Search

Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous explosions in the Universe. Their luminous prompt emission makes them detectable from cosmological distances. Most GRBs have been detected below a few MeV, however at least a hundred GRBs have been detected at high (0.1 GeV) energies and observed up to tens of GeV with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Some GRBs have been observed at (0.1–1) TeV by ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. To date, the high energy emission mechanism is not understood. In this paper we review the possible leptonic and hadronic mechanisms capable of producing the ∼ TeV emission detected in GRBs. In paricular we concentrate on the hadronic origin of this radiation component and discuss in detail the numerical simulation elaborated to reproduce the observed sub-TeV observations of GRB190114C.

The strong constraints from the Fermi-LAT data on the isotropic gamma-ray background suggest that the neutrinos observed by IceCube might possibly come from sources that are hidden to gamma-ray observations. A possibility emerged in recent years is that neutrinos may come from jets of collapsing massive stars which fail to break out of the stellar envelope, and for this reason they are known as choked jets, or choked Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). We here show our predictions of neutrino flux and spectrum expected from these sources, focusing on Type II SNe, through detailed calculations of pγ interactions and accounting for all the neutrino production channels and scattering angles. We provide predictions of expected event rates for ANTARES, IceCube, and the next generation neutrino telescope KM3NeT.We also compute the contribution of the choked GRB population to the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux, thus providing constraints on the local rate of this source population as to reproduce the observed neutrino flux.

The emission from shock breakouts (SBOs) represents the earliest electromagnetic (EM) signal emitted by cataclysmic events involving the formation or the merger of neutron stars (NSs). As such, SBOs carry unique information on the structure of their progenitors and on the explosion energy. The characteristic SBO emission is expected in the UV range, and its detection is one of the key targets of the ULTRASAT satellite. Among SBO sources, we focus on a specific class involving the formation of fast-spinning magnetars in the core-collapse of massive stars. Fast-spinning magnetars are expected to produce a specific signature in the early UV supernova light curve, powered by the extra spin energy quickly released by the NS. Moreover, they are considered as optimal candidates for the emission of long-transient gravitational wave (GW) signals, the detection of which requires early EM triggers to boost the sensitivity of dedicated GW search pipelines. We calculate early supernova UV light curves in the presence of a magnetar central engine, as a function of the explosion energy, ejecta mass, and magnetar parameters. We then estimate the ULTRASAT detection horizon (z < 0.15) as a function of the same physical parameters, and the overall expected detection rate, finding that magnetar-powered SBOs may represent up to 1/5 of the total events detected by ULTRASAT. Moreover, at the expected sensitivity of the LIGO/Virgo/Kagra O5 science run, one such event occurring within 5 Mpc will provide an ideal trigger for a GW long-transient search. Future GW detectors like the Einstein Telescope will push the horizon for joint EM-GW detections to 35–40 Mpc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimessenger observations may hold the key to learn about the most energetic sources in the universe. The recent construction of large scale observatories opened new possibilities in testing non thermal cosmic processes with alternative probes, such as high energy neutrinos and gravitational waves. We propose to combine information from gravitational wave detections, neutrino observations and electromagnetic signals to obtain a comprehensive picture of some of the most extreme cosmic processes. Gravitational waves are indicative of source dynamics, such as the formation, evolution and interaction of compact objects. These compact objects can play an important role in astrophysical particle acceleration, and are interesting candidates for neutrino and in general high-energy astroparticle studies. In particular we will concentrate on the most promising gravitational wave emitter sources: compact stellar remnants. The merger of binary black holes, binary neutron stars or black hole-neutron star binaries are abundant gravitational wave sources and will likely make up the majority of detections. However, stellar core collapse with rapidly rotating core may also be significant gravitational wave emitter, while slower rotating cores may be detectable only at closer distances. The joint detection of gravitational waves and neutrinos from these sources will probe the physics of the sources and will be a smoking gun of the presence of hadrons in these objects which is still an open question. Conversely, the non-detection of neutrinos or gravitational waves from these sources will be fundamental to constrain the hadronic content.

In this review I discuss the ultra-high energy neutrinos (UHEN) originated from Cosmic-Rays propogation (GZK neutrinos) and from Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), and discuss their detectability in kilometers scale detectors like ARA and IceCube. While GZK neutrinos are expected from cosmic ray interactions on the CMB, the GRB neutrinos depend on the physics inside the sources. GRBs are predicted to emit UHEN in the prompt and in the later “after-glow” phase. I discuss the constraints on the hadronic component of GRBs derived from the search of four years of IceCube data for a prompt neutrino fux from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and more in general I present the results of the search for high-energy neutrinos interacting within the IceCube detector between 2010 and 2013.

