Search

We have carried out a detailed study of the Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) photospheric emission model predicting a quasi-blackbody spectrum slightly broader than a Planck function. This model was suggested within the relativistic fireball dynamics for interpreting a still not well understood thermal component in the GRB prompt emission, recently observed by the GBM (Gamma-ray Burst Monitor) on board the Fermi space telescope. We propose a Monte Carlo (M C) code for elucidating the observed spectrum, the outflow dynamics and its geometry for a basic and a structured plasma jets whose parameters are implemented. The code involves a simulation part describing the photon propagation assuming an unpolarized, non-dissipative relativistic outflow and a data analysis part for exploring main photospheric emission properties such as the energy, arrival time and observed flux of the simulated seed photons and the photospheric radius. Computing the latter two observables by numerical integration, we obtained values very concordant with the M C simulated results. Fitting Band functions to the photon spectra generated by this method, we derived best-fit values of the photon indices matching well those featuring the observed spectra for most typical GRBs, but corresponding to fit functions inconciliable with blackbody spectral shapes. Various derived results are reported, compared to previous ones and discussed. They show to be very sensitive to the structure of the Lorentz factor that plays a crucial role in determining the presence and strength of geometrical effects. The latter manifest themselves by large broadenings of the simulated spectra featured by multiple peak energies consistently with GRB observations. They are assumed, with multiple Compton scattering, to produce bumps pointed out at very low photon energies. The interpretation of GRB observations is further performed via a Band spectral analysis using the RMFIT software. Finally, developments of this work are put into perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray flare (XRF) is a common phenomenon in the X-ray afterglow of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Although it is commonly believed that XRFs may share a common origin with prompt emission, i.e., the "internal" origin, the origin of XRFs is still unknown. In this work, we compile a GRB sample containing 31 GRBs with a single XRF, a well-measured spectrum, and a redshift, and investigate the intrinsic properties and correlations between prompt emission and the XRFs of these events. We find that the distributions of main physical parameters of prompt emission and XRFs are basically log-normal. The median value of the rise time is shorter than the decay time for all flares, with a ratio of about 1:2, which is similar to the fast rise and exponential decay structure of prompt emission pulses. We also find that the prompt emission energy ( E iso ) and peak luminosity ( L iso ) have tight correlations with XRF energy ( E X , iso ) and peak luminosity ( L X , p ), E iso ∝ E X , iso 0.74 ( L X , p 0.62 ) and L iso ∝ E X , iso 0.85 ( L X , p 0.68 ). However, the durations of prompt emissions are independent of the temporal properties of XRFs. Furthermore, we also analyze the three-parameter correlations between prompt emissions and XRFs, and find that there are tight correlations among the XRF peak time ( T p , z ), L X , p , and E iso / L iso , L X , p ∝ T p , z − 1.08 E iso 0.84 and L X , p ∝ T p , z − 1.09 L iso 0.71 . Interestingly, these results are very similar to the properties of an X-ray plateau in GRBs, which indicates that X-ray flares and plateaus may have the same physical origin, and strongly supports that the two emission components originate from the late-time activity of the central engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SVOM (Space-based multiband Variable Object Monitor) is a Chinese-French space mission mainly designed to study Gamma-Ray Bursts. The satellite carries four instruments to detect and localize the prompt GRB emission and measure the evolution of the afterglow in the visible band and in soft X-rays, and a VHF communication system enables the fast transmission of SVOM alerts to the ground. The ground segment includes an array of wide-angle cameras and two follow-up telescopes. It was launched into an orbit of about 635 km on 22 June 2024, with three years of nominal operations and an extension of two years.

