Time-resolved Spectral Properties of Fermi-GBM Bright Long Gamma-Ray Bursts

The prompt emission mechanism of gamma-ray bursts(GRBs)is still unclear,and the time-resolved spectral analysis of GRBs is a powerful tool for studying their underlying physical processes.We performed a detailed time-resolved spectral analysis of 78 bright long GRB samples detected by Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor.A total of 1490 spectra were obtained and their properties were studied using a typical Band-shape model.First,the parameter distributions of the time-resolved spectrum are given as follows:the low-energy spectral indexα~-0.72,high-energy spectral indexβ~2.42,the peak energy E_(p)~221.69 keV,and the energy flux F~7.49×10^(-6)erg cm^(-2)s^(-1).More than 80%of the bursts exhibit the hardest low-energy spectral indexα_(max),exceeding the synchrotron limit(-2/3).Second,the evolution patterns of a and E_(p)were statistically analyzed.The results show that for multi-pulse GRBs the intensity-tracking pattern is more common than the hard-to-soft pattern in the evolution of both E_(p)andα.The hard-to-soft pattern is generally shown in single-pulse GRBs or in the initial pulse of multi-pulse GRBs.Finally,we found a significant positive correlation between F and E_(p),with half of the samples exhibiting a positive correlation between F andα.We discussed the spectral evolution of different radiation models.The diversity of spectral evolution patterns indicates that there may be more than one radiation mechanism occurring in the GRB radiation process,including photo spheric radiation and synchrotron radiation.However,it may also involve only one radiation mechanism,but more complicated physical details need to be considered.

Constraining Lorentz Invariance Violation Using Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

Lorentz Invariance is a foundational principle in modern physics, but some recent quantum gravity theories have hinted that it may be violated at extremely high energies. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) provide a promising tool for checking and constraining any deviations from Lorentz Invariance due to their huge energies and cosmological distances. Gamma-ray bursts, which are the most intense and powerful explosions in the universe, are traditionally divided into long bursts whose observed duration exceeds 2 s, and short bursts whose observed duration is less than 2 s. In this study, we employ a recent sample of 46 short GRBs to check for any deviation from Lorentz Invariance. We analyze the spectral lag of the bursts in our data sample and check for any redshift dependence in the GRB rest frame, which would indicate a violation of Lorentz Invariance. Our results are consistent, to within 1σ, with no deviation from Lorentz Invariance.

Revise Thermal Winds of Remnant Neutron Stars in Gamma-Ray Bursts

It seems that the wealth of information revealed by the multi-messenger observations of the binary neutron star(NS)merger event,GW170817/GRB 170817A/kilonova AT2017gfo,places irreconcilable constraints to models of the prompt emission of this gamma-ray burst(GRB).The observed time delay between the merger of the two NSs and the trigger of the GRB and the thermal tail of the prompt emission can hardly be reproduced by these models simultaneously.We argue that the merger remnant should be an NS(last for,at least,a large fraction of 1 s),and that the difficulty can be alleviated by the delayed formation of the accretion disk due to the absorption of high-energy neutrinos emitted by the NS and the delayed emergence of effective viscosity in the disk.Further,we extend the consideration of the effect of the energy deposition of neutrinos emitted from the NS.If the NS is the central object of a GRB with a distance and duration similar to that of GRB 170817A,thermal emission of the thermal bubble inflated by the NS after the termination of accretion may be detectable.If our scenario is verified,it would be of interest to investigate the cooling of nascent NSs.

Redshift Dependence of the Low-energy Spectral Index of Gamma-Ray Bursts Revisited

A negative correlation was found to exist between the low-energy spectral index and the redshift of gamma-ray bursts(GRBs)by Amati et al.It was later confirmed by Geng&Huang and Gruber et al.,but the correlation was also found to be quite dispersive when the sample size was significantly expanded.In this study,we have established two even larger samples of GRBs to further examine the correlation.One of our samples consists of316 GRBs detected by the Swift satellite,and the other one consists of 80 GRBs detected by the Fermi satellite.It is found that there is no correlation between the two parameters for the Swift sample,but there does exist a weak negative correlation for the Fermi sample.The correlation becomes even more significant when the spectral index at the peak flux is considered.It is argued that the absence of the correlation in the Swift sample may be due to the fact that Swift has a very narrow energy response so that it could not measure the low-energy spectral index accurately enough.Further studies based on even larger GRB samples are solicited.

