TY - JOUR
T1 - Bayesian Time-resolved Spectroscopy of Multipulse GRBs
T2 - Variations of Emission Properties among Pulses
AU - Li, Liang
AU - Ryde, Felix
AU - Pe'Er, Asaf
AU - Yu, Hoi Fung
AU - Acuner, Zeynep
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are highly variable and exhibit strong spectral evolution. In particular, the emission properties vary from pulse to pulse in multipulse bursts. Here we present a time-resolved Bayesian spectral analysis of a compilation of GRB pulses observed by the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. The pulses are selected to have at least four time bins with a high statistical significance, which ensures that the spectral fits are well determined and spectral correlations can be established. The sample consists of 39 bursts, 117 pulses, and 1228 spectra. We confirm the general trend that pulses become softer over time, with mainly the low-energy power-law index α becoming smaller. A few exceptions to this trend exist, with the hardest pulse occurring at late times. The first pulse in a burst is clearly different from the later pulses; three-fourths of them violate the synchrotron line of death, while around half of them significantly prefer photospheric emission. These fractions decrease for subsequent pulses. We also find that in two-thirds of the pulses, the spectral parameters (α and peak energy) track the light-curve variations. This is a larger fraction compared to what is found in previous samples. In conclusion, emission compatible with the GRB photosphere is typically found close to the trigger time, while the chance of detecting synchrotron emission is greatest at late times. This allows for the coexistence of emission mechanisms at late times.
AB - Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are highly variable and exhibit strong spectral evolution. In particular, the emission properties vary from pulse to pulse in multipulse bursts. Here we present a time-resolved Bayesian spectral analysis of a compilation of GRB pulses observed by the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. The pulses are selected to have at least four time bins with a high statistical significance, which ensures that the spectral fits are well determined and spectral correlations can be established. The sample consists of 39 bursts, 117 pulses, and 1228 spectra. We confirm the general trend that pulses become softer over time, with mainly the low-energy power-law index α becoming smaller. A few exceptions to this trend exist, with the hardest pulse occurring at late times. The first pulse in a burst is clearly different from the later pulses; three-fourths of them violate the synchrotron line of death, while around half of them significantly prefer photospheric emission. These fractions decrease for subsequent pulses. We also find that in two-thirds of the pulses, the spectral parameters (α and peak energy) track the light-curve variations. This is a larger fraction compared to what is found in previous samples. In conclusion, emission compatible with the GRB photosphere is typically found close to the trigger time, while the chance of detecting synchrotron emission is greatest at late times. This allows for the coexistence of emission mechanisms at late times.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108449513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3847/1538-4365/abee2a
DO - 10.3847/1538-4365/abee2a
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AN - SCOPUS:85108449513
SN - 0067-0049
VL - 254
JO - Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
JF - Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
IS - 2
M1 - 35
ER -