TY - JOUR
T1 - An observational imprint of the Collapsar model of long gamma-ray bursts
AU - Bromberg, Omer
AU - Nakar, Ehud
AU - Piran, Tsvi
AU - Sari, Re'Em
PY - 2012/4/20
Y1 - 2012/4/20
N2 - The Collapsar model provides a theoretical framework for the well-known association between long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and collapsing massive stars. A bipolar relativistic jet, launched at the core of a collapsing star, drills its way through the stellar envelope and breaks out of the surface before producing the observed gamma rays. While a wealth of observations associate GRBs with the death of massive stars, as yet there is no direct evidence for the Collapsar model itself. Here we show that a distinct signature of the Collapsar model is the appearance of a plateau in the duration distribution of the prompt GRB emission at times much shorter than the typical breakout time of the jet. This plateau is evident in the data of all three major satellites. Our findings provide evidence that directly supports the Collapsar model. In addition, the model suggests the existence of a large population of choked (failed) GRBs, and implies that the 2 s duration commonly used to separate Collapsars and non-Collapsars is inconsistent with the duration distributions of Swift and Fermi GRBs and only holds for BATSE GRBs.
AB - The Collapsar model provides a theoretical framework for the well-known association between long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and collapsing massive stars. A bipolar relativistic jet, launched at the core of a collapsing star, drills its way through the stellar envelope and breaks out of the surface before producing the observed gamma rays. While a wealth of observations associate GRBs with the death of massive stars, as yet there is no direct evidence for the Collapsar model itself. Here we show that a distinct signature of the Collapsar model is the appearance of a plateau in the duration distribution of the prompt GRB emission at times much shorter than the typical breakout time of the jet. This plateau is evident in the data of all three major satellites. Our findings provide evidence that directly supports the Collapsar model. In addition, the model suggests the existence of a large population of choked (failed) GRBs, and implies that the 2 s duration commonly used to separate Collapsars and non-Collapsars is inconsistent with the duration distributions of Swift and Fermi GRBs and only holds for BATSE GRBs.
KW - gamma rays: stars
KW - gamma-ray burst: general
KW - stars: Wolf-Rayet
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859373445&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/749/2/110
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/749/2/110
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AN - SCOPUS:84859373445
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 749
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 2
M1 - 110
ER -