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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Swift UVOT observations of X-ray flash 050406
Astrophysical Journal, Volume 643, No. 1 I, Year 2006
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Description
We present Swift UVOT data on the optical afterglow of the X-ray flash of 2005 April 6 (XRF 050406) from 88 to ∼105 s after the initial prompt γ-ray emission. Our observations in the V, B, and U bands are the earliest that have been taken of an XRF optical counterpart. Combining the early-time optical temporal and spectral properties with γ-ray and simultaneous X-ray data taken with the BAT and XRT telescopes on board Swift, we are able to constrain possible origins of the XRF. The prompt emission had a FRED (fast-rise, exponential decay) profile with a duration of T90 = 5.7 ± 0.2 s, putting it at the short end of the long-burst duration distribution. The absence of photoelectric absorption redward of 4000 Å in the UV/optical spectrum provides a firm upper limit of z ≤ 3.1 on the redshift, thus excluding a high redshift as the sole reason for the soft spectrum. The optical light curve is consistent with a power-law decay with slope α = -0.75 ± 0.26(Fν ∝ t α) and a maximum occurring in the first 200 s after the initial γ-ray emission. The softness of the prompt emission is well described by an off-axis structured jet model, which is able to account for the early peak flux and shallow decay observed in the optical and X-ray bands. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Schady, Patricia
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
United Kingdom, Dorking
Ucl Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Mason, Keith O.
United Kingdom, Swindon
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
Osborne, Julian P.
United Kingdom, Leicester
University of Leicester
Page, Mathew J.
United Kingdom, Dorking
Ucl Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Roming, Peter W.A.
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
Still, Martin D.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
South Africa, Cape Town
South African Astronomical Observatory
Zhang, Bing
United States, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Blustin, A. J.
United Kingdom, Dorking
Ucl Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Boyd, Patricia T.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
Cucchiara, Antonino
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
Gehrels, Neil C.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
Gronwall, Caryl A.
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
de Pasquale, Massimiliano
United Kingdom, Dorking
Ucl Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Holland, S. T.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
Marshall, Francis E.
United States, Greenbelt
Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center
McGowan, Katherine E.
United Kingdom, Dorking
Ucl Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Nousek, J. A.
United States, University Park
Pennsylvania State University
Statistics
Citations: 21
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1086/501449
ISSN:
0004637X
e-ISSN:
15384357
Research Areas
Environmental