Keywords

The number of long-duration gamma-ray burst (LGRB) host galaxies with measured metallicities and host masses has expanded sufficiently to investigate how the distributions of these properties change with redshift. Using the combined host galaxy metallicity sample from Graham & Fruchter and Krühler et al., we find a surprising lack of evolution in the LGRB metallicity distribution across different redshifts. In particular, the fraction of LGRB hosts with relatively high metallicity (12+log(O/H) ≥ 8.4) remains essentially constant out to z = 2.5. This result is at odds with the evolution in the mass–metallicity relation of typical galaxies, which become progressively more metal poor with increasing redshift. A similar result is found when converting the LGRB host galaxy mass distribution taken from the Swift GRB Host Galaxy Legacy Survey (SHOALS) sample to a corresponding metallicity distribution by applying a redshift-dependent mass–metallicity relation. The SHOALS sample is compiled using an unbiased selection function implying that the observed lack of evolution in the host galaxy high-metallicity distribution is not caused by selection effects. However, the LGRB host galaxy metallicities estimated from the stellar mass are typically a quarter dex higher at all redshifts than the metallicity we measure spectroscopically. This implies that using mass–metallicity relationships to estimate host metallicities will thus produce a substantial systematic bias.

In order to obtain an overview of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), we need a full sample. In this paper, we collected 6289 GRBs (from GRB 910421 to GRB 160509A) from the literature, including their prompt emission, afterglow, and host galaxy properties. We hope to use this large sample to reveal the intrinsic properties of GRBs. We have listed all of the data in machine-readable tables, including the properties of the GRBs, correlation coefficients and linear regression results of two arbitrary parameters, and linear regression results of any three parameters. These machine-readable tables could be used as a data reservoir for further studies on the classifications or correlations. One may find some intrinsic properties from these statistical results. With these comprehensive tables, it is possible to find relations between different parameters and to classify the GRBs into different subgroups. Upon completion, they may reveal the nature of GRBs and may be used as tools like pseudo-redshift indicators, standard candles, etc. All of the machine-readable data and statistical results are available.

Unlike ordinary supernovae (SNe), some of which are hydrogen and helium deficient (called Type Ic SNe), broad-lined Type Ic SNe (SNe Ic-bl) are very energetic events, and only SNe Ic-bl are coincident with long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Understanding the progenitors of SN Ic-bl explosions versus those of their SN Ic cousins is key to understanding the SN–GRB relationship and jet production in massive stars. Here we present the largest existing set of host galaxy spectra of 28 SNe Ic and 14 SNe Ic-bl, all discovered by the same galaxy-untargeted survey, namely, the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). We carefully measure their gas-phase metallicities, stellar masses (M_*), and star formation rates (SFRs). We further reanalyze the hosts of 10 literature SN–GRBs using the same methods and compare them to our PTF SN hosts with the goal of constraining their progenitors from their local environments. We find that the metallicities, SFRs, and M_* values of our PTF SN Ic-bl hosts are statistically comparable to those of SN–GRBs but significantly lower than those of the PTF SNe Ic. The mass–metallicity relations as defined by the SNe Ic-bl and SN–GRBs are not significantly different from the same relations as defined by Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies, contradicting claims by earlier works. Our findings point toward low metallicity as a crucial ingredient for SN Ic-bl and SN–GRB production since we are able to break the degeneracy between high SFR and low metallicity. We suggest that the PTF SNe Ic-bl may have produced jets that were choked inside the star or were able to break out of the star as unseen low-luminosity or off-axis GRBs.

