Signature of a Magnetar Central Engine from the Multiband Afterglow of GRB 151027A Associated with a Supernova

Chen, LJ; Wang, XG; Lü, HJ; Zheng, WK; Perley, DA; Lin, DB; Wang, Y; Kong, DF; Hu, YD; Xia, J; Cenko, SB; Liu, HB; Xie, F; Lü, J; Liang, EW; Zhang, B; Filippenko, AV

Signature of a Magnetar Central Engine from the Multiband Afterglow of GRB 151027A Associated with a Supernova

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Chen, LJ ORCID: 0009-0007-7188-3196, Wang, XG ORCID: 0000-0001-8411-8011, Lü, HJ ORCID: 0000-0001-6396-9386, Zheng, WK ORCID: 0000-0002-2636-6508, Perley, DA ORCID: 0000-0001-8472-1996, Lin, DB ORCID: 0000-0003-1474-293X, Wang, Y ORCID: 0000-0002-8614-8721, Kong, DF ORCID: 0009-0000-6816-654X, Hu, YD ORCID: 0000-0002-7400-4608, Xia, J, Cenko, SB ORCID: 0000-0003-1673-970X, Liu, HB ORCID: 0000-0003-1695-3263, Xie, F ORCID: 0000-0002-0105-5826, Lü, J, Liang, EW ORCID: 0000-0002-7044-733X, Zhang, B ORCID: 0000-0002-9725-2524 and Filippenko, AV ORCID: 0000-0003-3460-0103 (2026) Signature of a Magnetar Central Engine from the Multiband Afterglow of GRB 151027A Associated with a Supernova. The Astrophysical Journal, 1002 (1). ISSN 1538-4357

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Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae595e

Abstract

We report multiwavelength observations and theoretical modeling of the afterglow of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 151027A. The object exhibits a complete evolutionary sequence, including prompt gamma-ray and optical emission, an initial optical onset bump, an optical rebrightening, a late-time supernova bump, an X-ray flare, and two distinct X-ray plateaus. GRB 151027A exhibits nearly all characteristic features observed in GRB afterglows. Such a rich set of features within a single event is exceptionally rare. We show that the first X-ray plateau followed by a rapid decay can be attributed to the collapse of a newly formed magnetar to form a black hole. The second X-ray plateau can be explained by fallback accretion. We find that the energy-injection model successfully reproduces the optical rebrightening of GRB 151027A. The late-time optical bump is well described by a 56 Ni-powered supernova light curve. GRB 151027A presents a complete physical picture for GRB phenomenology, whereas reconstructing such a comprehensive picture previously required the statistical analysis of multiple GRBs.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	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
Divisions:	Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher:	American Astronomical Society
Date of acceptance:	26 March 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	12 June 2026
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2026 12:36
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2026 12:36
DOI or ID number:	10.3847/1538-4357/ae595e
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28824

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