Detection of Low-energy Breaks in Gamma-Ray Burst Prompt Emission Spectra

Journal
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
•
Nava, Lara
•
•
Celotti, Annalisa
DOI
Abstract
The radiative process responsible for gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt emission has not been identified yet. If dominated by fast-cooling synchrotron radiation, the part of the spectrum immediately below the ν {F}ν peak energy should display a power-law behavior with slope {α }2=-3/2, which breaks to a higher value {α }1=-2/3 (I.e., to a harder spectral shape) at lower energies. Prompt emission spectral data (usually available down to ∼ 10{--}20 keV) are consistent with one single power-law behavior below the peak, with typical slope < α > =-1, higher than (and then inconsistent with) the expected value {α }2=-3/2. To better characterize the spectral shape at low energy, we analyzed 14 GRBs for which the Swift X-ray Telescope started observations during the prompt. When available, Fermi-GBM observations have been included in the analysis. For 67% of the spectra, models that usually give a satisfactory description of the prompt (e.g., the Band model) fail to reproduce the 0.5-1000 keV spectra: low-energy data outline the presence of a spectral break around a few keV. We then introduce an empirical fitting function that includes a low-energy power law {α }1, a break energy {E}{break}, a second power law {α }2, and a peak energy {E}{peak}. We find < {α }1> =-0.66 (σ =0.35), < {log}({E}{break}/ {keV})> =0.63 (σ =0.20), < {α }2> =-1.46 (σ =0.31), and < {log}({E}{peak}/ {keV})> =2.1 (σ =0.56). The values < {α }1> and < {α }2> are very close to expectations from synchrotron radiation. In this context, {E}{break} corresponds to the cooling break frequency. The relatively small ratio {E}{peak}/{E}{break}∼ 30 suggests a regime of moderately fast cooling, which might solve the long-lasting problem of the apparent inconsistency between measured and predicted low-energy spectral index.
Volume
846
Issue
2
Start page
137
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-637X
Ads BibCode
2017ApJ...846..137O
Rights
open.access
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