Gamma-Ray Bursts and Fermi Bubbles

According to a recent calculation, 1058 erg of radiant energy was released by Sgr A*, when it formed the Fermi bubbles. Here, it is argued that this explosion constituted a long gamma-ray burst. .

Extending the correlation of L_R-L_X to gamma-ray bursts

The well-known correlation between radio luminosity （LR） and X-ray luminosity （Lx）, LR/LX 10^-5, holds for a variety of objects, such as active galactic nuclei, Galactic black holes, solar flares and cool stars. Here we extend the relation to gamma-ray bursts （GRBs） and find that the GRBs also obey a similar LR - LX relation, with a slightly different slope of LR ∝ LX^1.1. This relation implies that the explosions that occur on different scales may have a common underlying origin.

The isotropic energy function and formation rate of short gamma-ray bursts

Gamma-ray bursts(GRBs)are brief,intense,gamma-ray flashes in the universe,lasting from a few milliseconds to a few thousand seconds.For short gamma-ray bursts(sGRBs)with duration less than 2 seconds,the isotropic energy(E_(iso))function may be more scientifically meaningful and accurately measured than the luminosity(Lp)function.In this work we construct,for the first time,the isotropic energy function of s GRBs and estimate their formation rate.First,we derive the L_(p)-E_(p) correlation using 22 s GRBs with known redshifts and well-measured spectra and estimate the pseduo redshifts of 334 Fermi s GRBs.Then,we adopt the Lynden-Bell c-method to study isotropic energy functions and formation rate of s GRBs without any assumption.A strong evolution of isotropic energy E_(iso)∝(1+z)^(5.79) is found,which is comparable to that between L_(p) and z.After removing effect of the cosmic evolution,the isotropic energy function can be reasonably fitted by a broken power law,which is φ(E_(iso,0))∝E_(iso,0)^(-0.045) for dim sGRBs andφ(E_(iso,0))∝E_(iso,0)^(-1.11) for bright sGRBs,with the break energy 4.92×10^(49)erg.We obtain the local formation rate of s GRBs is about 17.43 events Gpc^(-3)yr^(-1).If assuming a beaming angle is 6° to 26°,the local formation rate including off-axis s GRBs is estimated as ρ_(0,all)=155.79-3202.35 events Gpc^(-3)yr^(-1).

An Amati-Like Correlation for Short Gamma-Ray Bursts

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are by far the most powerful explosions in the universe. Over the past two decades, several GRB energy and luminosity correlations were discovered for long gamma-ray bursts, which are bursts whose observed duration exceeds 2 seconds. One important correlation, the Amati relation, involves the observed peak energy, Ep,obs, in the vFv spectrum and the equivalent isotropic energy, Eiso. For many years, it was believed that the Amati correlation applied only to long GRBs. In this paper, we use a recent data sample that includes both long and short GRBs to re-examine the issue of whether the Amati correlation applies to long GRBs only. Our results indicate that although short bursts do not follow the Amati relation in the strict sense, they do exhibit a correlation between the intrinsic peak energy, Ep,i, and Eiso that is very similar to the Amati relation but with a different normalization and slope. The paper also discusses the physical interpretation of this correlation in the context of the internal shock model.

Gamma-ray bursts and their links with supernovae and cosmology

Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions in the Universe, whose origin and mechanism are the focus of intense interest. They appear connected to su- pernova remnants from massive stars or the merger of their remnants, and their bright- ness makes them temporarily detectable out to the largest distances yet explored in the universe. After pioneering breakthroughs from space and ground experiments, their study is entering a new phase with observations from the recently launched Fermi satellite, as well as the prospect of detections or limits from large neutrino and gravitational wave detectors. The interplay between such observations and theoretical models of gamma-ray bursts is reviewed, and cosmology. as well as their connections to supernovae

