Статья

ON THE ELECTRON ENERGY DISTRIBUTION INDEX OF <i>SWIFT</i> GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOWS

P. A. CurranMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College of London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK; [email protected]N. GehrelsDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UKM. de PasqualeMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College of London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK; [email protected]M. J. PageMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College of London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK; [email protected]A. J. van der HorstNSSTC, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA

2010en

ABI

Аннотация

The electron energy distribution index, p, is a fundamental parameter of the synchrotron emission from a range of astronomical sources. Here we examine one such source of synchrotron emission, Gamma-Ray Burst afterglows observed by the Swift satellite. Within the framework of the blast wave model, we examine the constraints placed on the distribution of p by the observed X-ray spectral indices and parametrise the distribution. We find that the observed distribution of spectral indices are inconsistent with an underlying distribution of p composed of a single discrete value but consistent with a Gaussian distribution centred at p = 2.36 and having a width of 0.59. Furthermore, accepting that the underlying distribution is a Gaussian, we find the majority (>94%) of GRB afterglows in our sample have cooling break frequencies less than the X-ray frequency.

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Идентификаторы

DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/716/2/l135

Цитирования и источники

Цитирований: 4Использованных источников: 0

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