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) reported observation of photons with energies above 10 TeV from gamma-ray burst GRB 221009A. A suggestion was proposed that this result may contradict our knowledge of special relativity (SR) and the standard model (SM), according to which photons of about 10 TeV from such a distant object should be severely suppressed because of the absorption by extragalactic background light. As a result, a number of mechanisms have been proposed to solve this potential puzzle, including Lorentz invariance violation (LIV). In this work, we perform a detailed numerical calculation and show the feasibility to constrain LIV of photons from the LHAASO observation of GRB 221009A quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts were discovered by the Vela satellites in the late 1960s, but they were announced for the first time exactly 50 years ago, in 1973. The history of our understanding of gamma-ray bursts can be subdivided into several eras. We will highlight the main discoveries about GRBs, as well as the path toward the future that each GRB era could still indicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fitted 75 pulses from 44 gamma‐ray burst (GRB) prompt emission lightcurves, including four short ones and 40 long ones. Each pulse is fitted by a fast‐rising exponential‐decay (FRED) model. The statistical properties of these pulses are analyzed and compared with previous works. We found that the FRED model is almost suitable to describe all the pulses. We reconfirmed that there is a linear correlation between the full width at half maximum FWHM$$ \mathrm{FWHM} $$ and the pulse rising time Trise$$ {T}_{\mathrm{rise}} $$, which supports the idea that the individual pulse is emitted at once within one explosion. Moreover, we found that several pulses do not obey the FWHM−Trise$$ \mathrm{FWHM}-{T}_{\mathrm{rise}} $$ correlation, this implies that the radiation process of the prompt emission especially in the multi‐pulse GRBs might involve more than one type and even possibly change with time. The innovation of this work lies in examining the statistical characteristics of lightcurves of both long and short‐duration GRBs and re‐evaluating the applicability of empirical relationships discovered by predecessors to both types of GRBs while paying special attention to the existence of outlier pulses. This work has positive implications for further exploring the diversity of GRB prompt radiation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the recent association of IceCube TeV and PeV neutrino events with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by considering the Lorentz violation of neutrinos, we provide a new estimate on the GRB neutrino flux with a more significant result compared to the previous constraint by the IceCube Collaboration. Among these 24 neutrino “shower” events above 60 TeV, 12 events are associated with GRBs. Such a result is compatible with the prediction from GRB fireball models. Analysis of track events provides a consistent result with the shower events to associate high energy cosmic neutrinos with GRBs under the same Lorentz violation features of neutrinos. We also make a background estimation and reveal GRBs as a significant source for the ultra-high energy IceCube neutrino events. Our work supports the Lorentz violation and CPT-violation of neutrinos, indicating new physics beyond relativity.

HERMES Pathfinder is an in-orbit demonstration consisting of a constellation of six 3U nano-satellites hosting simple but innovative detectors for the monitoring of cosmic high-energy transients. The main objective of HERMES Pathfinder is to prove that accurate position of high-energy cosmic transients can be obtained using miniaturized hardware. The transient position is obtained by studying the delay time of arrival of the signal to different detectors hosted by nano-satellites on low-Earth orbits. In this context, we need to develop novel tools to fully exploit the future scientific data output of HERMES Pathfinder. In this paper, we introduce a new framework to assess the background count rate of a spaceborne, high energy detector; a key step towards the identification of faint astrophysical transients. We employ a neural network to estimate the background lightcurves on different timescales. Subsequently, we employ a fast change-point and anomaly detection technique called Poisson-FOCuS to identify observation segments where statistically significant excesses in the observed count rate relative to the background estimate exist. We test the new software on archival data from the NASA Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM), which has a collecting area and background level of the same order of magnitude to those of HERMES Pathfinder. The neural network performances are discussed and analyzed over period of both high and low solar activity. We were able to confirm events in the Fermi-GBM catalog, both solar flares and gamma-ray bursts, and found events, not present in Fermi-GBM database, that could be attributed to solar flares, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, gamma-ray bursts and galactic X-ray flashes. Seven of these are selected and further analyzed, providing an estimate of localisation and a tentative classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of density perturbations and local anisotropy on the stability of stellar matter structures in general relativity using the concept of cracking. Adopting a core-envelope model of a super-dense star, we examine the properties and stability conditions by introducing anisotropic pressure to the envelope region. Furthermore, we propose self-bound compact stars with an anisotropic envelope as a potential progenitor for starquakes. We show how the difference between sound propagation in