arXiv subjects

Yan-Kun Qu

Publications and source records attributed to Yan-Kun Qu.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Constraining gamma-ray burst viewing angles with Swift/XRT afterglow light curves

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic phenomena in the universe, and their afterglow light curves encode information about jet geometry and viewing angle. To constrain GRB viewing angles, we analyzed jet break features in Swift X-Ray Telescope afterglow light curves using two top-hat jet models: a simplified geometric model without high-latitude emission (model 1) and a comprehensive model including it (model 2). Both models were applied to a sample of 20 GRBs in an interstellar medium (ISM) and 20 in a wind medium, selected so that jet breaks are attributed to the edge effect with sufficient data coverage, and fitted with Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. We examined viewing angles and off-axis ratios q = $\theta_{\rm obs}/\theta_{\rm jet}$ under both density profiles, evaluating the impact of high-latitude emission. Based on reduced chi-squared and Bayesian information criterion comparisons, model 1 fits all GRBs better. Most GRBs have small off-axis ratios (mean q = 0.1851 for model 1), indicating viewing angles generally close to the jet axis; the log-space viewing-angle distribution is approximately Gaussian. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test shows no significant difference in off-axis ratios between ISM and wind media, nor between bursts with and without an X-ray plateau. While viewing angles decrease significantly with redshift, the off-axis ratio shows no significant evolution, consistent with off-axis alignment being independent of cosmic epoch.

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arXiv2026

Constraining Circum-burst Environments of GRBs with Jet Break Features in X-ray Afterglows

The nature of the circum-burst medium serves as a key diagnostic for probing the progenitor systems and the physics of relativistic jet propagation in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In this work, we systematically infer the density profile index $k$ (where $n \propto r^{-k}$) from the change in the temporal decay index at the jet break ($\Delta\alpha$). Within the framework of the uniform jet model, the two quantities are linked by the relation $\Delta\alpha = (3 - k)/(4 - k)$. We apply this diagnostic to a substantial and uniformly selected sample of 170 GRBs with clear jet breaks, identified from over 1,400 Swift/XRT X-ray afterglows observed from 2004 to 2024. By fitting the light curves with a broken power-law model, we obtain $\Delta\alpha$ for each burst and subsequently derive the corresponding $k$ value. We then use the derived $k$ values to classify the circum-burst environment of each GRB. Our results reveal a near-even split: 82 bursts ($\sim48\%$) are consistent with a constant-density interstellar medium (ISM, $k \approx 0$), while 88 bursts ($\sim52\%$) favor a wind environment ($k \approx 2$). For the 35 bursts with optical data, our X-ray-based classifications are generally consistent with independent multi-band analyses. Additionally, we derive jet opening angles and true beaming-corrected energies for bursts with known redshifts.

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arXiv2026

Magnetar-powered long gamma-ray bursts and connection to superluminous supernovae and fast radio bursts

Based on X-ray afterglow observations from the Swift satellite, we construct a sample of 169 long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) exhibiting the canonical magnetar plateau signature, i.e., a plateau followed by a $t^{-2}$ decay. We derive the plateau luminosity $L_0$ and break time $t_b$ for each burst by performing Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fits to the light curves, and estimate pseudo-redshifts for bursts lacking known redshifts via the Amati relation. The fundamental magnetar parameters are subsequently inferred: the surface polar magnetic field strength $B_p \in [0.39,\ 23.08] \times 10^{15}$G and the initial spin period $P_0 \in [0.95,\ 13.79]$ms. Statistical analysis shows that both the known-redshift subsample and the full sample follow the Dainotti correlation between $L_0$ and $t_b$ with a slope close to $-1$, supporting a constant energy injection rate during the plateau phase. Furthermore, we identify a significant correlation between $B_p$ and $P_0$: $B_p \propto P_0^{0.83 \pm 0.09}$ for the full sample and $B_p \propto P_0^{0.80 \pm 0.16}$ for the known-redshift subsample, with both slopes consistent within uncertainties. Compared to magnetars powering superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), GRB magnetars possess systematically stronger magnetic fields (by approximately one order of magnitude), suggesting fundamental differences in their progenitor systems or collapse conditions; while their magnetic field strengths show no significant difference from those powering fast radio bursts (FRBs), suggesting a possible common evolutionary pathway. This study provides a physics-motivated, model-consistent sample of magnetar-candidate GRBs, offering a robust foundation for statistical investigations within the magnetar central engine model and placing new observational constraints on the birth properties of these extreme compact objects.

