On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows
The electron energy distribution index, p, is a fundamental parameter of the synchrotron emission from a rangeof astronomical sources. Here we examine one such source of synchrotron emission, gamma-ray burst (GRB)afterglows observed by the Swift satellite. Within the framework of the blast wave mode...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
2010
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| Online Access: | http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/716/2/L135/pdf/apjl_716_2_135.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38025 |
| _version_ | 1848755207653031936 |
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| author | Curran, Peter Evans, P. De Pasqualea, M. Page, M. van der Horst, A. |
| author_facet | Curran, Peter Evans, P. De Pasqualea, M. Page, M. van der Horst, A. |
| author_sort | Curran, Peter |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The electron energy distribution index, p, is a fundamental parameter of the synchrotron emission from a rangeof astronomical sources. Here we examine one such source of synchrotron emission, gamma-ray burst (GRB)afterglows observed by the Swift satellite. Within the framework of the blast wave model, we examine theconstraints placed on the distribution of p by the observed X-ray spectral indices and parameterize the distribution.We find that the observed distribution of spectral indices are inconsistent with an underlying distribution ofp composed of a single discrete value but consistent with a Gaussian distribution centered at p = 2.36 andhaving a width of 0.59. Furthermore, accepting that the underlying distribution is a Gaussian, we find that themajority ( 94%) of GRB afterglows in our sample have cooling break frequencies less than the X-ray frequency. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:52:38Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-38025 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:52:38Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-380252017-02-28T01:49:14Z On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows Curran, Peter Evans, P. De Pasqualea, M. Page, M. van der Horst, A. shock waves radiation mechanisms: - non-thermal acceleration of particles gamma-ray burst: general methods: statistical The electron energy distribution index, p, is a fundamental parameter of the synchrotron emission from a rangeof astronomical sources. Here we examine one such source of synchrotron emission, gamma-ray burst (GRB)afterglows observed by the Swift satellite. Within the framework of the blast wave model, we examine theconstraints placed on the distribution of p by the observed X-ray spectral indices and parameterize the distribution.We find that the observed distribution of spectral indices are inconsistent with an underlying distribution ofp composed of a single discrete value but consistent with a Gaussian distribution centered at p = 2.36 andhaving a width of 0.59. Furthermore, accepting that the underlying distribution is a Gaussian, we find that themajority ( 94%) of GRB afterglows in our sample have cooling break frequencies less than the X-ray frequency. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38025 http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/716/2/L135/pdf/apjl_716_2_135.pdf Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd. restricted |
| spellingShingle | shock waves radiation mechanisms: - non-thermal acceleration of particles gamma-ray burst: general methods: statistical Curran, Peter Evans, P. De Pasqualea, M. Page, M. van der Horst, A. On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title | On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title_full | On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title_fullStr | On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title_short | On the Electron Energy Distribution Index of Swift Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows |
| title_sort | on the electron energy distribution index of swift gamma-ray burst afterglows |
| topic | shock waves radiation mechanisms: - non-thermal acceleration of particles gamma-ray burst: general methods: statistical |
| url | http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205/716/2/L135/pdf/apjl_716_2_135.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38025 |