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Gamma-Ray Burst Associated Supernovae: Outliers Become MainstreamDuring the last eight years a clear connection has been established-between the two most powerful explosions in our Universe: core-collapse supernovae (SNe) and long gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Theory suggests4 that every GRB is simultaneously accompanied by a SN, but in only a few nearby cases have these two phenomena been observed together. We report the discovery and daily monitoring of SN 2006aj associated with the GRB 060218. Because the event was the second closest GRB, both explosions could be examined in detail. GRB 060218 had an unusually soft spectrum, long duration, and a total energy 100 to 1000 times less than most other GRBs. Yet SN 2006aj was similar to those in other GRBs, aside from rising more rapidly and being approximately 40% fainter. Taken together, these observations suggest that GRBs have two components: a broad, energetic, but only mildly relativistic outflow that makes a SN, and a more narrowly focused, highly relativistic jet responsible for the GRB. The properties of the GRB jet apparently vary greatly from event to event, while the broad SN outflow varies much less. Low energy transients like GRB 060218 may be the most common events in the Universe.
Document ID
20060022135
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Pian, E.
(Astronomical Observatory of Trieste Trieste, Italy)
Mazzali, P.
(Astronomical Observatory of Trieste Trieste, Italy)
Masetti, N.
(INAF-IASF Bologna, Italy)
Ferrero, P.
(Thueringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany)
Klose, S.
(Thueringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg, Germany)
Palazzi, E.
(INAF-IASF Bologna, Italy)
Ramirez-Ruiz, E.
(Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ, United States)
Woosley, S. E.
(California Univ. Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Kouveliotou, C.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Deng, J.
(California Univ. Santa Barbara, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Astronomy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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