Extrapolations of BATSE Gamma-Ray Burst Spectra to the Optical-Ultraviolet Band
Abstract
Many gamma-ray burst counterpart searches are being conducted in the optical-UV band. To both predict detectability and understand the meaning of any detections or upper limits, we extrapolate gamma-ray spectra from 54 bright gamma-ray bursts to optical-UV energies. We assume optical emission is concurrent with gamma-ray emission and do not consider quiescent or fading counterparts. We find that the spectrum must be steeper (greater flux at low energy) than a simple extrapolation of the gamma-ray spectrum for more than one simultaneous optical flash to be observable per year by current searches.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1086/178211
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9607054
- Bibcode:
- 1996ApJ...473.1013F
- Keywords:
-
- GAMMA RAYS: BURSTS;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS: THERMAL;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 18 pages including 4 figures, AASTeX 4 (including EPSF), to be published in Ap. J