Lorentz violation from gamma-ray bursts

The constancy of light speed is a basic assumption in Einstein’s special relativity, and consequently the Lorentz invariance is a fundamental symmetry of space–time in modern physics. However, it is speculated that the speed of light becomes energy-dependent due to the Lorentz invariance violation (LV) in various new physics theories. We analyse the data of the energetic photons from the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, and find more events to support the energy dependence in the light speed with both linear and quadratic form corrections. We provide two scenarios to understand all the new-released Pass 8 data of bright GRBs by the Fermi-LAT Collaboration, with predictions from such scenarios being testable by future detected GRBs.     

Cosmic gamma-ray bursts detected in the RELEC experiment onboard the Vernov satellite

The RELEC scientific instrumentation onboard the Vernov spacecraft launched on July 8, 2014, included the DRGE gamma-ray and electron spectrometer. This instrument incorporates a set of scintillation phoswich detectors, including four identical X-ray and gamma-ray detectors in the energy range from 10 keV to 3 MeV with a total area of ~500 cm² directed toward the nadir, and an electron spectrometer containing three mutually orthogonal detector units with a geometry factor of ~2 cm² sr, which is also sensitive to X-rays and gamma-rays. The goal of the space experiment with the DRGE instrument was to investigate phenomena with fast temporal variability, in particular, terrestrial gammaray flashes (TGFs) and magnetospheric electron precipitations. However, the detectors of the DRGE instrument could record cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and allowed one not only to perform a detailed analysis of the gamma-ray variability but also to compare the time profiles with the measurements made by other instruments of the RELEC scientific instrumentation (the detectors of optical and ultraviolet flashes, the radio-frequency and low-frequency analyzers of electromagnetic field parameters). We present the results of our observations of cosmicGRB 141011A and GRB 141104A, compare the parameters obtained in the GBM/Fermi and KONUS–Wind experiments, and estimate the redshifts and E _iso for the sources of these GRBs. The detectability of GRBs and good agreement between the independent estimates of their parameters obtained in various experiments are important factors of the successful operation of similar detectors onboard the Lomonosov spacecraft.     

Multiband fitting to three long GRBs with Fermi/LAT data:structured ejecta sweeping up a density-jump medium

We present broadband (radio,optical,X-ray and GeV) fits to the afterglow light curves and spectra of three long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs 080916C,090902B,and 090926A) detected by the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor and Large Area Telescope (LAT) instruments on the Fermi satellite.Using the observed broadband data,we study the origin of the high energy emission,and suggest that the early-time GeV emission and the late-time radio,optical,and X-ray afterglows can be understood as being due to synchrotron emissio...     

IACT observations of gamma-ray bursts: prospects for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Gamma rays at rest frame energies as high as 90 GeV have been reported from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). There is considerable hope that a confirmed GRB detection will be possible with the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), which will have a larger effective area and better low-energy sensitivity than current-generation imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). To estimate the likelihood of such a detection, we have developed a phenomenological model for GRB emission between 1 GeV and 1 TeV that is motivated by the high-energy GRB detections of Fermi-LAT, and allows us to extrapolate the statistics of GRBs seen by lower energy instruments such as the Swift-BAT and BATSE on the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory. We show a number of statistics for detected GRBs, and describe how the detectability of GRBs with CTA could vary based on a number of parameters, such as the typical observation delay between the burst onset and the start of ground observations. We also consider the possibility of using GBM on Fermi as a finder of GRBs for rapid ground follow-up. While the uncertainty of GBM localization is problematic, the small field-of-view for IACTs can potentially be overcome by scanning over the GBM error region. Overall, our results indicate that CTA should be able to detect one GRB every 20–30 months with our baseline instrument model, assuming consistently rapid pursuit of GRB alerts, and provided that spectral breaks below ~100 GeV are not a common feature of the bright GRB population. With a more optimistic instrument model, the detection rate can be as high as 1 to 2 GRBs per year.     

