XMM-Newton observations of GRB afterglows
Abstract
The results from XMM-Newton follow-up observations of GRB afterglows, over the course of the last 3 years, will be presented. At least three of the XMM-Newton afterglows show evidence for time variable, soft X-ray emission lines; in GRB 011211, GRB 030227 and most recently in GRB 040106. GRB 011211 was the first burst where soft X-ray emission lines from Si, S, Ar and Ca were identified, the 0.1c blue-shift of the lines compared to the known optical redshift of the host implied that the emitting material was most likely the ejecta from a prior Supernova explosion. In GRB 040106 I will present the first XMM-Newton RGS (grating) spectrum of an afterglow, and show that the soft X-ray lines are resolved, with a velocity width of about 7000 km/s. The statistical concerns raised over all the line detections will be addressed, from the results of extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, recent results from the Integral burst GRB 031203 will be presented, the time-resolved XMM-Newton images of the afterglow showing evidence for an expanding dust echo, from prompt burst X-rays scattering off dust within our own galaxy.
- Publication:
-
35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004cosp...35.3612R