Disclosing the gamma-ray burst circumburst ambient with XMM-Newton
Abstract
Long GRBs signal the death of massive stars. The afterglow emission can be used to probe the progenitor ambient through a detailed study of the absorption pattern. This has been done at optical wavelengths with impressive results. We propose here to carry out similar studies in the X-ray band with high resolution spectroscopy. Taking advantage of Swift observations, we propose to trigger TOOs on selected bright GRBs within 1 d from their explosions. These data will allow us to have access to an unprecedented statistics. Detailed studies of the absorption pattern imprinted in the X-ray spectrum by the circumburst material as well as the host galaxy ISM can be carried out, allowing us to shed light on the material metallicity, composition and distance.
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010xmm..prop...55C
- Keywords:
-
- White Dwarf Binaries;
- Neutron Star Binaries;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- ULXs;
- Black Holes;
- GRB TOO-1