The Synchrotron-self-Compton Radiation Accompanying Shallow Decaying X-Ray Afterglow： the Case of GRB 940217

High energy emission (> tens MeV) of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) provides an important clue on the physical processes occurring in GRBs that may be correlated with the GRB early afterglow. A shallow decline phase has been well identified in about half of Swift Gamma-ray Burst X-ray afterglows. The widely considered interpretation involves a significant energy injection and possibly time-evolving shock parameter(s). We calculate the synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) radiation of such an external forward shock and show that it could explain the well-known long term high energy (i.e., tens MeV to GeV) afterglow of GRB 940217. We propose that cooperation of Swift and GLAST will help to reveal the nature of GRBs.     

GeV emission from neutron-rich internal shocks of some long γ-ray bursts

In the neutron-rich internal shocks model for γ-ray bursts (GRBs), the Lorentz factors (LFs) of ion shells are variable, and so are the LFs of accompanying neutron shells. For slow neutron shells with a typical LF of approximate tens, the typical β-decay radius is  ∼10¹⁴–10¹⁵ cm  . As GRBs last long enough  [ T ₉₀ > 14(1 + z ) s]  , one earlier but slower ejected neutron shell will be swept successively by later ejected ion shells in the range  ∼10¹³–10¹⁵ cm  , where slow neutrons have decayed significantly. Part of the thermal energy released in the interaction will be given to the electrons. These accelerated electrons will mainly be cooled by the prompt soft γ-rays and give rise to GeV emission. This kind of GeV emission is particularly important for some very long GRBs and is detectable for the upcoming satellite Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST).     

Compton γ射线望远镜的直接解调成像

Ｃｏｍｐｔｏｎγ射线望远镜ＣＯＭＰＴＥＬ／ＣＧＲＯ工作于０．７５－３０ＭｅＶ能区，本文应用直接解调方法分析ＣＧＲＯ＃１观测的ＣＯＭＰＴＥＬ数据，准确定出Ｃｒａｂγ射线源的位置，在１０－３０ＭｅＶ能区，分辨开最大似然法所不能完全分辨的Ｃｒａｂγ射线源和类星体ＰＫＳ０５２８＋１３４，得出优于传统成像方法所得的成像结果．应用直接成像方法处理γ射线脉冲星Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ分位相数据，发现Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ在１０－３０ＭｅＶ能区仍存在辐射，辐射集中在Ｇｅｍｉｎｇａ第一个峰的位相区域．结果表明，应用直接解调方法对Ｃｏｍｐｔｏｎ望远镜数据作成像分析是完全可行的     

The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager on AstroSat

The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) is a high energy, wide-field imaging instrument on AstroSat. CZTI’s namesake Cadmium Zinc Telluride detectors cover an energy range from 20 keV to \(>200\) keV, with 11% energy resolution at 60 keV. The coded aperture mask attains an angular resolution of 17\(^\prime \) over a 4.6\(^\circ \) \(\times \) 4.6\(^\circ \)  (FWHM) field-of-view. CZTI functions as an open detector above 100 keV, continuously sensitive to GRBs and other transients in about 30% of the sky. The pixellated detectors are sensitive to polarization above \(\sim \)100 keV, with exciting possibilities for polarization studies of transients and bright persistent sources. In this paper, we provide details of the complete CZTI instrument, detectors, coded aperture mask, mechanical and electronic configuration, as well as data and products.     

Classifying GRB 170817A/GW170817 in a Fermi duration–hardness plane

GRB 170817A, associated with the LIGO-Virgo GW170817 neutron-star merger event, lacks the short duration and hard spectrum of a Short gamma-ray burst (GRB) expected from long-standing classification models. Correctly identifying the class to which this burst belongs requires comparison with other GRBs detected by the Fermi GBM. The aim of our analysis is to classify Fermi GRBs and to test whether or not GRB 170817A belongs—as suggested—to the Short GRB class. The Fermi GBM catalog provides a large database with many measured variables that can be used to explore gamma-ray burst classification. We use statistical techniques to look for clustering in a sample of 1298 gamma-ray bursts described by duration and spectral hardness. Classification of the detected bursts shows that GRB 170817A most likely belongs to the Intermediate, rather than the Short GRB class. We discuss this result in light of theoretical neutron-star merger models and existing GRB classification schemes. It appears that GRB classification schemes may not yet be linked to appropriate theoretical models, and that theoretical models may not yet adequately account for known GRB class properties. We conclude that GRB 170817A may not fit into a simple phenomenological classification scheme.     

