arXiv subjects

Omer Bromberg

Publications and source records attributed to Omer Bromberg.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Are low luminosity GRBs generated by relativistic jets?

Low luminosity gamma-ray bursts (ll-GRBs) constitute a sub-class of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that plays a central role in the GRB-supernova connection. While ll-GRBs differ from typical long GRBs (LGRBs) in many aspects, they also share some common features. Therefore, the question whether the gamma-ray emission of ll-GRBs and LGRBs has a common origin is of great interest. Here we address this question by testing whether ll-GRBs, like LGRBs according to the Collapsar model, can be generated by relativistic jets that punch holes in the envelopes of their progenitor stars. The collapsar model predicts that the durations of most observed bursts will be comparable to, or longer than, the time it takes the jets to breakout of the star. We calculate the jet breakout times of ll-GRBs and compare them to the observed durations. We find that there is a significant access of ll-GRBs with durations that are much shorter than the jet breakout time and that these are inconsistent with the Collapsar model. We conclude that the processes that dominate the gamma-ray emission of ll-GRBs and of LGRBs are most likely fundamentally different.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Sub-Photospheric Emission from Relativistic Radiation Mediated Shocks in GRBs

It is proposed that the prompt emission observed in bursts that exhibit a thermal component originates from relativistic radiation mediated shocks that form below the photosphere of the GRB outflow. It is argue that such shocks are expected to form in luminous bursts via collisions of shells that propagate with moderate Lorentz factors $Γ\lesssim 500$. Faster shells will collide above the photosphere to form collisionless shocks. We demonstrate that in events like GRB 090902B a substantial fraction of the explosion energy is dissipated below the photosphere, in a region of moderate optical depth $τ\lesssim300$, whereas in GRB 080916C the major fraction of the energy dissipates above the photosphere. We show that under conditions anticipated in many GRBs, such relativistic radiation mediated shocks convect enough radiation upstream to render photon production in the shock transition negligible, unlike the case of shock breakout in supernovae. The resulting spectrum, as measured in the shock frame, has a relatively low thermal peak, followed by a broad, nonthermal component extending up to the KN limit.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Recollimation and Radiative Focusing of Relativistic Jets: Applications to Blazars and M87

Recent observations of M87 and some blazars reveal violent activity in small regions located at relatively large distances from the central engine. Motivated by these considerations, we study the hydrodynamic collimation of a relativistic cooling outflow using a semi-analytical model developed earlier. We first demonstrate that radiative cooling of the shocked outflow layer can lead to a focusing of the outflow and its reconfinement in a region having a very small cross-sectional radius. Such a configuration can produce rapid variability at large distances from the central engine via reflections of the converging recollimation shock. Possible applications of this model to TeV blazars are discussed. We then apply our model to M87. The low radiative efficiency of the M87 jet renders focusing unlikely. However, the shallow profile of the ambient medium pressure inferred from observations, results in extremely good collimation that can explain the reported variability of the X-ray flux emitted from the HST-1 knot.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Relativistic Photon Mediated Shocks

A system of equations governing the structure of a steady, relativistic radiation dominated shock is derived, starting from the general form of the transfer equation obeyed by the photon distribution function. Closure is obtained by truncating the system of moment equations at some order. The anisotropy of the photon distribution function inside the shock is shown to increase with increasing shock velocity, approaching nearly perfect beaming at upstream Lorentz factors $Γ_{-}>>1$. Solutions of the shock equations are presented for some range of upstream conditions. These solutions are shown to converge as the truncation order is increased.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Collimation and Radiative Deceleration of Jets in TeV AGNs

We consider some implications of the rapid X-ray and TeV variability observed in M87 and the TeV blazars. We outline a model for jet focusing and demonstrate that modest radiative cooling can lead to recollimation of a relativistic jet in a nozzle having a very small cross-sectional radius. Such a configuration can produce rapid variability at large distances from the central engine and may explain recent observations of the HST-1 knot in M87. Possible applications of this model to TeV blazars are discussed. We also discuss a scenario for the very rapid TeV flares observed with HESS and MAGIC in some blazars, that accommodates the relatively small Doppler factors inferred from radio observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Hydrodynamic Collimation of Relativistic Outflows: Semianalytic Solutions and Application to Gamma-Ray Bursts

A model is developed for the confinement and collimation of a baryon poor outflow by its surrounding medium. Both, confinement by kinetic pressure of a static corona, and confinement by the ram pressure of a supersonic wind emanating from a disk surrounding the inner source are considered. Solutions are presented for the structure of the shocked layers of a deflected baryon poor jet (BPJ) and exterior wind. The dependence of the opening angle of the BPJ on the parameters of the confining medium are carefully examined. It is found that the BPJ shock may either converge to the symmetry axis or diverge away from it, depending on the opening angle of the BPJ injection cone. In the latter case the inner flow exhibits a non-uniform structure, consisting of an ultra-relativistic core containing the unshocked BPJ enveloped by the slower, shocked BPJ layer. The implications of our results to the prompt GRB emission are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2007

An Observational Limit on the Earliest GRBs

We predict the redshift of the first observable (i.e., in our past light cone) Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) and calculate the GRB-rate redshift distribution of the Population III stars at very early times (z=20-60). Using the last 2 years of data from Swift we place an upper limit on the efficiency (η_{GRB}) of GRB production per solar mass from the first generation of stars. We find that the first observable GRB is most likely to have formed at redshift 60. The observed rate of extremely high redshift GRBs (XRGs) is a subset of a group of 15 long GRBs per year, with no associated redshift and no optical afterglow counterparts, detected by Swift. Taking this maximal rate we get that η_{GRB}<1.1~10^{-4} GRBs per solar mass in stars. A more realistic evaluation, e.g., taking a subgroup of 5% of the total sample of Swift gives an upper limit of η_{GRB}<3.2~10^{-5} GRBs per solar mass.

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arXiv2005

The gravitational-wave spectrum of a non-axisymmetric torus around a rapidly spinning black hole

The gravitational-wave spectrum emitted by a non-axisymmetric torus rotating at an angular velocity $Ω_T$, is derived in terms of a structure function representing a combination of sausage-tilt modes in the torus in the limit of an incompressible fluid. The analysis of the gravitational-wave spectrum is then applied to a model proposed recently, in which a highly magnetized torus interacts with a stellar mass, Kerr black hole via poloidal field lines that connect the torus and the horizon. The deformation of the torus results from global magnetic instabilities when the magnetic field strength inside the torus exceeds a few times $10^{15}$ Gauss. The dynamics of the system is illustrated using a non-MHD toy model. It is found that, quite generally, most of the gravitational-wave energy emitted is in the frequency range of sensitivity of LIGO and Virgo.

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