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Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows as Probes of Environment and Blast Wave Physics. II. The Distribution of rho and Structure of the Circumburst MediumWe constrain blast wave parameters and the circumburst media ofa subsample of 10 BeppoSAX gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). For this sample we derive the values of the injected electron energy distribution index, p, and the density structure index of the circumburst medium, k, from simultaneous spectral fits to their X-ray, optical, and NIR afterglow data. The spectral fits have been done in count space and include the effects ofmetallicity, and are compared with the previously reported optical and X-ray temporal behavior. Using the blast wave model and some assumptions which include on-axis viewing and standard jet structure, constant blast wave energy, and no evolution of the microphysical parameters, we find a mean value ofp for the sample as a whole of 9.... oa -0.003.0" 2 a_ statistical analysis of the distribution demonstrates that the p-values in this sample are inconsistent with a single universal value forp at the 3 _ level or greater, which has significant implications for particle acceleration models. This approach provides us with a measured distribution ofcircumburst density structures rather than considering only the cases of k ----0 (homogeneous) and k - 2 (windlike). We find five GRBs for which k can be well constrained, and in four of these cases the circumburst medium is clearly windlike. The fifth source has a value of 0 < k < 1, consistent with a homogeneous circumburst medium.
Document ID
20080018893
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Starling, R. L. C.
(Leicester Univ. United Kingdom)
vanderHorst, A. J.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Rol, E.
(Leicester Univ. United Kingdom)
Wijers, R. A. M. J.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Kouveliotou, C.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wiersema, K.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Curran, P. A.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Weltervrede, P.
(Amsterdam Univ. Netherlands)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 672
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: HPRN-CT-2002-00294
CONTRACT_GRANT: 639.043.302
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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