A catalog of cosmic gamma-ray bursts detected by the PHEBUS instrument on the Granat observatory: October 1994–December 1996

We present the final part of the catalog of cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) observed in the PHEBUS experiment on the Granat orbiting astrophysical observatory. The first three parts of the catalog were published by Terekhov et al. (1994, 1995a) and Tkachenko et al. (1998). The fourth part contains information on 32 events recorded from October 1994 until December 1996. We give burst light curves in the energy range 100 keV to 1.6 MeV, integrated energy spectra, and information on the fluence and energy flux at the luminosity peak for energies above 100 keV. Over the entire period of its operation, the PHEBUS instrument detected 206 cosmic GRBs. The mean ?V/V_max? was 0.336±0.007. The mean hardness corresponding to the ratio of count numbers in the energy ranges 400–1000 and 100–400 keV is 0.428±0.018 for events with a duration shorter than 2 s and 0.231±0.004 for events with a duration longer than 2 s.     

伽玛射线暴及其余辉研究进展

伽玛射线暴是一种来自宇宙空间随机方向的短时间内伽玛射线突然增亮的现象。伽玛射线暴虽然早在1967年就由Vela卫星观测到,但直到1997年人们才通过余辉观测确定其寄主星系,并通过寄主星系的红移最终确定了伽玛射线暴的宇宙学起源。对伽玛射线暴研究概况进行了评述:详细介绍了伽玛射线暴及其余辉的观测进展,特别是近期Swift卫星和Fermi卫星带来的新发现;系统描述了伽玛射线暴标准火球模型、伽玛射线暴余辉物理(相对论性外流与暴周环境介质的相互作用过程、辐射产生机制等)及伽玛射线暴的前身星等。也对伽玛射线暴的未来研究进行了展望。     

Interpretation and implications of the non-detection of GeV spectrum excess by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in most gamma-ray bursts

Since the launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope on 2008 June 11, significant detections of high-energy emission have been reported only in six gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) until now. In this work we show that the lack of detection of a GeV spectrum excess in almost all GRBs, though somewhat surprising, can be well understood within the standard internal shock model and several alternatives like the photosphere internal shock (gradual magnetic dissipation) model and the magnetized internal shock model. The delay of the arrival of the >100 MeV photons from some Fermi bursts can be interpreted too. We then show that with the polarimetry of prompt emission these models may be distinguishable. In the magnetized internal shock model, a high linear polarization level should be typical. In the standard internal shock model, a high linear polarization level is still possible but much less frequent. In the photosphere internal shock model, the linear polarization degree is expected to be roughly anticorrelated with the weight of the photosphere/thermal component, which may be a unique signature of this kind of model. We also briefly discuss the implications of the current Fermi GRB data on the detection prospects of the prompt PeV neutrinos. The influences of the intrinsic proton spectrum and the enhancement of the neutrino number at some specific energies, due to the cooling of pions (muons), are outlined.     

The NATALYA-2M spectrometer of high-energy radiations for the CORONAS-PHOTON space project

The NATALYA-2M high-energy radiation spectrometer is an element of the complex of scientific equipment of the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite. The instrument intended for registering gamma radiation of solar flares in the broad energy range of 0.2–1600 MeV as well as neutrons of solar origin with energies of 20–300 MeV represents itself as a scintillation spectrometer based on CsI(Tl) crystals with a total area of 32 × 38 cm² and the thickness of 18 cm. The spectra and time profiles of the gamma quanta count rates are measured in four subranges: R (0.2–2 MeV), L (1–18 MeV), M (7–250 MeV), and H (50–1600 MeV). Depending on the gamma radiation energy, the effective area of the instrument varies within the range from 750 to 900 cm², and the energy resolution at the Cs-137 line (662 keV) is 10%, it being about 30% at energies higher than 50 MeV. A system of stabilization based on the signal from the generator of reference light pulses is used to provide stability and automated adjustment of the parameters of spectrometric modules. The measuring channels of the instrument are calibrated during the flight using a source of “tagged” gamma quanta on the Co-60 radioactive isotope. Polystyrene scintillation counters are used to provide protection from the background of charged particles. The “CORONAS-PHOTON” spacecraft (SC) was launched from the Plesetsk spaceport on January 30, 2009, to a low circular near-Earth orbit (the altitude is 550 km, the inclination is 82.5°). On February 27, the first scientific data were obtained from the NATALYA-2M instrument. The results of the flight calibration of the instrument detectors in different energy channels demonstrated good agreement with the ground measurements. The paper describes the instrument and observational potentials of the NATALYA-2M spectrometer, gives the results of the adjustment and calibration, and exemplifies the registration of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)on the orbit.     

