GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models

J. Hjorth; J. Sollerman; J. Gorosabel; J. Granot; S. Klose; C. Kouveliotou; J. Melinder; E. Ramirez-Ruiz; R. Starling; B. Thomsen; M. I. Andersen; J. P.U. Fynbo; B. L. Jensen; P. M. Vreeswijk; J. M.Castro Cerón; P. Jakobsson; A. Levan; K. Pedersen; J. E. Rhoads; N. R. Tanvir; D. Watson; R. A.M.J. Wijers

doi:10.1086/491733

GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models

J. Hjorth, J. Sollerman, J. Gorosabel, J. Granot, S. Klose, C. Kouveliotou, J. Melinder, E. Ramirez-Ruiz, R. Starling, B. Thomsen, M. I. Andersen, J. P.U. Fynbo, B. L. Jensen, P. M. Vreeswijk, J. M.Castro Cerón, P. Jakobsson, A. Levan, K. Pedersen, J. E. Rhoads, N. R. TanvirD. Watson, R. A.M.J. Wijers

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have obtained deep optical images with the Very Large Telescope at ESO of the first well-localized short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B. From V and R imaging, initiated ∼2 days after the GRB trigger and lasting up to three weeks, we detect no variable object inside the small Swift XRT X-ray error circle down to 2 σ limits of V = 26.5 and R = 25.1. The X-ray error circle includes a giant elliptical galaxy at z = 0.225, which has been proposed as the likely host of this GRB. Our limits indicate that if the GRB originated at z = 0.225, any supernova-like event accompanying the GRB would have to be over 100 times fainter than normal Type la SNe or Type Ic hypernovae, 5 times fainter than the faintest known la or Ic SNe, and fainter than the faintest known Type II SNe. Moreover, we use the optical limits to constrain the energetics of the GRB outflow. Simple models indicate that unless the intrinsic energy in the outflow from GRB 050509B was ≪10⁵¹ ergs, there was very little radioactive material with efficient decay timescales for generating a large luminosity. These limits strongly constrain progenitor models for this short GRB.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L117-L120
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	630
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/491733
State	Published - Sep 10 2005
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Gamma rays: bursts
Supernovae: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/491733

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Hjorth, J., Sollerman, J., Gorosabel, J., Granot, J., Klose, S., Kouveliotou, C., Melinder, J., Ramirez-Ruiz, E., Starling, R., Thomsen, B., Andersen, M. I., Fynbo, J. P. U., Jensen, B. L., Vreeswijk, P. M., Cerón, J. M. C., Jakobsson, P., Levan, A., Pedersen, K., Rhoads, J. E., ... Wijers, R. A. M. J. (2005). GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models. Astrophysical Journal, 630(2 II), L117-L120. https://doi.org/10.1086/491733

Hjorth, J, Sollerman, J, Gorosabel, J, Granot, J, Klose, S, Kouveliotou, C, Melinder, J, Ramirez-Ruiz, E, Starling, R, Thomsen, B, Andersen, MI, Fynbo, JPU, Jensen, BL, Vreeswijk, PM, Cerón, JMC, Jakobsson, P, Levan, A, Pedersen, K, Rhoads, JE, Tanvir, NR, Watson, D & Wijers, RAMJ 2005, 'GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 630, no. 2 II, pp. L117-L120. https://doi.org/10.1086/491733

@article{77d9ae6b59c14879aeda44724edffe9a,

title = "GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models",

abstract = "We have obtained deep optical images with the Very Large Telescope at ESO of the first well-localized short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B. From V and R imaging, initiated ∼2 days after the GRB trigger and lasting up to three weeks, we detect no variable object inside the small Swift XRT X-ray error circle down to 2 σ limits of V = 26.5 and R = 25.1. The X-ray error circle includes a giant elliptical galaxy at z = 0.225, which has been proposed as the likely host of this GRB. Our limits indicate that if the GRB originated at z = 0.225, any supernova-like event accompanying the GRB would have to be over 100 times fainter than normal Type la SNe or Type Ic hypernovae, 5 times fainter than the faintest known la or Ic SNe, and fainter than the faintest known Type II SNe. Moreover, we use the optical limits to constrain the energetics of the GRB outflow. Simple models indicate that unless the intrinsic energy in the outflow from GRB 050509B was ≪1051 ergs, there was very little radioactive material with efficient decay timescales for generating a large luminosity. These limits strongly constrain progenitor models for this short GRB.",

