arXiv subjects

Javier Gorosabel

Publications and source records attributed to Javier Gorosabel.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

A Deep Search with HST for Late Time Supernova Signatures in the Hosts of XRF 011030 and XRF 020427

X-ray Flashes (XRFs) are, like Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), thought to signal the collapse of massive stars in distant galaxies. Many models posit that the isotropic equivalent energies of XRFs are lower than those for GRBs, such that they are visible from a reduced range of distances when compared with GRBs. Here we present the results of two epoch Hubble Space Telescope imaging of two XRFs. These images taken approximately 45 and 200 days post burst reveal no evidence for an associated supernova in either case. Supernovae such as SN 1998bw would have been visible out to z ~1.5 in each case, while fainter supernovae such as SN 2002ap would have been visible to z ~ 1. If the XRFs lie at such large distances, their energies would not fit the observed correlation between the GRB peak energy and isotropic energy release, in which soft bursts are less energetic. We conclude that, should these XRFs reside at low redshifts ($z<0.6$), either their line of sight is heavily extinguished, or they are associated with extremely faint supernovae, or, unlike GRBs, these XRFs do not have temporally coincident supernovae.

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arXiv2003

The Host Galaxy of GRB 990712

We present a comprehensive study of the z=0.43 host galaxy of GRB 990712, involving ground-based photometry, spectroscopy, and HST imaging. The broad-band UBVRIJHKs photometry is used to determine the global spectral energy distribution (SED) of the host galaxy. Comparison with that of known galaxy types shows that the host is similar to a moderately reddened starburst galaxy with a young stellar population. The estimated internal extinction in the host is Av=0.15+/-0.1 and the star-formation rate (SFR) from the UV continuum is 1.3+/-0.3 M_sun/yr, (not corrected for the effects of extinction). Other galaxy template spectra than starbursts failed to reproduce the observed SED. We also present VLT spectra leading to the detection of Halpha from the GRB host galaxy. A SFR of 2.8+/-0.7 M_sun/yr, is inferred from the Halpha line flux, and the presence of a young stellar population is supported by a large equivalent width. Images from HST/STIS show that the host has two separate knots, which could be two distinct star-forming regions.

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arXiv2003

A very energetic supernova associated with the gamma-ray burst of 29 March 2003

Over the past five years evidence has mounted that long-duration (> 2 s) gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)--the most brilliant of all astronomical explosions--signal the collapse of massive stars in our Universe. This evidence was originally based on the probable association of one unusual GRB with a supernova, but now includes the association of GRBs with regions of massive star formation in distant galaxies, the appearance of supernova-like 'bumps' in the optical afterglow light curves of several bursts and lines of freshly synthesized elements in the spectra of a few X-ray afterglows. These observations support, but do not yet conclusively demonstrate, the idea that long-duration GRBs are associated with the deaths of massive stars, presumably arising from core collapse. Here we report evidence that a very energetic supernova (a hypernova) was temporally and spatially coincident with a GRB at redshift z = 0.1685. The timing of the supernova indicates that it exploded within a few days of the GRB, strongly suggesting that core-collapse events can give rise to GRBs, thereby favouring the 'collapsar' model.

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arXiv2003

Optical Photometry of GRB 021004: The First Month

We present U,B,V,R_C,and I_C photometry of the optical afterglow of the gamma-ray burst GRB 021004 taken at the Nordic Optical Telescope between approximately eight hours and 30 days after the burst. This data is combined with an analysis of the 87 ksec Chandra X-ray observations of GRB 021004 taken at a mean epoch of 33 hours after the burst to investigate the nature of this GRB. We find an intrinsic spectral slope at optical wavelengths of beta_UH = 0.39 +/- 0.12 and an X-ray slope of beta_X = 0.94 +/- 0.03. There is no evidence for colour evolution between 8.5 hours and 5.5 days after the burst. The optical decay becomes steeper approximately five days after the burst. This appears to be a gradual break due to the onset of sideways expansion in a collimated outflow. Our data suggest that the extra-galactic extinction along the line of sight to the burst is between A_V = 0.3 and A_V = 0.5 and has an extinction law similar to that of the Small Magellanic Cloud. The optical and X-ray data are consistent with a relativistic fireball with the shocked electrons being in the slow cooling regime and having an electron index of p = 1.9 +/- 0.1. The burst occurred in an ambient medium that is homogeneous on scales larger than approximately 10e18 cm but inhomogeneous on smaller scales. The mean particle density is similar to what is seen for other bursts (0.1 < n < 100 cm^{-3}). Our results support the idea that the brightening seen approximately 0.1 days was due to interaction with a clumpy ambient medium within 10^{17} and 10^{18} cm of the progenitor. The agreement between the predicted optical decay and that observed approximately ten minutes after the burst suggests that the physical mechanism controlling the observed flux approximately ten minutes is the same as the one operating at t > 0.5 days.