The design of diamond Compton telescope

We have developed radiation detectors using the new synthetic diamonds. The diamond detector has an advantage for observations of “low/medium” energy gamma rays as a Compton telescope. The primary advantage of the diamond detector can reduce the photoelectric effect in the low energy range, which is background noise for tracking of the Compton recoil electron. A concept of the Diamond Compton Telescope (DCT) consists of position sensitive layers of diamond-striped detector and calorimeter layer of CdTe detector. The key part of the DCT is diamond-striped detectors with a higher positional resolution and a wider energy range from 10 keV to 10 MeV. However, the diamond-striped detector is under development. We describe the performance of prototype diamond detector and the design of a possible DCT evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations.      

Where are Swiftγ-ray bursts beyond the 'synchrotron deathline'?

We study time-resolved spectra of the prompt emission of Swift γ-ray bursts (GRB). Our goal is to see if previous BATSE claims of the existence of a large amount of spectra with the low-energy photon indices harder than 2/3 are consistent with Swift data. We perform a systematic search of the episodes of the spectral hardening down to the photon indices  ≤2/3  in the prompt emission spectra of Swift GRBs. We show that the data of the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) instrument on board of Swift are consistent with BATSE data, if one takes into account differences between the two instruments. Much lower statistics of the very hard spectra in Swift GRBs are explained by the smaller field of view and narrower energy band of the BAT telescope.     

Accelerator measurement of NaI response to medium energy neutrons and application to a Satellite-Borne Spectrometer

We report on the response of a prototype detector to medium energy neutrons. The neutrons were produced by n-p scattering of a neutron beam on a hydrogen target. The measurements provide unique data on the efficiency and response of large NaI scintillators to neutrons in the energy range 36–709 MeV. We apply the results to the high-energy mode of the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite by estimating its efficiency for neutron detection. This estimate is compared to earlier Monte Carlo calculations of the GRS efficiency.     

Scientific prospects for spectroscopy of the gamma-ray burst prompt emission with SVOM

SVOM (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) is a Sino-French space mission dedicated to the study of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) in the next decade, capable to detect and localise the GRB emission, and to follow its evolution in the high-energy and X-ray domains, and in the visible and NIR bands. The satellite carries two wide-field high-energy instruments: a coded-mask gamma-ray imager (ECLAIRs; 4–150 keV), and a gamma-ray spectrometer (GRM; 15–5500 keV) that, together, will characterise the GRB prompt emission spectrum over a wide energy range. In this paper we describe the performances of the ECLAIRs and GRM system with different populations of GRBs from existing catalogues, from the classical ones to those with a possible thermal component superimposed to their non-thermal emission. The combination of ECLAIRs and the GRM will provide new insights also on other GRB properties, as for example the spectral characterisation of the subclass of short GRBs showing an extended emission after the initial spike.     