The joint detection of gravitational waves and the gamma-ray counterpart of a binary neutron star merger event, GW170817, unambiguously validates the connection between short gamma-ray bursts and compact binary object (CBO) mergers. We focus on a special scenario where short gamma-ray bursts produced by CBO mergers are embedded in disks of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and we investigate the Îł -ray emission produced in the internal dissipation region via synchrotron, synchrotron self-Compton, and external inverse Compton (EIC) processes. In this scenario, isotropic thermal photons from the AGN disks contribute to the EIC component. We show that a low-density cavity can be formed in the migration traps, leading to the embedded mergers producing successful GRB jets. We find that the EIC component would dominate the GeV emission for typical CBO mergers with an isotropic-equivalent luminosity of L j,iso = 1048.5 erg sâˆ'1 that are located close to the central supermassive black hole. Considering a long-lasting jet of duration T dur ∼ 102â€"103 s, we find that the future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be able to detect its 25â€"100 GeV emission out to a redshift z = 1.0. In the optimistic case, it is possible to detect the on-axis extended emission simultaneously with GWs within one decade using MAGIC, H.E.S.S., VERITAS, CTA, and LHAASO-WCDA. Early diagnosis of prompt emissions with Fermi-GBM and HAWC can provide valuable directional information for the follow-up observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The joint observation of core-collapse supernovae with gamma-ray bursts shows that jets can be launched in the aftermath of stellar core collapse, likely by a newly formed black hole that accretes matter from the star. Such gamma-ray bursts have only been observed accompanying Type Ibc supernovae, indicating a stellar progenitor that lost its hydrogen envelope before collapse. According to recent hypothesis, it is possible that jets are launched in core-collapse events even when the progenitors still retain their hydrogen envelopes; however, such jets are not able to burrow through the star and will be stalled into the interior of the progenitor star before escaping. These jets are called choked jets. High-energy neutrinos produced by such choked jets could escape the stellar envelope and could be observed. Here, we examine how multimessenger searches for high-energy neutrinos and core-collapse supernovae can detect or limit the fraction of stellar collapses that produce jets. We find that a high fraction of jet production is already limited by previous observational campaigns. We explore possibilities with future observations using Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, IceCube, and Km3NET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-duration (≲ 2 s) GRB 170817A in the nearby (D ≈ 40 Mpc) elliptical galaxy NGC 4993 is the first electromagnetic counterpart of the first gravitational wave detection of a binary neutron-star (NS–NS) merger. It was followed by optical, IR, and UV emission from half a day up to weeks after the event, as well as late time X-ray to radio emission. The early UV, optical, and IR emission showed a quasi-thermal spectrum suggestive of radioactive-decay powered kilonova-like emission. The late onset of the X-ray (8.9 d) and radio (16.4 d) afterglow emission, together with the low isotropic equivalent γ-ray energy output (E γ, iso≈ 5 × 1046erg), strongly suggest emission from a narrow relativistic jet viewed off-axis, initially dominated by low-energy material along our line of sight and gradually overtaken by the more energetic parts of the jet near its core. Here, we set up a general framework for off-axis GRB jet afterglow emission, comparing analytic and numerical approaches, and showing their general predictions for short-hard GRBs that accompany binary NS mergers. The prompt GRB emission suggests a viewing angle well outside the jet's core, and we compare the afterglow light curves expected in such a case to the X-ray, optical, and radio emission from GRB 170817A. We fit the data using a simulation-based off-axis relativistic jet afterglow model featuring an initially top-hat jet, and find a satisfactory fit for a viewing angle to initial jet half-opening angle ratio of θobs/θ0≈ 3, or θobs≈ 17°(θ0/0.1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We process the Fermi LAT data on GRB130427A using the Fermi Science Tools, and we summarize some of the key facts that render this observation truly remarkable.We then performa search of spectral lags, of the type that has been of interest for its relevance in quantum-spacetime research.We do find some evidence of systematic soft spectral lags: when confining the analysis to photons of energies greater than 5GeV there is an early hard development of minibursts within the burst.The effect is well characterized by a linear dependence, within such a miniburst, of the detection time on energy.We also observe that some support for these features is noticeable also in earlier Fermi-LATGRBs. Some aspects of the comparison of these features for GRBs at different redshifts could be described within a quantum-spacetime picture, but taking into account results previously obtained by other studies we favour the interpretation as intrinsic properties of GRBs. Even if our spectral lags do turn out to have astrophysical origin their understanding will be important for quantum-spacetime research, since any attempt to reveal minute quantum-spacetime-induced spectral lags evidently requires a good understanding of intrinsic mechanisms at the sources that can produce spectral lags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We consider the possibility that at least some gamma-ray burst (GRB) explosions take place inside pulsar wind bubbles (PWBs), in the context of the supranova model, where initially a supernova explosion takes place, leaving behind a supra-massive neutron star (SMNS), which loses its rotational energy on a time-scale of months to tens of years and collapses to a black hole, triggering a GRB explosion. The most natural mechanism by which the SMNS can lose its rotational energy is through a strong pulsar-type wind, between the supernova and the GRB events, which is expected to create a PWB. We