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arXiv2026

Spectral Hardness as the Primary Discriminator: Unveiling the Collapsar--Merger Boundary with a Gold-Standard Gamma-Ray Burst Sample

In this Letter, we establish a robust, physically motivated classification method using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) trained on a "gold-standard" sample of 24 GRBs with spectroscopically confirmed progenitors (associated SNe or KNe). By isolating the prompt main spike to excise contamination from extended emission, we derive a quantitative classification index, I_SVM = 5.01 log_10 E_p,i - 1.25 log_10 E_iso - 0.34 log_10 T_90,z - 12.90 (units: keV, 10^52 erg, s). Events with I_SVM > 0 are classified as mergers. Analysis of the standardized classification weights reveals that the discriminative power of E_p,i is approximately 5 times that of T_90,z, while E_iso contributes a weight comparable to E_p,i. This quantitatively demonstrates that spectral hardness and energetics, rather than duration, are the primary physical signatures distinguishing mergers from collapsars. The derived boundary implies a stringent hardness ceiling for collapsars, while mergers are identified as outliers with excessive hardness relative to their energy budget. The classifier successfully identifies the nature of historic test cases, including the ultra-long GRB 111209A (collapsar) and the short GRB 050709 (merger), independent of instrumental eras. This tool paves the way for cleaning archival and future high-redshift GRB samples for precision cosmology.

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arXiv2026

Exploring the central engines of gamma-ray bursts from prompt light curves

Hyperaccreting stellar-mass black hole systems are leading candidates for the central engines of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Their jets are thought to be powered by either the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process or neutrino-dominated accretion flows (NDAFs), but discriminating between these mechanisms remains challenging. To address this, we propose using the luminosity decay slope (parameter d) of GRB light curves to distinguish between the BZ and NDAF mechanisms, thereby linking the light-curve morphology to the central engine physics. By analysing 85 single-peaked GRBs with fast-rise, exponential-decay (FRED) profiles observed by Swift/BAT using 64 ms background-subtracted light curves, we fit the decay slope (parameter d) with the empirical Kocevski-Ryde-Liang (KRL) function and compare the results with theoretical predictions for the BZ (d approximately 1.67) and the NDAF (d approximately 3.7 to 7.8) mechanisms. We find that the decay slope (parameter d) can differentiate central engine mechanisms, with 15 GRBs consistent with the BZ mechanism and 22 supporting the NDAF mechanism. However, most events exhibit slopes within the range between 2 and 4, suggesting a hybrid of mechanisms, with NDAF being dominant.

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arXiv2025

Reconstruction of X-Ray Afterglow Light Curves of GRBs and its implication for constraining Cosmological Parameters

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) serve as important cosmological probes, whose X-ray afterglow light curves (LCs) may exhibit a plateau phase (with temporal slope $\alpha$ between 0 and 0.5) that may originate from magnetar energy injection. Similar to Type Ia Supernovae, GRBs with a common physical origin can be used as standardizable candles for cosmological studies. However, observational gaps in GRB light curves introduce significant uncertainties in plateau parameter estimation, thereby affecting cosmological constraints. In this work, we employ a stochastic reconstruction technique to reconstruct the X-ray afterglow LCs for 35 GRB samples exhibiting plateau features, generating 50 simulated data points for each LC. Using the reconstructed LCs, we calibrate three luminosity correlations: the $L_0$-$t_b$, $L_0$-$t_b$-$E_{p,i}$, and $L_0$-$t_b$-$E_{\gamma,\mathrm{iso}}$ relation, which are then applied to constrain both flat and non-flat $\Lambda$CDM cosmological models. The main results include: (i) the $L_0$-$t_b$ relation yields a slope $b \approx -1$, supporting a constant magnetar energy injection rate; (ii) light curve reconstruction has limited impact on cosmological parameter constraints; (iii) for the flat $\Lambda$CDM model constrained by the $L_0$-$t_b$-$E_{p,i}$ relation, the precision of $\Omega_m$ improves by 6.25\%; For the non-flat $\Lambda$CDM model constrained by the $L_0$-$t_b$-$E_{p,i}$ relation, the precision of $\Omega_\Lambda$ improves by 1.01\%. Our findings suggest that increasing the number of LC data points provides limited improvement to cosmological constraints, while expanding the sample size of GRBs with identical physical origins may be more crucial.

