GRB 021004: Tomography of a gamma-ray burst progenitor and its host galaxy

A.J. Castro-Tirado...[et al.], P. Møller, José María Castro Cerón, Johan Peter Uldall Fynbo, Jens Hjorth, H. Pedersen, Paul Marijn Vreeswijk

23 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims. We analyse the distribution of matter around the progenitor star of gamma-ray burst GRB 021004 and the properties of its host galaxy with high-resolution echelle and near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods. Observations were taken by the 8.2 m Very Large Telescope with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle spectrograph (UVES) and the Infrared Spectrometer And Array Camera (ISAAC) between 10 and 14 h after the onset of the event. Results. We report the first detection of emission lines from a GRB host galaxy in the near-infrared, detecting Hα and the [O III] doublet. These allow us to independently measure the systemic redshift (z = 2.3304 ± 0.0005), which is not contaminated by absorption as the Lyα line is, and infer the host galaxy properties. From the visual echelle spectroscopy, we find several absorption-line groups spanning a range of about 3000 km s-1 in velocity relative to the redshift of the host galaxy. The absorption profiles are very complex with both velocity-broadened components extending over several 100 km s-1 and narrow lines with velocity widths of only ∼20 km s-1. By analogy with QSO absorption line studies, the relative velocities, widths, and degrees of ionization of the lines ("line- locking", "ionization-velocity correlation") show that the progenitor had both an extremely strong radiation field and several distinct mass-loss phases (winds). Conclusions. These results are consistent with GRB progenitors being massive stars, such as luminous blue variables (LBVs) or Wolf-Rayet stars, providing a detailed picture of the spatial and velocity structure of the GRB progenitor star at the time of explosion. The host galaxy is a prolific star-forming galaxy with a SFR of ∼40 M.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAstronomy & Astrophysics
Vol/bind517
Sider (fra-til)A61
Antal sider9
ISSN0004-6361
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 6 aug. 2010

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