radial and tangential directions would be used to identify potentially stable regions within a configuration. Due to an increase in the anisotropic parameter, strain energy accumulates in the envelope region and becomes a potential candidate for building-up quake like situation. This stress-energy stored in the envelope region that would be released during a starquake of a self-bound compact star is computed as a function of the magnitude of anisotropy at the core-envelope boundary. Numerical studies for spherically asymmetric compact stars indicate that the stress energy can be as high as 10 50 erg if the tangential pressure is slightly more significant than the radial pressure. It is happened to be of the same order as the energy associated with giant γ -ray bursts. Thus, the present study will be useful for the correlation studies between starquakes and GRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) model explains long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) associated with supernovae (SNe) Ic through physical episodes that occur in a binary composed of a carbon-oxygen (CO) star and a neutron star (NS) companion in close orbit. The CO core collapse triggers the cataclysmic event, originating the SN and a newborn NS (hereafter ν NS) at its center. The ν NS and the NS accrete SN matter. BdHNe are classified based on the NS companion fate and the GRB energetics, mainly determined by the orbital period. In BdHNe I, the orbital period is of a few minutes, so the accretion causes the NS to collapse into a Kerr black hole (BH), explaining GRBs of energies > 10 52 erg. BdHN II, with longer periods of tens of minutes, yields a more massive but stable NS, accounting for GRBs of 10 50 – 10 52 erg. BdHNe III have still longer orbital periods (e.g., hours), so the NS companion has a negligible role, which explains GRBs with a lower energy release of < 10 50 erg. BdHN I and II might remain bound after the SN, so they could form NS-BH and binary NS (BNS), respectively. In BdHN III, the SN likely disrupts the system. We perform numerical simulations of BdHN II to compute the characteristic parameters of the BNS left by them, their mergers, and the associated short GRBs. We obtain the mass of the central remnant, whether it is likely to be a massive NS or a BH, the conditions for disk formation and its mass, and the event's energy release. The role of the NS nuclear equation of state is outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cocoon is an inevitable product of a jet propagating through ambient matter, and takes a fair fraction of the jet energy. In short gamma-ray bursts (s GRBs), the ambient matter is the ejecta from the merger of neutron stars, expanding with a high velocity ∼0.2 c , in contrast to the static stellar envelope in collapsars. Using 2D relativistic hydrodynamic simulations with the ejecta density profile as ρ ∝  r −2, we find that the expansion makes a big difference; only 0.5–5 per cent of the cocoon mass escapes from (faster than) the ejecta, with an opening angle 20°–30°, while it is |$\sim 100{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| and spherical in collapsars. We also analytically obtain the shares of mass and energies for the escaped and trapped cocoons. Because the mass of the escaped cocoon is small and the trapped cocoon is concealed by the ejecta and the escaped cocoon, we suggest that it is unlikely that cooling emission from the s GRB-jet heated cocoon was observed as a counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW170817. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are brief, intense pulses of high-energy emission associated with extreme astrophysical phenomena, e.g. the death of massive stars or the coalescence of compact objects. They have been observed at high energies by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), which detects GRBs in the 20 MeV–300 GeV energy range. The Fermi-LAT Second GRB Catalog (2FLGC) presents information on 186 GRBs observed from 2008 to 2018. We consider the GRBs that have been fitted in the 2FLGC with a broken (21 GRBs) or simple power law (65 GRBs), compiling a total sample of 86 GRBs. We analyze the relationship between the spectral and temporal indices using closure relations according to the synchrotron forward-shock model evolving in stratified environments ( n ∝ r − k ). We find that the model without energy injection is preferred over the one with energy injection. There is a clear preference for the cooling conditions ν > max{ ν c , ν m } and ν m < ν < ν c (where ν c and ν m are the cooling and characteristic frequencies, namely the frequency at the spectral break). Within these cooling conditions, density profiles r − k with values of k = 1.5 and 2 generally have a higher rate of occurrence when considering relations with and without energy injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for X-ray and gamma-ray bursts, including Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), and high energy transients associated with Gravitational wave (GW) events or Fast radio bursts (FRBs), is of great importance in the multimessenger and multiwavelength era. Although a coherent search based on the likelihood ratio and Gaussian statistics has been established and utilized in many studies, this Gaussian-based method could be problematic for weak and short bursts which usually have very few counts. To deal with all bursts including weak ones, here we propose the coherent search in Poisson statistics. We studied the difference between Poisson-based and Gaussian-based search methods by Monte Carlo simulations, and find that the Poisson-based search method has advantages compared to the Gaussian case, especially for weak bursts. Our results show that, for very weak bursts with very low number of counts, the Poisson-based search