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arXiv2025

Luminosity function of Type II GRBs:differences from long GRBs

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are generally categorized into long and short bursts based on their duration ($T_{90}$). Recently, it has been proposed that GRBs can also be classified into type I (merger) and type II (collapsar) bursts based on the different origin. From a sample of \textit{Swift} long GRBs~(LGRBs) with a redshift completeness of 60\% and $P \geq 2.6 \, \text{ph} \, \text{cm}^{-2} \, \text{s}^{-1}$, collected through the end of 2023, we identify a pure sample of 146 Type II GRBs. With this sample, we construct the luminosity function (LF) using both the Broken Power Law (BPL) and Triple Power Law (TPL) models. Our results indicate that, similar to LGRBs, a strong redshift evolution in either luminosity or density is necessary to accurately account for the observations, regardless of the specific form of the LF assumed. The LF of LGRBs remains a topic of debate, with some studies suggesting it follows a BPL form, while others advocate for a TPL form. In our study, we find that the LF of Type II GRBs tends to favor a BPL model.

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arXiv2025

The redshift evolution of the luminosity function of type II GRBs

As of December 2023, the Swift satellite has detected more than 1600 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We select 307 Type II GRBs for constructing the luminosity function (LF) based on the following criteria: (1) duration $T_{90} \geq 2 s$; (2) conformity with the Amati relation for Type II GRBs; and (3) peak flux $P \geq 1 \, \text{ph} \, \text{cm}^{-2} \, \text{s}^{-1}$. We explore two general forms of the GRB LF: a broken power-law (BPL) LF and a triple power-law (TPL) LF. We consider three evolutionary scenarios: no evolution, luminosity evolution, and density evolution. We find that the no evolution model can be excluded, while both luminosity and density evolution models effectively account for the observations. This result is consistent with previous studies on long GRBs (LGRBs). However, our Type II GRB sample favors a BPL LF, in contrast to the preference for a TPL function discovered in Long GRBs.

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arXiv2025

Pieces of evidence for multiple progenitors of Swift long gamma-ray bursts

Long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) are typically thought to result from the collapse of massive stars. Nonetheless, recent observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) 211211A and 230307A, coupled with the low-redshift excess of LGRB event rates relative to star formation rates, present significant challenges to the prevailing model. We reexamine the selection criteria for higher redshift complete GRB samples and identify 280 Swift GRBs with peak flux over $2.6 ph cm^{-2} s^{-1}$. Assuming all LGRBs with $z \geq 2$ originate from collapsars, we construct the GRB luminosity functions(LFs) in three scenarios: no evolution, luminosity evolution, and density evolution. Our results indicate that a strong redshift evolution in luminosity $\delta = 1.87^{+0.27}_{-0.31}$ or in density $\delta = 1.10^{+0.21}_{-0.20}$ is necessary. The luminosity/density evolution model predicts 72.67/57.28 collapsar GRBs at $z < 2$, which can account for 67.29%/ 53.04% of the observed LGRBs. This suggests that a substantial portion of LGRBs at $z< 2$ may not be collapsar GRBs, which would challenge the universality of empirical GRB relations and affect their reliability in cosmological applications.

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arXiv2025

Luminosity Function of collapsar Gamma-Ray Bursts:the Progenitor of Long Gamma-Ray Bursts Is Not Singular

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are powerful probes of the high-redshift universe. However, the proportion of collapsar GRBs among long GRBs and their event rate relative to the star formation rate (SFR) remain contentious issues. We assume that long GRBs with $z\geq 2$ are all collapsar GRBs and construct the luminosity function using a high-redshift sample from the Swift satellite spanning 2004 to 2019. We model the luminosity function with a broken power-law form and consider three scenarios: no evolution, luminosity evolution, and density evolution. Our results are as follows: 1) The no-evolution model can be ruled out. 2) The fitting results indicate that to adequately explain the observations, a significant redshift evolution in either luminosity (evolution index $\delta = 1.54^{+0.21}_{-0.22}$) or density ($\delta = 2.09^{+0.29}_{-0.26}$) is required. This excludes the possibility that the evolution of long GRBs with redshift is due to contamination from non-collapsar GRBs. 3) The luminosity evolution model predicts that the number of collapsar GRBs with $z<2$ and $P \geq 1 \, \text{ph} \, \text{cm}^{-2} \, \text{s}^{-1}$ is 138.6, accounting for 82.5% of the observed long GRBs with $z<2$ and $P \geq 1 \, \text{ph} \, \text{cm}^{-2} \, \text{s}^{-1}$. The density evolution model predicts that the number of collapsar GRBs with $z<2$ and $P \geq 1 \, \text{ph} \, \text{cm}^{-2} \, \text{s}^{-1}$ is 80.2, accounting for 47.7% of the observation. Regardless of the model, a substantial portion of the long GRBs are not collapsar GRBs.

