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Constraints on Short Gamma-ray Burst Models with Optical Limits of GRB 050509bWe have obtained deep optical images with the Very Large Telescope at ESO of the first well-localized short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 050509b. We observed in the V and R bands at epochs starting at approx. 2 days after the GRB trigger and lasting up to three weeks. We detect no variable objects inside the small Swift/XRT X-ray error circle down to 5(sigma) limiting magnitudes of V = 26.5 and R = 25.2. The X-ray error circle includes a giant elliptical galaxy at z = 0.225, which has been proposed as the likely host of this GRB. Our limits indicate that if the GRB originated at z = 0.225, any supernova-like event accompanying the GRB would have to be over 100 times fainter than normal Type Ia SNe or Type IC hypernovae, 5 times fainter than the faintest known Ia or IC SNe, and fainter than the faintest known Type II SNe. Moreover, we use the optical limits to constrain the energetics of the GRB outflow, and conclude that there was very little radioactive material produced during the GRB explosion. These limits strongly constrain progenitor models for this short GRB. Subject headings: gamma rays: bursts - supernovae
Document ID
20050207586
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Hjorth, J.
(Niels Bohr Inst. Copenhagen, Denmark)
Sollerman, J.
(Niels Bohr Inst. Copenhagen, Denmark)
Gorosabel, J.
(Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia Granada, Spain)
Granot, J.
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA, United States)
Klose, S.
(Thueringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany)
Kouveliotou, C.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Melinder, J.
(Stockholm Univ. Sweden)
Ramirez-Ruiz, E.
(Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ, United States)
Starling, R.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Thomsen, B.
(Aarhus Univ. Denmark)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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