can provide higher significance than the Gaussian-based search, and its likelihood ratio (for background fluctuation) still generally follows the χ2 distribution, making the significance estimation of searched bursts very convenient. Thus, we suggest that the coherent search based on Poisson-likelihood ratio is more appropriate in the search for generic transients including very weak ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relativistic jets from supermassive black holes or stellar mass black holes are among the most powerful astrophysical phenomena. Magnetic field plays an important role in the jet launching and propagation, as well as particle acceleration and radiation. Polarimetry is the only way to observe the magnetic field evolution. The recent launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) has opened up the X-ray polarization window, which has revealed very interesting phenomena for relativistic jets. However, the field of MeV gamma-ray polarimetry remains largely unexplored. This paper aims to summarize key scientific potentials for MeV polarimetry for blazars and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) from recent theoretical modeling. These predictions, which are closely related to the cosmic ray acceleration, neutrino production, radiation mechanism, and the jet evolution, can be examined by future MeV polarimeters, such as the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), the LargE Area burst Polarimeter (LEAP), and the All-sky Medium-Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow light curves produced by an off-axis jet in a stratified circumburst medium and summarize the temporal indices of the coasting phase, the deceleration phase, the Newtonian phase, and the deep Newtonian phase for various viewing angles and power-law indices of medium density. Generally, the afterglow light curves of off-axis GRBs in the homogeneous interstellar medium have a steep rise arising due to jet deceleration. In the stratified medium, the flux rises is more shallow but peaks earlier for the same viewing angle due to faster deceleration of the jet running into the denser stratified medium, compared with the case of the interstellar medium (ISM). Observations of off-axis bursts will possibly increase over the coming years due to the arrival of the multi-messenger era and the forthcoming surveys in multiple bands. The temporal indices of off-axis afterglows derived in the paper will provide a reference for comparison with the observations and can diagnose the circumburst environment. The numerical code calculating the afterglow light curve also can be used to fit the multi-wavelength light curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future space-based GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope will operate onboard the Russian astrophysical observatory in a highly elliptic orbit during 7 years to observe Galactic plane, Galactic Center, Fermi Bubbles, Crab, Vela, Cygnus X, Geminga, Sun, and other regions and measure gamma- and cosmic-ray fluxes. Observations will be performed in the point-source mode continuously for a long time (∼100 days). GAMMA-400 will measure gamma rays in the energy range from ∼ 20 MeV to several TeV and cosmic-ray electrons + positrons up to several tens TeV. GAMMA-400 instrument will have very good angle and energy resolutions, high separation efficiency of gamma rays from cosmic-ray background, as well as electrons + positrons from protons. The main feature of GAMMA-400 is the unprecedented angular resolution for energies > 30 GeV better than the space-based and ground-based gamma-ray telescopes by a factor of 5–10. GAMMA-400 observations will permit to resolve gamma rays from annihilation or decay of dark matter particles, identify many discrete sources, clarify the structure of extended sources, specify the data on cosmic-ray electron + positron spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most explosive phenomena and can be used to study the expansion of Universe. In this paper, we compile a long GRB sample for the E iso– E p correlation from Swift and Fermi observations. The sample contains 221 long GRBs with redshifts from 0.03 to 8.20. From the analysis of data in different redshift intervals, we find no statistically significant evidence for the redshift evolution of this correlation. Then we calibrate the correlation in six subsamples and use the calibrated one to constrain cosmological parameters. Employing a piece-wise approach, we study the redshift evolution of dark energy equation of state (EOS), and find that the EOS tends to be oscillating at low redshift, but consistent with −1 at high redshift. It hints at dynamical dark energy at 2 σ confidence level at low redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts are traditionally classified as short and long bursts based on their T 90 value (the time interval during which an instrument observes 5% to 95% of gamma-ray/hard X-ray fluence). However, T 90 is dependent on the detector sensitivity and the energy range in which the instrument operates. As a result, different instruments provide different values of T 90 for a burst. GRB 210217A is detected with different duration by Swift and Fermi. It is classified as a long/soft GRB by Swift-BAT with a T 90 value of 3.76 s. On the other hand, the sub-threshold detection by Fermi-GBM classified GRB 210217A as a short/hard burst with a duration of 1.024 s. We present the multi-wavelength analysis of GRB 210217A (lying in the overlapping regime of long and short GRBs) to identify its actual class using multi-wavelength data. We utilized the T 90 -hardness ratio, T 90 - E p and T 90 - t mvts distributions of the GRBs to find the probability of GRB 210217A being a short GRB. Further, we estimated the photometric redshift of the burst by fitting