The Eiso-Liso Plane for Gamma-Ray Bursts

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most intense and powerful explosions in the universe. Based on their observed duration, they are traditionally divided into long bursts whose observed duration equals or exceeds 2 s, and short bursts whose observed duration is less than 2 s. Several GRB energy and luminosity correlations have been discovered for long gamma-ray bursts. Two important correlations are the Amati relation and the Yonetoku relation. The Amati relation is a correlation between the intrinsic peak energy, Ep,i, obtained from the νFν spectrum and the equivalent isotropic energy, Eiso, while the Yonetoku relation is a correlation between Ep,i and the peak isotropic luminosity, Liso. In this paper, we use a recent data sample that includes both long and short GRBs to compare these two correlations for the two groups of bursts. We also compare the Eiso-Liso plane for these two types of bursts. Our results indicate that both long and short bursts adhere to these two correlations but with different normalizations. We also find that the Eiso-Liso plane is similar for both types of GRBs but is shifted to lower values of Eiso for short GRBs.

On the Gamma-Ray Bursts Origin

Gamma-ray (GRBs) and X-ray Bursts are millisecond-10 and 1000 seconds-long events of unknown origin. Recent simulations of the merger of binary neutron star systems do not generate a magnetically dominated called funnel nor a relativistic outflow. New models for the detection the afterglow of GRB 121024A, measured 0.15 days after the burst, invoke anisotropy as required to produce the complex microphysics of realistic shocks in relativistic jets. On the other hand the non-thermal gamma-rays are supposed to be produced by a fireball of relativistic e?e+ pairs that are created by annihilation of neutrino-antineutrino pairs in the vicinity of the hot, merged object. It is also known that in a system of a large number of fermions with pairs, gravitational interaction occurs a spontaneous breaking of the vacuum spatial symmetry, accompanied by gravitational mass defect. If spherical symmetry is broken, as in the known case of the merger scenario where a rapidly rotating disk can be formed and material is pulled away from rotation axis by centrifugal forces, then a baryon-free funnel along the rotation axes may allow relativistic beam of γ’s and e?e+ to escape. It might lead to matter ejection with Lorentz factors of ~102 - 103 which are in the right range to enable copious gamma production during shock interaction with ambient interstellar gas. Here we show that the space rays generation mechanism on a method of direct transformation of intergalactic gamma-rays to the proton current on spin shock-waves ensure precise agreement between generated proton currents (spin shock waves theory) with the angular distribution data of Galactic gamma-rays as well as for the individual pulses of gamma-/X-ray bursts. There is a precise confirmation of the generated currents (theory) with the burst radiation data characterized by the standard deviation of ±1% in intensity in relative units within the sensitivity of the equipment. Thus, it was found that the spin angular momentum conservation law (equation of dynamics of spin shock waves) in the X-ray/gamma ranges is fulfilled exactly in real time. The next step involves setting the inverse problem of determining the wave function disturbance on the differential of measured smoothing pulses. In the asymptotic large times the problem is reduced to the solutions of the functional equation with shift of the argument. This will give additional information about the change speed of the wave, as well as on the interaction.

Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Swift Era

Since the successful launch of NASA＇s dedicated gamma-ray burst （GRB） mission, Swift, the study of cosmological GRBs has entered a new era. Here I review the rapid observational and theoretical progress in this dynamical research field during the first two-year of the Swift mission, focusing on how observational breakthroughs have revolutionized our understanding of the physical origins of GRBs. Besides summarizing how Swift helps to solve some pre-Swift mysteries, I also list some outstanding problems raised by the Swift observations. An outlook of GRB science in the future, especially in the GLAST era, is briefly discussed.

Gamma-Ray Bursts: Afterglows and Central Engines

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most intense transient gamma-ray events in the sky; this, together with the strong evidence (the isotropic and inhomogeneous distribution of GRBs detected by BASTE) that they are located at cosmological distances, makes them the most energetic events ever known. For example, the observed radiation energies of some GRBs are equivalent to the total convertion into radiation of the mass energy of more than one solar mass. This is thousand times stronger than the energy of a supernova explosion. Some unconventional energy mechanism and extremely high conversion efficiency for these mysterious events are required. The discovery of host galaxies and association with supernovae at cosmological distances by the recently launched satellite of BeppoSAX and ground based radio and optical telescopes in GRB afterglow provides further support to the cosmological origin of GRBs and put strong constraints on their central engine. It is the aim of this article to review the possible central engines, energy mechanisms, dynamical and spectral evolution of GRBs, especially focusing on the afterglows in multi-wavebands.