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arXiv2024

Standardizing the Gamma-ray burst as a standard candle and applying to the cosmological probes: constraints on the two-component dark energy model

As one of the most energetic and brightest events, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been used as a standard candle for cosmological probe. Based on the relevant features of GRBs light curves, a plateau phase followed a decay phase, we obtain X-ray samples of 31 GRBs and optical samples of 50 GRBs, which are thought to be caused by the same physical mechanism. We standardize GRBs using the two-dimension fundamental plane relation of the rest-frame luminosity of the plateau emission ($L_{b,z}$) and the end time of plateau ($T_{b,z}$) $L_{b,z}-T_{b,z}$, as well as the three-dimension fundamental plane correlation including the peak energy ($E_{p,i}$) $L_{b,z}-T_{b,z}-E_{p,i}$. For the cosmological probes, we consider the $\omega$CDM model in which the dark energy consists of one component, and mainly focus on the $X_1X_2$CDM model in which the dark energy is made up of two independent components. We obtain the constraints on the related parameters of the cosmological models using the type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) data and selected X-ray and optical samples. For the $X_1X_2$CDM model, we find that the values of the equations of state parameters of two dark energies, $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$, are very close. We also conduct the comparison between the models using the Bayesian information criterion, and find that the $\omega$CDM model is favoured.

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arXiv2023

Radio Plateaus in Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows and Their Application in Cosmology

The plateau phase in the radio afterglows has been observed in very few gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and 27 radio light curves with plateau phase were acquired from the published literature in this article. We obtain the related parameters of the radio plateau, such as temporal indexes during the plateau phase ($α_1$ and $α_2$), break time ($\Tbz$) and the corresponding radio flux ($F_{\rm b}$). The two parameter Dainotti relation between the break time of the plateau and the corresponding break luminosity ($\Lbz$) in radio band is $\Lbz \propto \Tbz^{-1.20\pm0.24}$. Including the isotropic energy $\Eiso$ and the peak energy $\Epi$, the three parameter correlations for the radio plateaus are written as $\Lbz \propto \Tbz^{-1.01 \pm 0.24} \Eiso^{0.18 \pm 0.09}$ and $\Lbz \propto \Tbz^{-1.18 \pm 0.27} \Epi^{0.05 \pm 0.28}$, respectively. The correlations are less consistent with that of X-ray and optical plateaus, implying that radio plateaus may have a different physical mechanism. The typical frequencies crossing the observational band may be a reasonable hypothesis that causes the breaks of the radio afterglows. We calibrate GRBs empirical luminosity correlations as standard candle for constraining cosmological parameters, and find that our samples can constrain the flat $Λ$CDM model well, while are not sensitive to non-flat $Λ$CDM model. By combining GRBs with other probes, such as SN and CMB, the constraints on cosmological parameters are $\om = 0.297\pm0.006$ for the flat $Λ$CDM model and $\om = 0.283\pm0.008$, $\oL = 0.711\pm0.006$ for the non-flat $Λ$CDM model, respectively.

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arXiv2023

Constraints on the cosmological parameters with three-parameter correlation of Gamma-ray bursts

As one of the most energetic and brightest events, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) can be treated as a promising probe of the high-redshift universe. Similar to type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), GRBs with same physical origin could be treated as standard candles. We select GRB samples with the same physical origin, which are divided into two groups. One group is consisted of 31 GRBs with a plateau phase feature of a constant luminosity followed by a decay index of about -2 in the X-ray afterglow light curves, and the other has 50 GRBs with a shallow decay phase in the optical light curves. For the selected GRB samples, we confirm that there is a tight correlation between the plateau luminosity $L_0$, the end time of plateau $t_b$ and the isotropic energy release $E_{γ,iso}$. We also find that the $L_0-t_b-E_{γ,iso}$ correlation is insensitive to the cosmological parameters and no valid limitations on the cosmological parameters can be obtained using this correlation. We explore a new three-parameter correlation $L_0$, $t_b$, and the spectral peak energy in the rest frame $E_{p,i}$ ($L_0-t_b-E_{p,i}$), and find that this correlation can be used as a standard candle to constrain the cosmological parameters. By employing the optical sample only, we find the constraints of $Ω_m = 0.697_{-0.278}^{+0.402}(1σ)$ for a flat $Λ$CDM model. For the non-flat $Λ$CDM model, the best-fitting results are $Ω_m = 0.713_{-0.278}^{+0.346}$, $Ω_Λ = 0.981_{-0.580}^{+0.379}(1σ)$. For the combination of the X-ray and optical smaples, we find $Ω_m = 0.313_{-0.125}^{+0.179}(1σ)$ for a flat $Λ$CDM model, and $Ω_m = 0.344_{-0.112}^{+0.176}$, $Ω_Λ = 0.770_{-0.416}^{+0.366}(1σ)$ for a non-flat $Λ$CDM model.

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