedes from the saturation radius, and weaker emission with a broader spectrum is expected. This simple scenario naturally leads to a correlated variation of the intensity and spectral shape, covering the observed range.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

A Comparison between Radio Loud and Quiet Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Evidence for a Potential Correlation between Intrinsic Duration and Redshift in the Radio Loud Population

We extend our study of energetic radio loud and quiet gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), suggesting these GRBs potentially come from two separate progenitor systems. We expand the sample from our previous paper (Lloyd-Ronning & Fryer, 2017) and find our results are strengthened - radio quiet GRBs have significantly shorter intrinsic prompt duration, and are also less energetic on average. However, the tenuous correlation between isotropic energy and intrinsic duration in the radio dark sample remains tenuous and is slightly weakened by adding more bursts. Interestingly, we find an anti-correlation between the intrinsic duration and redshift in the radio bright sample but not the radio dark sample, further supporting that these two samples may come from separate progenitors. We also find that very high energy (0.1 - 100 GeV) extended emission is only present in the radio loud sample. There is no significant difference between the presence of X-ray/optical plateaus or the average jet opening angles between the two samples. We explore the interpretation of these results in the context of different progenitor models. The data are consistent with the radio loud GRBs coming from a Helium-merger system and the radio quiet GRBs coming from a collapsar system, but may also reflect other dichotomies in the inner engine such as a neutron star versus black hole core.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Synchrotron maser from weakly magnetised neutron stars as the emission mechanism of fast radio bursts

The origin of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) is still mysterious. All FRBs to date show extremely high brightness temperatures, requiring a coherent emission mechanism. Using constraints derived from the physics of one of these mechanisms, the synchrotron maser, as well as observations, we show that accretion induced explosions of neutron stars with surface magnetic fields of $B_*\lesssim10^{11}$ G are favoured as FRB progenitors.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

On the Formation and Properties of Fluid Shocks and Collisionless Shock Waves in Astrophysical Plasmas

When two plasmas collide, their interaction can be mediated by collisionless plasma instabilities or binary collisions between particles of each shell. By comparing the maximum growth rate of the collisionless instabilities with the collision frequency between particles of the shells, we determine the critical density separating the collisionless formation from the collisional formation of the resulting shock waves. This critical density is also the density beyond which the shock downstream is field free, as plasma instabilities do not have time to develop electromagnetic patterns. We further determine the conditions on the shells initial density and velocity for the downstream to be collisional. If these quantities fulfill the determined conditions, the collisionality of the downstream also prevents the shock from accelerating particles or generating strong magnetic fields. We compare the speed of sound with the relative speed of collision between the two shells, thus determining the portion of the parameters space where strong shock formation is possible for both classical and degenerate plasmas. Finally, we discuss the observational consequences in several astrophysical settings.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Observational Signatures of Mass-Loading in Jets Launched by Rotating Black Holes

It is widely believed that relativistic jets in X-ray binaries and active-galactic nuclei are powered by the rotational energy of black holes. This idea is supported by general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations of accreting black holes, which demonstrate efficient energy extraction via the Blandford-Znajek mechanism. However, due to uncertainties in the physics of mass-loading, and the failure of GRMHD numerical schemes in the highly-magnetized funnel region, the matter content of the jet remains poorly constrained. We investigate the observational signatures of mass-loading in the funnel by performing general-relativistic radiative transfer calculations on a range of 3D GRMHD simulations of accreting black holes. We find significant observational differences between cases in which the funnel is empty and cases where the funnel is filled with plasma, particularly in the optical and X-ray bands. In the context of Sgr A*, current spectral data constrains the jet filling only if the black hole is rapidly rotating with $a\gtrsim0.9$. In this case, the limits on the infrared flux disfavour a strong contribution from material in the funnel. We comment on the implications of our models for interpreting future Event Horizon Telescope observations. We also scale our models to stellar-mass black holes, and discuss their applicability to the low-luminosity state in X-ray binaries.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Constraining Magnetization of Gamma-Ray Bursts Outflows using Prompt Emission Fluence

I consider here acceleration and heating of relativistic outflow by local magnetic energy dissipation process in Poynting flux dominated outflow. Adopting the standard assumption that the reconnection rate scales with the Alfven speed, I show here that the fraction of energy dissipated as thermal photons cannot exceed (13 $\hat γ-14)^{-1} = 30$% (for adiabatic index $\hat γ= 4/3$) of the kinetic energy at the photosphere. Even in the most radiatively efficient scenario, the energy released as non-thermal photons during the prompt phase is at most equal to the kinetic energy of the outflow. These results imply that calorimetry of the kinetic energy that can be done during the afterglow phase, could be used to constrain the magnetization of gamma-ray bursts (GRB) outflows. I discuss the recent observational status, and its implications on constraining the magnetization in GRB outflows.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Microscopic Processes in Global Relativistic Jets Containing Helical Magnetic Fields: Dependence on Jet Radius

In this study we investigate jet interaction at a microscopic level in a cosmological environment, which responds to a key open question in the study of relativistic jets. Using small simulation systems during prior research, we initially studied the evolution of both electron-proton and electron-positron relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, by focusing on their interactions with an ambient plasma. Here, using larger jet radii, we have performed simulations of global jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). We found that the evolution of global jets strongly depends on the size of the jet radius. For example, phase bunching of jet electrons, in particular in the electron-proton jet, is mixed with larger jet radius due to the more complicated structures of magnetic fields with excited kinetic instabilities. In our simulation study these kinetic instabilities lead to new types of instabilities in global jets. In the electron-proton jet simulation a modified recollimation occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the electron-positron jet simulation mixed kinetic instabilities occur at early times followed by a turbulence-like structure. Simulations using much larger (and longer) systems are further required in order to thoroughly investigate the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.

astro-ph.HE↗