A quark nova in the wake of a core-collapse supernova:a unifying model for long duration gamma-ray bursts and fast radio bursts

By appealing to a quark nova(QN;the explosive transition of a neutron star to a quark star) in the wake of a core-collapse supernova(CCSN) explosion of a massive star,we develop a unified model for long duration gamma-ray bursts(LGRBs) and fast radio bursts(FRBs).The time delay(years to decades)between the SN and the QN,and the fragmented nature(i.e.,millions of chunks) of the relativistic QN ejecta are key to yielding a robust LGRB engine.In our model,an LGRB light curve exhibits the interaction of the fragmented QN ejecta with turbulent(i.e.,filamentary and magnetically saturated) SN ejecta which is shaped by its interaction with an underlying pulsar wind nebula(PWN).The afterglow is due to the interaction of the QN chunks,exiting the SN ejecta,with the surrounding medium.Our model can fit BAT/XRT prompt and afterglow light curves simultaneously with their spectra,thus yielding the observed properties of LGRBs(e.g.,the Band function and the X-ray flares).We find that the peak luminositypeak photon energy relationship(i.e.,the Yonetoku law),and the isotropic energy-peak photon energy relationship(i.e.,the Amati law) are not fundamental but phenomenological.FRB-like emission in our model results from coherent synchrotron emission(CSE) when the QN chunks interact with non-turbulent weakly magnetized PWN-SN ejecta,where conditions are prone to the Weibel instability.Magnetic field amplification induced by the Weibel instability in the shocked chunk frame sets the bunching length for electrons and pairs to radiate coherently.The resulting emission frequency,luminosity and duration in our model are consistent with FRB data.We find a natural unification of high-energy burst phenomena from FRBs(i.e.,those connected to CCSNe) to LGRBs including X-ray flashes(XRFs) and X-ray rich GRBs(XRR-GRBs) as well as superluminous SNe(SLSNe).We find a possible connection between ultra-high energy cosmic rays and FRBs and propose that a QN following a binary neutron star merger can yield a short duration GRB(SGRB) with fits to BAT/XRT light curves.

Relative Spectral Lag: a New Redshift Indicator of Gamma-ray Bursts

Using 64 ms count data of long gamma-ray bursts （T90 〉 2.6 s）, we analyze the quantity named relative spectral lag （RSL）, T31/FWHM（1）. We investigated in detail all the correlations between the RSL and other parameters for a sample of nine long bursts, using the general cross-correlation technique that includes the lag between two different energy bands. We conclude that the distribution of RSLs is normal and has a mean value of 0.1; that the RSLs are weakly correlated with the FWHM, the asymmetry, peak flux （Fp）, peak energy （Ep） and spectral indexes （α and β）, while they are uncorrelated with τ31, the hardness- ratio （HR31） and the peak time （tm）. Our important discovery is that redshift （z） and peak luminosity （Lp） are strongly correlated with the RSL, which can be measured easily and directly, making the RSL a good redshift and peak luminosity indicator.

Relationships between Relative Spectral Lags and Relative Widths of Gamma-ray Bursts

The phenomenon of gamma-ray burst （GRB） spectral lags is very common, but a definitive explanation has not yet been given. From a sample of 82 GRB pulses we find that the spectral lags are correlated with the pulse widths, however, there is no correlation between the relative spectral lags and the relative pulse widths. We suspect that the correlations between spectral lags and pulse widths might be caused by the Lorentz factor of the GRBs concerned. Our analysis on the relative quantities suggests that the intrinsic spectral lag might reflect other aspect of pulses than the aspect associated with the dynamical time of shocks or that associated with the time delay due to the curvature effect.

