Underlying Global Features of the X-ray Light Curves of Swift Gamma-ray Bursts
Abstract
With its rapid response, Swift has revealed plenty of unexpected properties of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). With an abundance of observations, our current understanding is only limited by the complexity of early X-ray light curves. In this work, based on the public Swift data of 150 well-monitored GRBs with measured redshifts, we find some interesting global features in the rest-frame X-ray light curves. The distinct spectral behaviors between the prompt emission and the afterglow emission imply dissimilar radiation scenarios. Interestingly, an unforeseen plateau is exhibited in the prompt X-ray light curves despite the presence of complex spikes, which might indicate the presence of a steady central engine. In particular, the seemingly continuous evolution with a single power law from the prompt to the afterglow of most GRBs might place strong constraints on the theoretical models.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2041-8205/719/2/L172
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1006.0286
- Bibcode:
- 2010ApJ...719L.172S
- Keywords:
-
- gamma-ray burst: general;
- radiation mechanisms: non-thermal;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 16 pages, 3 figures, published in ApJ Letters