the joint XRT/UVOT SED and placed the burst in the Amati plane. We found that GRB 210217A is an ambiguous burst showing properties of both short and long class of GRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Advanced Virgo began observing the Universe in a revolutionary way. Gravitational waves from cosmic sources were detected for the first time, confirming their existence predicted almost one century before, and also directly revealing the existence of black holes in binary systems and characterizing their properties. In 2017, a new revolution was achieved with the first observation of a binary neutron star merger, GW170817, and its associated electromagnetic emission. The combination of the information from gravitational-wave and electromagnetic radiation produced a wealth of results, still growing, spectacularly demonstrating the power of the newly born field of gravitational-wave Multi Messenger Astrophysics. We discuss the discovery of GW170817 in the context of the achievements it brought to Gamma-Ray Burst astrophysics, and we also provide a few examples of advancements in fundamental physics and cosmology. The detection rates of binary neutron star mergers expected in the next decade for third generation gravitational-wave interferometers will open the new perspective of a statistical approach to the study of these multi-messenger sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Gamma-ray Burst (GRB) properties, such as duration and spectral hardness, have found evidence for additional classes beyond the short-hard (merger) and long-soft (collapsar) prototypes. Several clustering analyses of the duration-hardness plane identified a third, intermediate duration, class. In this work, Gaussian Mixture Model-based (GMM) clustering is applied to the Swift/BAT and Fermi/GBM samples of GRBs. The results obtained by the hierarchical combination of Gaussian components (or clusters) based on an entropy criterion are presented. This method counteracts possible overfitting arising from the application of Gaussian models to non-Gaussian underlying data. While the initial GMM clustering of the hardness-duration plane identifies three components (short/intermediate/long) for the Swift/BAT and Fermi/GBM samples, only two components (short/long) remain once the entropy criterion is applied. The analysis presented here suggests that the intermediate duration class may be the result of overfitting, rather than evidence of a distinct underlying population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) properties, such as duration and spectral hardness, have found evidence for additional classes, beyond the short/hard and long/soft prototypes, using model-dependent methods. In this paper, a model-independent approach was used to analyse the gamma-ray light curves of large samples of GRBs detected by BATSE, Swift/BAT and Fermi/GBM. All the features were extracted from the GRB time profiles in four energy bands using the Stationary Wavelet Transform and Principal Component Analysis. t-distributed Stochastic Neighbourhood Embedding (t-SNE) visualisation of the features revealed two distinct groups of Swift/BAT bursts using the T100 interval with 64 ms resolution data. When the same analysis was applied to 4 ms resolution data, two groups were seen to emerge within the first second (T1) post-trigger. These two groups primarily consisted of short/hard (Group 1) and long/soft (Group 2) bursts, and were 95% consistent with the groups identified using the T100 64 ms resolution data. Kilonova candidates, arising from compact object mergers, were found to belong to Group 1, while those events with associated supernovae fell into Group 2. Differences in cumulative counts between the two groups in the first second, and in the minimum variability timescale, identifiable only with the 4 ms resolution data, may account for this result. Short GRBs have particular significance for multi-messenger science as a distinctive EM signature of a binary merger, which may be discovered by its gravitational wave emissions. Incorporating the T1 interval into classification algorithms may support the rapid classification of GRBs, allowing for an improved prioritisation of targets for follow-up observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the radiation of the ultrarelativistic shell in the diffusion approximation, which takes place at the initial stage of a gamma-ray burst. We get the effective temperature, instantaneous and time-integrated spectra for the parabolic distribution of the initial internal energy of the shell. Also we considered the types of the equitemporal surfaces with a different type of the movement of the shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray flares are frequently detected in the X-ray afterglow light curves and are highly correlated with the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We compile a comprehensive sample of X-ray flares up to 2021 April, comprising 697 flares. We classify the total sample into four types: early flares ( t p ≤ 10 3 s), late flares ( t p > 10 3 s), long gamma-ray burst (LGRB) flares and short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) flares, and analyze the distributions and relationships of the flare parameters. It is found that the early flares have a higher frequency, shorter duration, and more asymmetrical structure. In addition, the distributions of the morphological parameters of the SGRB flares are similar to those of the LGRB flares. We also find that the durations and rising (decay) times of the early flares are positively correlated with the peak times, but the late flares follow the different dependent relations. There is a strong anti-correlation between the peak luminosities ( L X , P ) and the peak times of the flares, e.g., L X , p ∝ t p , z − 1.45 for the LGRB