Unified theory of negative and positive spectral lags in GRB prompt phase due to shear Comptonization from a structured jet

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Vyas, Mukesh Kumar, Pe'er, Asaf, Iyyani, Shabnam
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866916424725823488
author Vyas, Mukesh Kumar
Pe'er, Asaf
Iyyani, Shabnam
author_facet Vyas, Mukesh Kumar
Pe'er, Asaf
Iyyani, Shabnam
contents Positive spectral lags are commonly observed in gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt phase where soft photons lag behind hard ones in their spectral studies. Opposite to this pattern, a fraction of GRBs show a negative spectral lag where hard photons arrive later compared to soft photons. Similarly, recent Fermi-LAT observations show a late onset of high-energy photons in most GRB observations. A fraction of GRBs show a transition from positive to negative lags. Such negative lags and the spectral lag transition have no convincing explanation. We show that a structured GRB jet with velocity shear naturally produces both positive and negative spectral lags. s gain energy from repeated scattering with shearing layers and subsequently escape from higher altitudes. Hence, these photons are delayed compared to soft photons producing a negative spectral lag. The inner jet has no shear and a positive lag appears providing a unified picture of spectral lags in GRBs. The theory predicts a flip in spectral lag from positive to negative within the evolution of the prompt phase. Comparison of the observed lags with the prediction of the theory limits the possible range of GRB jet Lorentz factors to be a few tens.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_04446
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unified theory of negative and positive spectral lags in GRB prompt phase due to shear Comptonization from a structured jet
Vyas, Mukesh Kumar
Pe'er, Asaf
Iyyani, Shabnam
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Plasma Physics
Positive spectral lags are commonly observed in gamma-ray burst (GRB) prompt phase where soft photons lag behind hard ones in their spectral studies. Opposite to this pattern, a fraction of GRBs show a negative spectral lag where hard photons arrive later compared to soft photons. Similarly, recent Fermi-LAT observations show a late onset of high-energy photons in most GRB observations. A fraction of GRBs show a transition from positive to negative lags. Such negative lags and the spectral lag transition have no convincing explanation. We show that a structured GRB jet with velocity shear naturally produces both positive and negative spectral lags. s gain energy from repeated scattering with shearing layers and subsequently escape from higher altitudes. Hence, these photons are delayed compared to soft photons producing a negative spectral lag. The inner jet has no shear and a positive lag appears providing a unified picture of spectral lags in GRBs. The theory predicts a flip in spectral lag from positive to negative within the evolution of the prompt phase. Comparison of the observed lags with the prediction of the theory limits the possible range of GRB jet Lorentz factors to be a few tens.
title Unified theory of negative and positive spectral lags in GRB prompt phase due to shear Comptonization from a structured jet
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.04446