We analyze 7.3 yr of ANTARES high-energy neutrino and Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) γ-ray data in search of cosmic neutrino + γ-ray (ν+γ) transient sources or source populations. Our analysis has the potential to detect either individual ν+γ transient sources (durations $\delta t\lesssim 1000$ s), if they exhibit sufficient γ-ray or neutrino multiplicity, or a statistical excess of ν+γ transients of individually lower multiplicities. Individual high γ-ray multiplicity events could be produced, for example, by a single ANTARES neutrino in coincidence with a LAT-detected γ-ray burst. Treating ANTARES track and cascade event types separately, we establish detection thresholds by Monte Carlo scrambling of the neutrino data, and determine our analysis sensitivity by signal injection against these scrambled data sets. We find our analysis is sensitive to ν+γ transient populations responsible for >5% of the observed gamma-coincident neutrinos in the track data at 90% confidence. Applying our analysis to the unscrambled data reveals no individual ν+γ events of high significance; two ANTARES track + Fermi γ-ray events are identified that exceed a once per decade false alarm rate threshold (p = 17%). No evidence for subthreshold ν+γ source populations is found among the track (p = 39%) or cascade (p = 60%) events. Exploring a possible correlation of high-energy neutrino directions with Fermi γ-ray sky brightness identified in previous work yields no added support for this correlation. While TXS 0506+056, a blazar and variable (nontransient) Fermi γ-ray source, has recently been identified as the first source of high-energy neutrinos, the challenges in reconciling observations of the Fermi γ-ray sky, the IceCube high-energy cosmic neutrinos, and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays using only blazars suggest a significant contribution by other source populations. Searches for transient sources of high-energy neutrinos thus remain interesting, with the potential for either neutrino clustering or multimessenger coincidence searches to lead to discovery of the first ν+γ transients.

We propose that the inner engine of a type I binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) is composed of Kerr black hole (BH) in a non-stationary state, embedded in a uniform magnetic field B₀ aligned with the BH rotation axis and surrounded by an ionized plasma of extremely low density of 10⁻¹⁴ g cm⁻³. Using GRB 130427A as a prototype, we show that this inner engine acts in a sequence of elementary impulses. Electrons accelerate to ultrarelativistic energy near the BH horizon, propagating along the polar axis, θ = 0, where they can reach energies of ∼10¹⁸ eV, partially contributing to ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. When propagating with $\theta \ne 0$ through the magnetic field B₀, they produce GeV and TeV radiation through synchroton emission. The mass of BH, M = 2.31M_⊙, its spin, α = 0.47, and the value of magnetic field B₀ = 3.48 × 10¹⁰ G, are determined self consistently to fulfill the energetic and the transparency requirement. The repetition time of each elementary impulse of energy ${ \mathcal E }\sim {10}^{37}$ erg is ∼10⁻¹⁴ s at the beginning of the process, then slowly increases with time evolution. In principle, this "inner engine" can operate in a gamma-ray burst (GRB) for thousands of years. By scaling the BH mass and the magnetic field, the same inner engine can describe active galactic nuclei.

We used the Télescope à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires network of telescopes to search for the electromagnetic counterparts of GW150914, GW170104, and GW170814, which were reported to originate from binary black hole merger events by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and Virgo collaborations. Our goal is to constrain the emission from a binary black hole coalescence at visible wavelengths. We developed a simple and effective algorithm to detect new sources by matching the image data with the Gaia catalog Data Release 1. Machine learning was used and an algorithm was designed to locate unknown sources in a large field of view image. The angular distance between objects in the image and in the catalog was used to find new sources; we then process the candidates to validate them as possible new unknown celestial objects. Though several possible candidates were detected in the three gravitational-wave source error boxes studied, none of them were confirmed as a viable counterpart. The algorithm was effective for the identification of unknown candidates in a very large field and provided candidates for GW150914, GW170104, and GW170814. The entire 90% GW170814 error box was surveyed extensively within 0.6 days after the gravitational-wave emission resulting in an absolute limiting R magnitude of −23.8. This strong limit excludes to a great extent a possible emission of a gamma-ray burst with an optical counterpart associated with GW170814.

We performed time-resolved spectroscopy on a sample of 38 single pulses from 37 gamma-ray bursts detected by the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor during the first 9 yr of its mission. For the first time a fully Bayesian approach is applied. A total of 577 spectra are obtained and their properties studied using two empirical photon models, namely the cutoff power law (CPL) and Band model. We present the obtained parameter distributions, spectral evolution properties, and parameter relations. We also provide the result files containing this information for usage in further studies. It is found that the CPL model is the preferred model, based on the deviance information criterion and the fact that it consistently provides constrained posterior density maps. In contrast to previous works, the high-energy power-law index of the Band model, β, has in general a lower value for the single pulses in this work. In particular, we investigate the individual spectrum in each pulse, that has the largest value of the low-energy spectral indexes, α. For these 38 spectra, we find that 60% of the α values are larger than −2/3, and thus incompatible with synchrotron emission. Finally, we find that the parameter relations show a variety of behaviors. Most noteworthy is the fact that the relation between α and the energy flux is similar for most of the pulses, independent of any evolution of the other parameters.