analyse in some detail the observational implications of such a plerionic environment on the afterglow and prompt GRB emissions and the prospect for direct detection of the plerion emission. We find that for a simple spherical model, GRBs with iron lines detected in their X-ray afterglow should not have a detectable radio afterglow and should have small jet break times and non-relativistic transition times, in disagreement with observations for some of the GRBs with X-ray lines. These discrepancies with the observations may be reconciled by resorting to a non-spherical geometry, where the PWB is elongated along the polar axis. We find that the emission from the PWB should persist well into the afterglow, and the lack of detection of such a component provides interesting constraints on the model parameters. Finally, we predict that the inverse Compton upscattering of the PWB photons by the relativistic electrons of the afterglow (external Compton, EC) should lead to high-energy emission during the early afterglow that might explain the GeV photons detected by EGRET for a few GRBs, and should be detectable by future missions such as GLAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the first (PopIII) stars were very massive, their final fate is to collapse into very massive black holes. Once a proto-black hole has formed into the stellar core, accretion continues through a disc. It is widely accepted, though not confirmed, that magnetic fields drive an energetic jet which produces a burst of TeV neutrinos by photon–meson interaction, and eventually breaks out of the stellar envelope appearing as a gamma-ray burst (GRB). Based on recent numerical simulations and neutrino emission models, we predict the expected neutrino diffuse flux from these PopIII GRBs and compare it with the capabilities of present and planned detectors as AMANDA and IceCube. If beamed into 1 per cent of the sky, we find that the rate of PopIII GRBs is ≤4×10[sup 6] yr[sup -1]. High-energy neutrinos from PopIII GRBs could dominate the overall flux in two energy bands, [10[sup 4]–10[sup 5]]GeV and [10[sup 5]–10[sup 6]]GeV , of neutrino telescopes. The enhanced sensitivities of forthcoming detectors in the high-energy band (AMANDA-II, IceCube) will provide a fundamental insight on the characteristic explosion energies of PopIII GRBs, and will constitute a unique probe of the initial mass function (IMF) of the first stars and of the redshift z[sub f] marking the metallicity-driven transition from a top-heavy to a normal IMF. The current upper limit set by AMANDA-B10 implies that such a transition must have occurred not later than z[sub f]=9.8 for the most plausible jet energies. Based on such results, we speculate that PopIII GRBs, if not chocked, could be associated with a new class of events detected by BeppoSax, the fast X-ray transients (FXTs), which are bright X-ray sources, with peak energies in the 2–10 keV band and durations between 10 and 200 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest IceCube data suggest that the all-flavor cosmic neutrino flux may be as large as 10-7 GeV cm-2 s-1 sr-1 around 30 TeV. We show that, if sources of the TeV-PeV neutrinos are transparent to γ rays with respect to two-photon annihilation, strong tensions with the isotropic diffuse γ-ray background measured by Fermi are unavoidable, independently of the production mechanism. We further show that, if the IceCube neutrinos have a photohadronic (pγ) origin, the sources are expected to be opaque to 1-100 GeV γ rays. With these general multimessenger arguments, we find that the latest data suggest a population of cosmic-ray accelerators hidden in GeV-TeV γ rays as a neutrino origin. Searches for x-ray and MeV γ-ray counterparts are encouraged, and TeV-PeV neutrinos themselves will serve as special probes of dense source environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IceCube High-energy Neutrino Telescope has been collecting data since 2006. Conversely, hundreds of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been detected by the GRB Monitor on board Fermi since its launch in 2008. So far no neutrino event has been associated with a GRB, despite many models predicting the generation of high-energy neutrinos through GRB photon interaction with PeV protons in the GRB jet. We use the non-detection of neutrinos to constrain the hadronic content of GRB jets independent of jet model parameters. Assuming a generic particle spectrum of E–α with α = 2, we find that the ratio of the energy carried by pions to that in electrons has to be small fπ/fe ≲ 0.24 at 95% confidence level. A distribution of spectral slopes can lower fπ/fe by orders of magnitude. Another limit, independent of neutrinos, is obtained if one ascribes the measured Fermi/Large Area Telescope GeV gamma-ray emission to pair-photon cascades of high-energy photons resulting from (the same photon-hadronic interactions and subsequent) neutral pion decays. Based on the generally observed MeV-to-GeV GRB fluence ratio of ≈10, we show that fπ/fe ≲ 0.3. In some bursts, this ratio is as low as unity, fπ/fe ≲ 0.03. These findings add to mounting doubts regarding the presence of PeV protons in GRB jets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supranova model for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is becoming increasingly more popular. In this scenario the GRB occurs weeks to years after a supernova explosion, and is located inside a pulsar wind bubble (PWB). Protons accelerated in the internal shocks that emit the GRB may interact with the external PWB photons producing pions which decay into approximately 10(16) eV neutrinos. A km(2) neutrino detector would observe several events per year correlated with the GRBs.

The supranova model for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) has recently gained popularity. In this scenario the GRB occurs weeks to years after a supernova explosion, and is located inside a pulsar wind bubble (PWB). High energy protons from the PWB can interact with photons from the rich radiation field inside the PWB or collide with cold protons from the supernova remnant, producing pions which decay into approximately 10-10(3) TeV neutrinos. The predicted neutrino flux from the PWBs that host the GRBs should be easily detectable by planned 1 km(2) detectors.