History of gamma-ray telescopes and astronomy

Gamma-ray astronomy is devoted to study nuclear and elementary particle astrophysics and astronomical objects under extreme conditions of gravitational and electromagnetic forces, and temperature. Because signals from gamma rays below 1 TeV cannot be recorded on ground, observations from space are required. The photoelectric effect is dominant <100 keV, Compton scattering between 100 keV and 10 MeV, and electron–positron pair production at energies above 10 MeV. The sun and some gamma ray burst sources are the strongest gamma ray sources in the sky. For other sources, directionality is obtained by shielding / masks at low energies, by using the directional properties of the Compton effect, or of pair production at high energies. The power of angular resolution is low (fractions of a degree, depending on energy), but the gamma sky is not crowded and sometimes identification of sources is possible by time variation. The gamma ray astronomy time line lists Explorer XI in 1961, and the first discovery of gamma rays from the galactic plane with its successor OSO-3 in 1968. The first solar flare gamma ray lines were seen with OSO-7 in 1972. In the 1980’s, the Solar Maximum Mission observed a multitude of solar gamma ray phenomena for 9 years. Quite unexpectedly, gamma ray bursts were detected by the Vela-satellites in 1967. It was 30 years later, that the extragalactic nature of the gamma ray burst phenomenon was finally established by the Beppo–Sax satellite. Better telescopes were becoming available, by using spark chambers to record pair production at photon energies >30 MeV, and later by Compton telescopes for the 1–10 MeV range. In 1972, SAS-2 began to observe the Milky Way in high energy gamma rays, but, unfortunately, for a very brief observation time only due to a failure of tape recorders. COS-B from 1975 until 1982 with its wire spark chamber, and energy measurement by a total absorption counter, produced the first sky map, recording galactic continuum emission, mainly from interactions of cosmic rays with interstellar matter, and point sources (pulsars and unidentified objects). An integrated attempt at observing the gamma ray sky was launched with the Compton Observatory in 1991 which stayed in orbit for 9 years. This large shuttle-launched satellite carried a wire spark chamber “Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope” EGRET for energies >30 MeV which included a large Cesium Iodide crystal spectrometer, a “Compton Telescope” COMPTEL for the energy range 1–30 MeV, the gamma ray “Burst and Transient Source Experiment” BATSE, and the “Oriented Scintillation-Spectrometer Experiment” OSSE. The results from the “Compton Observatory” were further enlarged by the SIGMA mission, launched in 1989 with the aim to closely observe the galactic center in gamma rays, and INTEGRAL, launched in 2002. From these missions and their results, the major features of gamma ray astronomy are:

Diffuse emission, i.e. interactions of cosmic rays with matter, and matter–antimatter annihilation; it is found, “...that a matter–antimatter symmetric universe is empirically excluded....”

Nuclear lines, i.e. solar gamma rays, or lines from radioactive decay (nucleosynthesis), like the 1.809 MeV line of radioactive ²⁶Al;

Localized sources, i.e. pulsars, active galactic nuclei, gamma ray burst sources (compact relativistic sources), and unidentified sources.

     

Preliminary results on VLT K-band imaging observations of GRB host galaxies

We have obtainedK-band imaging observations of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) host galaxies with the near-infrared spectro-imager ISAAC installed on the Very Large Telescope at Paranal (Chile). The derivedK magnitudes, combined with other photometric data taken from the literature, are used to investigate theR-K colors of GRB hosts. We do not find any extremely reddened starbursts in our sample, despite the capability of GRBs to trace star formation even in dusty regions. The observedR-K colors are on the contrary typical of irregular and spiral blue galaxies at high redshift.     

一种低噪声硅微条探测器读出电子学系统的设计

硅微条探测器空间分辨率高、工作性能稳定, 广泛地应用于空间高能粒子探测领域. 如费米gamma射线空间望远镜(Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, FGST)以及阿尔法磁谱仪(Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 2, AMS-02)的径迹探测器中都采用了高位置分辨率的硅微条探测器. 基于硅微条探测器在空间观测领域的应用前景, 针对硅微条探测器单元设计了一套低噪声的电子学读出系统. 整个电子学系统分为前端电子学、数据获取电路和上位机软件. 前端电子学为提高集成度, 采用了一款电荷读出芯片VATAGP8, 实现了多通道、低噪声的电荷信号测量; 数据获取电路使用现场可编程门阵列(Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA)实现了对前端电子学的时序控制以及对测量信号的采集控制; 上位机用来接收、处理数据获取电路采集的信号数据. 在对电子学通道的线性、基线、噪声等性能进行测试之后, 得到系统在0--200fC电荷输入范围内的线性增益约为13.41bin/fC, 积分非线性小于1%, 噪声小于0.093fC. 为了验证电子学读出系统对硅微条探测器单元的读出能力, 将两者集成在一起并测试了宇宙线缪子的能量沉积, 得到读出电子学系统的信噪比大于32, 缪子的电离损失能谱与Landau-Gaussian分布符合较好, 能够满足硅微条探测器单元读出电子学的设计要求.