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arXiv2002

The afterglow and complex environment of the optically dim burst GRB 980613

We report the identification of the optical afterglow of GRB 980613 in R- and I-band images obtained between 16 and 48 hours after the gamma-ray burst. Early near-infrared (NIR) H and K' observations are also reported. The afterglow was optically faint (R ~ 23) at discovery but did not exhibit an unusually rapid decay (power-law decay slope alpha < 1.8 at 2 sigma). The optical/NIR spectral index (beta_RH < 1.1) was consistent with the optical-to-X-ray spectral index (beta_RX ~ 0.6), indicating a maximal reddening of the afterglow of ~0.45 mag in R. Hence the dimness of the optical afterglow was mainly due to the fairly flat spectral shape rather than internal reddening in the host galaxy. We also present late-time HST/STIS images of the field in which GRB 980613 occurred, obtained 799 days after the burst. These images show that GRB 980613 was located close to a very compact, blue V = 26.1 object inside a complex region consisting of star-forming knots and/or interacting galaxy fragments. Therefore, GRB 980613 constitutes a strong case for the association of cosmological gamma-ray bursts with star-forming regions.

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arXiv2001

Follow-up observations from observatories based in Spain

We present a review of the follow-up observations carried out from observatories located in Spain; Calar-Alto, Izanha and Roque de Los Muchachos. It summarizes the observations carried out by our group for 27 GRBs occurred in the period 1999-2000, spanning from GRB 990123 to GRB 001007.

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arXiv2001

Optical observations of the dark Gamma-Ray Burst GRB 000210

We report on optical observations on GRB 000210 obtained with the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope and the 1.54-m Danish Telescope starting 12.4 hours after the gamma-ray event. The content of the X-ray error box determined by the Chandra satellite is discussed.

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arXiv1999

0ptical observations of GRB afterglows: GRB 970508 and GRB 980326 revisited

Since January 1997, we have monitored 15 GRB fields, detecting 6 optical/IR afterglows. For GRB 970508, we derive a power-law decay exponent alpha = -1.19 (R-band). The luminosity of the host galaxy L relative to the characteristic luminosity L^{star} is in the range 0.06--0.15, i.e. a dwarf galaxy. For GRB 980326, we derive a power-law decay exponent alpha = -1.7, taking into account the new upper limit for the host as R > 27.3 provided by Bloom and Kulkarni (1998). This implies one of the fastest GRB optical decays ever measured. The fact that only about 50% of optical transients have been found within the gamma/X-ray error boxes, suggest that either considerable intrinsic absorption is present or that some optical transients display a very fast decline. We also propose that the secondary maximum detected on 17 Apr 1998 could be explained in the context of the SN-like light curves 2-3 weeks after the GRB, as recently suggested by Woosley (1999).

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arXiv1998

Archival searches for transient optical emission in the error box of the 1991 January 22 gamma-ray burst

We present here the results of a study carried out at the Harvard College Observatory Plate Collection. We examined 3995 plates covering the error box of the gamma-ray burst GRB 910122, over a time span of 90 yr (from 1889 to 1979). The total exposure time is ~0.55 yr. No convincing evidence of optical transient emission was found within the GRB 910122 IPN error box. However, a possible OT was found outside the GRB 910122 error box. Optical ground based observations have revealed a V~22.3 object consistent with the position of the new object. The colours of the object are typical of a K7/M0 star or a reddened galaxy, which could have caused the OT, but the fact that the object is far away from the GRB error box makes both events unrelated.

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arXiv1998

Archival search for recurrent activity at the position the gamma-ray burst GRB 970228 optical counterpart

We have examined 8004 plates at the Harvard College Observatory Plate Collection searching for optical transient emission from the gamma-ray burst GRB 970228. This is the first archival search carried out so far for a gamma-ray burst with known transient optical emission. The total exposure time amounts to ~1.1 yr. No convincing optical activity was found above 12.5 mag at the expected position of the GRB 970228 optical counterpart.

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