Jet-driven and jet-less fireballs from compact binary mergers
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
During a compact binary merger involving at least one neutron star (NS), a small fraction of the gravitational energy could be liberated in such a way to accelerate a small fraction (∼10-6) of the NS mass in an isotropic or quasi-isotropic way. In presence of certain conditions, a pair-loaded fireball can form, which undergoes accelerated expansion reaching relativistic velocities. As in the standard fireball scenario, internal energy is partly transformed into kinetic energy. At the photospheric radius, the internal radiation can escape, giving rise to a pulse that lasts for a time equal to the delay time since the merger. The subsequent interaction with the interstellar medium can then convert part of the remaining kinetic energy back into radiation in a weak isotropic afterglow at all wavelengths. This scenario does not require the presence of a jet: the associated isotropic prompt and afterglow emission should be visible for all NS-NS and BH-NS mergers within 90 Mpc, independent of their inclination. The prompt emission is similar to that expected from an off-axis jet, either structured or much slower than usually assumed (Γ ∼ 10), or from the jet cocoon. The predicted afterglow emission properties can discriminate among these scenarios.
Volume
474
Issue
1
Start page
L7
Issn Identifier
1745-3925
Ads BibCode
2018MNRAS.474L...7S
Rights
open.access
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