flares, and L X , p ∝ t p , z − 1.27 for the SGRB flares, respectively. Furthermore, the peak luminosity is highly dependent on the isotropic energy ( E X , i s o ) for the early LGRB flares, the best fit is L X , p ∝ E X , i s o 1.06 ( r = 0.89 ). We also find a tight three-parameter correlation, L X , p ∝ t p , z − 1.03 E X , i s o 0.92 ( r = 0.96 ). All the late flares fall into the 3 σ confidence region defined by the early flares. In terms of the point of kinematic arguments, both the SGRB and LGRB flares support a common scheme of internal origin. The SGRB flares have similar properties to the LGRB flares, suggesting that both of them share a similar physical mechanism from the late-time activity of central engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close binary systems consisting of two neutron stars (BNS) emit gravitational waves, that allow them to merge on timescales shorter than Hubble time. It is widely believed, that NS–NS mergers in such systems power short gamma-ray bursts (GRB). Several mechanisms which could lead to electromagnetic energy release prior to a merger have been proposed. We estimate the ability to observe the possible pre-burst emission with telescopes of Spectrum–Roentgen–Gamma. We also investigate first such event, GRB210919A, which fell into the field of view of the SRG telescopes less than two days before the burst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic transients occurring in the distant cosmos. They are produced by either the collapse of massive stars or the merger of compact objects like neutron stars or black holes. Currently, gamma-ray burst is the only astrophysical event successfully observed in different messengers such as gravitational and electromagnetic waves. Despite several decades of extensive observations and research, gamma-ray bursts still remain largely elusive in terms of their central engine, jet composition and radiation process. In this article, the author will review the recent observational and theoretical advancements made in the direction to resolve some of these enigmas and the future outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint ranking statistics are used to distinguish real from random coincidences, ideally considering whether shared parameters are consistent with each other as well as whether the individual candidates are distinguishable from noise. We expand on previous works to include additional shared parameters, we use galaxy catalogues as priors for sky localization and distance, and avoid some approximations previously used. We develop methods to calculate this statistic both in low-latency using HEALPix sky maps, as well as with posterior samples. We show that these changes lead to a factor of one to two orders of magnitude improvement for GW170817-GRB 170817A depending on the method used, placing this significant event further into the foreground. We also examined the more tenuous joint candidate GBM-GW150914, which was largely penalized by these methods. Finally, we performed a simplistic simulation that argues these changes could better help distinguish between real and random coincidences in searches, although more realistic simulations are needed to confirm this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The afterglow data of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) can be used to constrain the physical properties of the fireball (e.g., the jet structure and opening angle) and the circumburst medium. With the peak time of the early afterglow light curve being taken as the deceleration time, one can estimate the initial Lorentz factor of the fireball. In this work, we perform a comprehensive analysis on the prompt emission and the afterglow data of GRB 181110A, where a clear peak is detected by Swift UVOT and XRT in optical to X-ray bands. Prompt emission spectral analysis shows that the spectrum of GRB 181110A is soft, and both hard-to-soft and intensity-tracking spectral evolution are found. By fitting the afterglow light curve and building spectral energy distribution, we find that the standard external forward shock model with a constant circumburst medium is favored, and the jet structure of GRB 181110A tends to be uniform rather than structured. With the peak time of early afterglow emission, we estimate the initial fireball Lorentz factor of GRB 181110A to be Γ 0 = 169 − 40 + 92 . We also compare GRB 181110A with other typical long GRBs in a statistical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel compact 4-channel beam splitter which is based on a combination of dichroic coatings and internal total reflection, similar in concept to the interference double prism invented by Kösters 90 years ago [1]. Used with a rapidly-slewing 50 cm telescope in space, this would allow to double the presently known gamma-ray bursts at high (> 5) redshift within 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent multi-messenger and multi-wavelength observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have encouraged renewed interest in these energetic events. In spite of the substantial amount of data accumulated during the past few decades, the nature of the prompt emission remains an unsolved puzzle. We present an overview of the leading models for their prompt emission phase, focusing on the perspective opened by future missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray emission from the gravitational wave transient GW170817 is well described as non-thermal afterglow radiation produced by a structured relativistic jet viewed off-axis. We show that the X-ray counterpart continues to be detected at 3.3 years after the merger. Such long-lasting signal is not a prediction of the earlier jet models characterized by a narrow jet core and a viewing angle ≈20 deg, and is spurring a renewed interest in the