keywords = "Gamma rays: bursts, Supernovae: general",

author = "J. Hjorth and J. Sollerman and J. Gorosabel and J. Granot and S. Klose and C. Kouveliotou and J. Melinder and E. Ramirez-Ruiz and R. Starling and B. Thomsen and Andersen, {M. I.} and Fynbo, {J. P.U.} and Jensen, {B. L.} and Vreeswijk, {P. M.} and Cer{\'o}n, {J. M.Castro} and P. Jakobsson and A. Levan and K. Pedersen and Rhoads, {J. E.} and Tanvir, {N. R.} and D. Watson and Wijers, {R. A.M.J.}",

year = "2005",

month = sep,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/491733",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "630",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - GRB 050509B

T2 - Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models

AU - Hjorth, J.

AU - Sollerman, J.

AU - Gorosabel, J.

AU - Granot, J.

AU - Klose, S.

AU - Kouveliotou, C.

AU - Melinder, J.

AU - Ramirez-Ruiz, E.

AU - Starling, R.

AU - Thomsen, B.

AU - Andersen, M. I.

AU - Fynbo, J. P.U.

AU - Jensen, B. L.

AU - Vreeswijk, P. M.

AU - Cerón, J. M.Castro

AU - Jakobsson, P.

AU - Levan, A.

AU - Pedersen, K.

AU - Rhoads, J. E.

AU - Tanvir, N. R.

AU - Watson, D.

AU - Wijers, R. A.M.J.

PY - 2005/9/10

Y1 - 2005/9/10

N2 - We have obtained deep optical images with the Very Large Telescope at ESO of the first well-localized short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B. From V and R imaging, initiated ∼2 days after the GRB trigger and lasting up to three weeks, we detect no variable object inside the small Swift XRT X-ray error circle down to 2 σ limits of V = 26.5 and R = 25.1. The X-ray error circle includes a giant elliptical galaxy at z = 0.225, which has been proposed as the likely host of this GRB. Our limits indicate that if the GRB originated at z = 0.225, any supernova-like event accompanying the GRB would have to be over 100 times fainter than normal Type la SNe or Type Ic hypernovae, 5 times fainter than the faintest known la or Ic SNe, and fainter than the faintest known Type II SNe. Moreover, we use the optical limits to constrain the energetics of the GRB outflow. Simple models indicate that unless the intrinsic energy in the outflow from GRB 050509B was ≪1051 ergs, there was very little radioactive material with efficient decay timescales for generating a large luminosity. These limits strongly constrain progenitor models for this short GRB.

AB - We have obtained deep optical images with the Very Large Telescope at ESO of the first well-localized short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509B. From V and R imaging, initiated ∼2 days after the GRB trigger and lasting up to three weeks, we detect no variable object inside the small Swift XRT X-ray error circle down to 2 σ limits of V = 26.5 and R = 25.1. The X-ray error circle includes a giant elliptical galaxy at z = 0.225, which has been proposed as the likely host of this GRB. Our limits indicate that if the GRB originated at z = 0.225, any supernova-like event accompanying the GRB would have to be over 100 times fainter than normal Type la SNe or Type Ic hypernovae, 5 times fainter than the faintest known la or Ic SNe, and fainter than the faintest known Type II SNe. Moreover, we use the optical limits to constrain the energetics of the GRB outflow. Simple models indicate that unless the intrinsic energy in the outflow from GRB 050509B was ≪1051 ergs, there was very little radioactive material with efficient decay timescales for generating a large luminosity. These limits strongly constrain progenitor models for this short GRB.

KW - Gamma rays: bursts

KW - Supernovae: general

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U2 - 10.1086/491733

DO - 10.1086/491733

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:26844476663

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 630

SP - L117-L120

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

GRB 050509B: Constraints on short gamma-ray burst models

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