Energetics of gamma-ray bursts

Raul Jimenez*, David Band, Tsvi Piran

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

We determine the distribution of total energy emitted by gamma-ray bursts for bursts with fluence and distance information. Our core sample consists of eight bursts with BATSE spectra and spectroscopic redshifts. We extend this sample by adding four bursts with BATSE spectra and host galaxy R magnitudes. From these R magnitudes, we calculate a redshift probability distribution; this method requires a model of the host galaxy population. From a sample of 10 bursts with both spectroscopic redshifts and host galaxy R magnitudes (some do not have BATSE spectra), we find that the burst rate is proportional to the galaxy luminosity at the epoch of the burst. Assuming that the total energy emitted has a lognormal distribution, we find that the average emitted energy (assumed to be radiated isotropically) is 〈Eyiso〉 = 1.3+1.2-0.7 × 1053 ergs (for H0 = 65 km s-1 Mpc-1, Ωm = 0.3, and ΩΛ = 0.7); the distribution has a logarithmic width of σγ = 1.7+0.7-0.3. The corresponding distribution of X-ray afterglow energy (for seven bursts) has 〈EX,iso〉 = 3.5+21-1.3 × 1051 ergs and σX = 1.3+0.4-0.3. For completeness, we also provide spectral fits for all bursts with BATSE spectra for which there were afterglow searches.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-177
Number of pages7
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume561
Issue number1 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2001

Keywords

  • Gamma rays: bursts

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Energetics of gamma-ray bursts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this