origin of the X-ray emission. We present a comprehensive analysis of the X-ray dataset aimed at clarifying existing discrepancies in the literature, and in particular the presence of an X-ray rebrightening at late times. Our analysis does not find evidence for an increase in the X-ray flux, but confirms a growing tension between the observations and the jet model. Further observations at radio and X-ray wavelengths would be critical to break the degeneracy between models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are brief, intense pulses of high-energy emission associated with extreme astrophysical phenomena, e.g. the death of massive stars or the coalescence of compact objects. They have been observed at high energies by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), which detects GRBs in the 20 MeV–300 GeV energy range. The Fermi-LAT Second GRB Catalog (2FLGC) presents information on 186 GRBs observed from 2008 to 2018. We consider the GRBs that have been fitted in the 2FLGC with a broken (21 GRBs) or simple power law (65 GRBs), compiling a total sample of 86 GRBs. We analyze the relationship between the spectral and temporal indices using closure relations according to the synchrotron forward-shock model evolving in stratified environments (n∝r−k). We find that the model without energy injection is preferred over the one with energy injection. There is a clear preference for the cooling conditions ν> max{νc,νm} and νm<ν<νc (where νc and νm are the cooling and characteristic frequencies, namely the frequency at the spectral break). Within these cooling conditions, density profiles r−k with values of k=1.5 and 2 generally have a higher rate of occurrence when considering relations with and without energy injection.

The article studies the relationship between particle precipitation from the Earth's radiation belt and cosmic gamma-ray bursts. For this purpose, experimental measurements of charged cosmic ray fluxes in the PAMELA experiment and gamma-ray burst observations by the Fermi Observatory are used. Both instruments operated simultaneously in Earth orbit between 2008 and 2016. For the time of each gamma-ray burst detected by the Fermi Observatory during the specified period, the count rate of the PAMELA detectors is analyzed. In order to search for a possible signal from the interaction of a gamma-ray burst with charged particles in the near-Earth space, annual background maps of count rates of the time-of-flight detectors are constructed. The difference between the background count rate and the count rate at the time of the gamma-ray burst arrival (in the time interval several minutes before and after) is analyzed. Several cases are found in which the count rate significantly deviated from the background value at the time of the gamma-ray burst arrival and lasted up to 5–10 min after it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Energy Modular Ensemble of Satellites (HERMES) project intends to build an all-sky monitor operating from keV to MeV for the detection and localisation of transient events, like gamma ray bursts. HERMES is a modular observatory composed by detectors on-board of nanosatellites. HERMES aims to revolutionise the world of multi-messenger astrophysics thanks to the innovative concept of a modular instrument based on small satellites and characterised by reduced design and development times and low costs, in the face of high technological content and scientific profile of the mission. A first part of the project, HERMES Technological Pathfinder, composed of three CubeSats, aims to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting transient phenomena in high energy with small satellites. The next phase of the project, HERMES Scientific Pathfinder, will expand the constellation up to six satellites, allowing routinely accurate triangulation measurements. This paper presents an analysis that aims to be propaedeutic for the design of the final HERMES Full Constellation, which will be an all-sky monitor made up of tens/hundreds of nanosatellites in Low Earth Orbit with a total effective area of ∼ m 2. An adequate number of nanosatellites, simultaneously detecting a transient, provides a source localisation accuracy of the order of magnitude of few arcmin and large effective area. The objective of this work is to define possible strategies of injection in orbit of the complete constellation. In this first analysis we used only the number of triangulable Gamma Ray Bursts (simultaneously detected by at least three nanosatellites) as discriminating factor in order to maximise the constellation performance. By achieving the goal of at least a mean number of 20 Gamma Ray Bursts triangulated per nanosatellite over the two years life-time, optimal configurations for the complete constellation, consisting of seven to fourteen CubeSats, have been identified. • High Energy Modular Ensemble of Satellites (HERMES) mission. • Propaedeutic analysis for the design of the final Full Constellation. • Nanosatellites constellation for fast detection and positioning of Gamma Ray Bursts. • All-sky coverage constellation based on small satellites in Low Earth Orbit. • Maximisation of Gamma Ray Bursts triangulable during the lifetime by each satellite. • Robustness analysis: atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure and early failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-messenger astrophysics is becoming a major avenue to explore the Universe, with the potential to span a vast range of redshifts. The growing synergies between different probes is opening new frontiers, which promise profound insights into several aspects of fundamental physics and cosmology. In this context, THESEUS will play a central role during the 2030s in detecting and localizing the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave and neutrino sources that the unprecedented sensitivity of next generation detectors will discover at much higher rates than the present. Here, we review the most important target signals from multi-messenger sources that THESEUS will be able to detect and characterize, discussing detection rate expectations and scientific impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) models long gamma-ray burst (GRB) as occurring in the binary systems involving a carbon–oxygen core (CO core ) and a companion neutron star (NS) or a black hole (BH). This model, first proposed in 2012, succeeds and improves upon the fireshell model and the induced gravitational collapse (IGC) paradigm. After nearly a decade of development, the BdHN model has reached a nearly complete structure, giving explanation to all the observables of long bursts into its theoretical framework, and has given a refined classification of long GRB according to the original properties of the progenitors. In this paper, we present a summary of the BdHN model and the physical processes at work in each of the envisaged Episodes during its occurrence and lifetime, duly contextualized in the framework of GRB observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit a supersymmetric string model for space-time foam, in which bosonic open-string states, such as photons, can possess quantum-gravity-induced velocity fluctuations in vacuum. We argue that the suggestion of light speed variation with lower bound from gamma-ray burst photon time delays can serve as a support for this string-inspired framework, through connecting the experimental finding with model predictions. We also derive the value of the effective quantum-gravity mass in this framework, and give a qualitative study on the model-dependent coefficients. Constraints from birefringent effects and/or photon decays, including the novel γ-decay constraint obtained here from the latest Tibet ASγ near-PeV photon, are also found to be consistent with predictions in such a quantum-gravity scheme. Future observation that can testify further the theory is suggested.

The main scientific goal of the Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) is to monitor various types of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) originated from merger of binary compact stars, which could also produce gravitational wave, and collapse of massive stars. In order to study the response of GECAM Gamma-Ray Detectors (GRDs) to high-energy bursts and test the in-flight trigger and localization software of GECAM before the launch, a portable GRB simulator device is designed and implemented based on grid controlled X-ray tube (GCXT) and direct digital synthesis (DDS) technologies. The design of this GRB simulator which modulates X-ray flux powered by high voltage up to 20 kV is demonstrated, and the time jitter (FWHM) of the device is about 0.9 μs. Before the launch in December, 2020, both two GECAM satellites were irradiated by different types of GRBs (including short and long bursts in duration) generated by this GRB simulator. The light curves detected with GECAM/GRDs are consistent with the programmed input functions within statistical uncertainties, indicating the good performance of both the GRDs and the GRB simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present radio and optical afterglow observations of the TeV-bright long gamma-ray burst 190114C at a redshift of z = 0.425, which was detected by the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov telescope. Our observations with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillitmeter Array, Australia Telescope Compact Array , and upgraded Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope were obtained by our low frequency observing campaign and range from ∼1 to ∼140 d after the burst and the optical observations were done with three optical telescopes spanning up to ∼25 d after the burst. Long-term radio/mm observations reveal the complex nature of the afterglow, which does not follow the spectral and temporal closure relations expected from the standard afterglow model. We find that the microphysical parameters of the external forward shock, representing the share of shock-created energy in the non-thermal electron population and magnetic field, are evolving with time. The inferred kinetic energy in the blast-wave depends strongly on the assumed ambient medium density profile, with a constant density medium demanding almost an order of magnitude higher energy than in the prompt emission, while a stellar wind-driven medium requires approximately the same amount energy as in prompt emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the gamma-ray burst is uncertain while the current candidates, respectively, for short and long GRBs are rather accepted. They conflict with some observed facts. Here we examine in detail the process for an energy circulation to separate to two ones by the energy circulation theory. We derive the equations of the force and the potential energy for the separation of a galactic seed. A galactic seed divides to two seeds orthogonally. If the receding speed is high enough, two seeds separate away orthogonally. If not enough, they are trapped at the energy trough, from where a subsequent flat separation occurs. The difference in the potential energy is partly emitted as gamma-ray radiations. The proposed process nicely meets the observed features of the GRBs, which the standard cosmology cannot explain. The GRBs are an important evidence to support our proposed model of galactic evolution, which includes galactic seed separations, as well as its basis; the energy circulation theory. Another key evidence, which we reported previously, is that the model predicts a constant speed of a galaxy rotation at any radial distances without dark matter.