An enigmatic long-lasting γ-ray burst not accompanied by a bright supernova

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short, intense flashes of soft γ-rays coming from the distant Universe. Long-duration GRBs (those lasting more than ∼2 s) are believed to originate from the deaths of massive stars, mainly on the basis of a handful of solid associations between GRBs and supernovae. GRB 06...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Valle, M.D., Chincarini, G., Panagia, N., Tagliaferri, G., Malesani, D., Testa, V., Fugazza, D., Campana, S., Covino, S., Mangano, V., Antonelli, L.A., D'Avanzo, P., Hurley, K., Mirabel, I.F., Pellizza, L.J., Piranomonte, S., Stella, L.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
astrophysics
gamma ray radiation
optical method
article
cosmic radiation
cosmos
gamma radiation
light
luminance
photometry
priority journal
X ray
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00280836_v444_n7122_p1050_Valle
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
Descripción
Sumario:Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short, intense flashes of soft γ-rays coming from the distant Universe. Long-duration GRBs (those lasting more than ∼2 s) are believed to originate from the deaths of massive stars, mainly on the basis of a handful of solid associations between GRBs and supernovae. GRB 060614, one of the closest GRBs discovered, consisted of a 5-s hard spike followed by softer, brighter emission that lasted for ∼100 s (refs 8, 9). Here we report deep optical observations of GRB 060614 showing no emerging supernova with absolute visual magnitude brighter than MV = -13.7. Any supernova associated with GRB 060614 was therefore at least 100 times fainter, at optical wavelengths, than the other supernovae associated with GRBs. This demonstrates that some long-lasting GRBs can either be associated with a very faint supernova or produced by different phenomena. ©2006 Nature Publishing Group.

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