The spectral components of the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) mainly consist of two possible origins: synchrotron (nonthermal) and photosphere (thermal). The typical spectral properties of GRBs can be modeled by a dominant nonthermal component (a Band-like function or cutoff power law), while some of them have an additional thermal component (a Planck-like function). In this paper, we investigate the effects of thermal components on the nonthermal spectral parameters. We focus on eight Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor bursts of which the spectra deviate from a Band-only function, and the thermal components are significant. We sort them into thermal-subdominant Group I (e.g., GRB 110721A) and thermal-dominant Group II (e.g., GRB 090902B). Several interesting results are found assuming the spectral component is totally attributed to the nonthermal component: (i) the low-energy photon index α becomes harder; (ii) the peak energy E_c is significantly smaller and lies between the peak temperature of blackbody component and the peak energy of the cutoff power law + blackbody (CPL+BB) model; (iii) total flux F is generally the same; (iv) the changes (Δα and ΔE_c) are positively correlated with the ratio between the thermal flux and total flux; and (v) parameter relations (F–α, F–E_c, and E_c–α) also changed prominently. The GRBs in both groups show the same results. Our analysis indicates that the thermal component is important, and it significantly affects the spectral parameters and the consequential physical interpretations.

The first detected gravitational wave GW170817 from a binary neutron star merger is associated with an important optical transient AT 2017gfo, which is a direct observation of kilonova. Recent observations suggest that the remnant compact object of the binary neutron star merger associated with GW170817/GRB 170817A may be a stable long-lived magnetized neutron star. In this situation, there would be a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) embedded inside the dynamic ejecta. The PWN emission may be absorbed by the ejecta or leak out of the system. We study the effect of the PWN emission on the observed light curves and radiation spectra. Different from previous works, the absorption and leakage of the PWN emission are all involved in our model, where the absorption of the PWN emission heats up the ejecta and alters its radiation. It is found that the characteristic emission of the embedded PWN quickly evolves. For the multiband and long-term observations of AT 2017gfo, we find that the dynamic ejecta with a PWN emission can fit the observational data very well, especially for the light curves at t ∼ 5 days and those in the late phase. In addition, our model can naturally generate the thermal to nonthermal spectrum evolution of AT 2017gfo. Our fitting result suggests that a PWN is embedded in the AT 2017gfo.

We examine the possible role of turbulence in feeding the emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Turbulence may develop in a GRB jet as the result of hydrodynamic or current-driven instabilities. The jet carries dense radiation and the turbulence cascade can be damped by Compton drag, passing kinetic fluid energy to photons through scattering. We identify two regimes of turbulence dissipation: (1) "Viscous"—the turbulence cascade is Compton-damped on a scale ${{\ell }}_{\mathrm{damp}}$ greater than the photon mean free path ${{\ell }}_{\star }$. Then turbulence energy is passed to photons via bulk Comptonization by smooth shear flows on scale ${{\ell }}_{\star }\lt {{\ell }}_{\mathrm{damp}}$. (2) "Collisionless"—the cascade avoids Compton damping and extends to microscopic plasma scales much smaller than ${{\ell }}_{\star }$. The collisionless dissipation energizes plasma particles, which radiate the received energy; how the dissipated power is partitioned between particles needs further investigation with kinetic simulations. We show that the dissipation regime switches from viscous to collisionless during the jet expansion, at a critical value of the jet optical depth, which depends on the amplitude of turbulence. Turbulent GRB jets are expected to emit nonthermal photospheric radiation. Our analysis also suggests revisions of turbulent Comptonization in black hole accretion disks discussed in previous works.