Constraints on generalized Chaplygin gas model including gamma-ray bursts

Generalized Chaplygin gas （whose equation of state is PGCG = -A/ρGCG^α） was proposed as a candidate for unification of dark energy and dark matter. We investigate constraints on this model with the latest observed data. We test the model with type-Ia supernovae （SNe Ia）, cosmic microwave background （CMB） anisotropy, X-ray gas mass fractions in clusters, and gamma-ray bursts （GRBs）. We calibrate the GRB luminosity relations without assuming any cosmological models using SNe Ia. We show that GRBs can extend the Hubble diagram to higher redshifts （z 〉 6）. The GRB Hubble diagram is well behaved and delineates the shape of the Hubble diagram well. We measure As≡A/ρGCG,0^α＋1 =0.68-0.08^＋0.04（where PGCG,0 is the energy density today） and α=-0.22 -0.13^＋0.15 at the 1σ confidence level using all the datasets. Our results rule out the standard Chaplygin gas model （α = 1） at the 3σ confidence level. The ACDM is allowed at the 2σ confidence level. We find that acceleration could have started at a redshift of z - 0.70. The concordance of the generalized Chaplygin gas model with the age estimate of an old high redshift quasar is found. In addition, we show that GRBs can break the degeneracy between the generalized Chaplygin gas model and the XCDM model.

The Early X-ray Afterglows of Optically Bright and Dark Gamma-Ray Bursts

A systematic study on the early X-ray afterglows of both optically bright and dark gamma-ray bursts （B-GRBs and D-GRBs） observed by Swift is presented. Our sample includes 25 GRBs of which 13 are B-GRBs and 12 are D-GRBs. Our results show that the distributions of the X-ray afterglow fluxes （Fx）, the gamma-ray fluxes （Sγ）, and the ratio （Rγ,x） are similar for the two kinds of GRBs, that any observed differences should be simply statistical fluctuation. These results indicate that the progenitors of the two kinds of GRBs are of the same population with comparable total energies of explosion. The suppression of optical emission in the D-GRBs should result from circumburst but not from their central engine.

Redshift Independence of the Amati and Yonetoku Relations for Gamma-Ray Bursts

The Amati and Yonetoku relations are two of the main energy and luminosity correlations that currently exist for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The Amati relation is a correlation between the intrinsic peak energy, Epeak, in the vFv spectrum of a burst and its equivalent isotropic energy, Eiso. The Yonetoku relation is a correlation between Epeak and the isotropic peak luminosity, Liso. In this paper, we use a recent data sample of 65 GRBs to investigate whether these two relations evolve with redshift, z. The z-correction and the?k-correction are both taken into account. Our method consists of binning the data in redshift, z, then applying (for each bin) a fit of the form:?log(Eiso) = A + Blog(Epeak/Epeak>) for the Amati relation, and of the form:?log(Liso) = A + Blog(Epeak/Epeak>) for the Yonetoku relation, where Epeak> is the mean value of the peak energy for the entire sample. The objective is to see whether the two fitting parameters, A and B, evolve systematically with z. Good least-squares fits were obtained with reasonable values for the linear regression coefficient, r. Our results indicate that the normalization, A, and the slope, B, do not evolve with redshift, and hence the Amati and Yonetoku relations seem to be redshift independent.

Statistical Properties of the Highest Pulses in Gamma-Ray Bursts

We study the statistical properties of the highest pulses within individual gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). A wavelet package analysis technique and a developed pulse-finding algorithm have been applied to identify the highest pulses from burst profiles observed by BATSE on board CGRO from 1991 April 21 to 1999 January 26. The statistical light curves of the highest pulses in four energy channels have been derived by an aligning method, which illustrate the temporal evolution of the pulse emission. Our result that narrower pulses go with higher energies is consistent with previous findings. By normalizing both the pulse durations and counts to unity, 'characteristic' profiles of the highest pulses in the four channels are also derived. The four characteristic profiles are turned out to be almost the same, thus strongly support the previous conclusion that the temporal profiles in different energy channels are self-similar and the previous conjecture on GRB pulses, implying that the emission process is similar at different energies. The cosmological time dilation effect is examined by investigating the relationship between the pulse flux and pulse duration. An anti-correlation between the two was found, which agrees with the expectation of the cosmological time dilation effect. Also, the evolution of the pulse duration with the observational epoch is studied. The result shows that the pulse duration tends to be shorter in later epochs. This trend cannot be explained by the present theoretical models, and may represent a great challenge to current theories.