Guidorzi, C, Kobayashi, S, Perley, DA, Vianello, G, Bloom, JS, Chandra, P, Kann, DA, Li, W, Mundell, CG, Pozanenko, A, Prochaska, JX, Antoniuk, K, Bersier, D, Filippenko, AV, Frail, DA, Gomboc, A, Klunko, E, Melandri, A, Mereghetti, S, Morgan, AN et al, O'Brien, PT, Rumyantsev, V, Smith, RJ, Steele, IA, Tanvir, NR and Volnova, A (2011) A faint optical flash in dust-obscured GRB 080603A: implications for GRB prompt emission mechanisms. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 417 (3). pp. 2124-2143. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

We report the detection of a faint optical flash by the 2-m Faulkes Telescope North simultaneously with the second of two prompt γ-ray pulses in INTEGRAL gamma-ray burst (GRB) 080603A, beginning at trest= 37 s after the onset of the GRB. This optical flash appears to be distinct from the subsequent emerging afterglow emission, for which we present comprehensive broad-band radio to X-ray light curves to 13 d post-burst and rigorously test the standard fireball model. The intrinsic extinction towards GRB 080603A is high (AV, z= 0.8 mag), and the well-sampled X-ray-to-near-infrared spectral energy distribution is interesting in requiring an LMC2 extinction profile, in contrast to the majority of GRBs. Comparison of the γ-ray and extinction-corrected optical flux densities of the flash rules out an inverse-Compton origin for the prompt γ-rays; instead, we suggest that the optical flash could originate from the inhomogeneity of the relativistic flow. In this scenario, a large velocity irregularity in the flow produces the prompt γ-rays, followed by a milder internal shock at a larger radius that would cause the optical flash. Flat γ-ray spectra, roughly F∝ν−0.1, are observed in many GRBs. If the flat spectrum extends down to the optical band in GRB 080603A, the optical flare could be explained as the low-energy tail of the γ-ray emission. If this is indeed the case, it provides an important clue to understanding the nature of the emission process in the prompt phase of GRBs and highlights the importance of deep (R > 20 mag), rapid follow-up observations capable of detecting faint, prompt optical emission.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2011 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions:	Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2017 10:10
Last Modified:	20 Apr 2022 09:51
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19394.x
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5296

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