EP241217a: A Likely Type II GRB with an Achromatic Bump at z = 4.59

Zhou, H, Ren, J, Wang, C-W, Liu, X, Liu, B-Y, Levan, AJ, Rastinejad, JC, Geng, J-J, Wang, H, Blanchard, PK, Fong, W-F, Gompertz, BP, Malesani, DB, Kilpatrick, CD, Lamb, GP ORCID: 0000-0001-5169-4143, Metzger, BD, Nicholl, M, Tanvir, NR, Wang, Y, Rong, Y et al (2026) EP241217a: A Likely Type II GRB with an Achromatic Bump at z = 4.59. The Astrophysical Journal, 998 (1). ISSN 0004-637X

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Abstract

EP241217a is an X-ray transient detected by the Einstein Probe lasting for about 100 s and without accompanying γ-ray detection. The optical spectroscopy reveals the redshift of EP241217a is 4.59. By combining the γ-ray upper limit provided by GECAM-C, there is a considerable possibility that EP241217a is a typical type II gamma-ray burst, but it is fainter than the detection threshold of any available γ-ray monitors (i.e., Eγ,iso ≲ 1053 erg). The X-ray light curve exhibits a plateau lasting for ∼5 × 104 s. However, the joint analysis with optical data suggests the presence of an achromatic bump peaking at ∼3 × 104 s after the trigger, indicating the actual duration of the X-ray plateau may be significantly shorter than it appears. To interpret the achromatic bump, we adopt the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in a wind-like medium and encountering a rapid density enhancement of the circumburst medium, which is likely induced by the interaction of the progenitor’s stellar wind and the interstellar medium. However, this model cannot fully explain observed data, and some issues do exist, e.g., the observed spectrum is harder than the model prediction. Consequently, we conclude that the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in the wind-like medium cannot explain all observed features of EP241217a. In addition, some alternative models commonly invoked to explain X-ray plateaus are discussed, but there are more or less issues when they were applied to EP241217a. Therefore, further theoretical modeling is encouraged to explore the origin of EP241217a.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	5101 Astronomical Sciences; 51 Physical Sciences; 5101 Astronomical Sciences; 51 Physical Sciences; 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences; 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics; 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural); Astronomy & Astrophysics; 5101 Astronomical sciences; 5107 Particle and high energy physics; 5109 Space sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions:	Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
Date of acceptance:	7 December 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	22 April 2026
Date Deposited:	22 Apr 2026 13:50
Last Modified:	22 Apr 2026 13:50
DOI or ID number:	10.3847/1538-4357/ae29b5
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28433

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