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Main Authors: Zhou, Hao, Ren, Jia, Wang, Chen-Wei, Liu, Xing, Liu, Bin-Yang, Levan, Andrew J., Rastinejad, Jillian, Geng, Jin-Jun, Wang, Hao, Blanchard, Peter K., Fong, Wen-fai, Gompertz, Benjamin, Malesani, Daniele B., Kilpatrick, Charles D., Lamb, Gavin P., Metzger, Brian D., Nicholl, Matt, Tanvir, Nial R., Wang, Yun, Rong, Yu, Liang, Run-Duo, Ling, Zhi-Xing, Xu, Dong, Jin, Zhi-Ping, Wei, Da-Ming
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.07233
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author Zhou, Hao
Ren, Jia
Wang, Chen-Wei
Liu, Xing
Liu, Bin-Yang
Levan, Andrew J.
Rastinejad, Jillian
Geng, Jin-Jun
Wang, Hao
Blanchard, Peter K.
Fong, Wen-fai
Gompertz, Benjamin
Malesani, Daniele B.
Kilpatrick, Charles D.
Lamb, Gavin P.
Metzger, Brian D.
Nicholl, Matt
Tanvir, Nial R.
Wang, Yun
Rong, Yu
Liang, Run-Duo
Ling, Zhi-Xing
Xu, Dong
Jin, Zhi-Ping
Wei, Da-Ming
author_facet Zhou, Hao
Ren, Jia
Wang, Chen-Wei
Liu, Xing
Liu, Bin-Yang
Levan, Andrew J.
Rastinejad, Jillian
Geng, Jin-Jun
Wang, Hao
Blanchard, Peter K.
Fong, Wen-fai
Gompertz, Benjamin
Malesani, Daniele B.
Kilpatrick, Charles D.
Lamb, Gavin P.
Metzger, Brian D.
Nicholl, Matt
Tanvir, Nial R.
Wang, Yun
Rong, Yu
Liang, Run-Duo
Ling, Zhi-Xing
Xu, Dong
Jin, Zhi-Ping
Wei, Da-Ming
contents EP241217a is an X-ray transient detected by the Einstein Probe (EP) lasting for about 100 seconds and without accompanying $γ$-ray detection. The optical spectroscopy reveals the redshift of EP241217a is 4.59. By combining the $γ$-ray upper limit provided by GECAM-C, there is a considerable possibility that EP241217a is a typical Type II gamma-ray burst (GRB), but it is fainter than the detection threshold of any available $γ$-ray monitors (i.e., $E_{γ,{\rm iso}}\lesssim10^{53}$ erg). The X-ray light curve exhibits a plateau lasting for $\sim5\times10^4$ seconds. However, the joint analysis with optical data suggests the presence of an achromatic bump peaking at $\sim3\times10^4$ s after the trigger, indicating the actual duration of the X-ray plateau may be significantly shorter than it appears. To interpret the achromatic bump, we adopt the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in a wind-like medium and encountering a rapid density enhancement of the circumburst medium, which is likely induced by the the interaction of the progenitor's stellar wind and the interstellar medium. However, this model cannot fully explain observed data, and some issues do exist, e.g., the observed spectrum is harder than the model prediction. Consequently, we conclude that the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in the wind-like medium cannot explain all observed features of EP241217a. In addition, some alternative models commonly invoked to explain X-ray plateaus are discussed, but there are more or less issues when they are applied to EP241217a. Therefore, further theoretical modeling is encouraged to explore the origin of EP241217a.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_07233
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle EP241217a: a likely Type II GRB with an achromatic bump at z = 4.59
Zhou, Hao
Ren, Jia
Wang, Chen-Wei
Liu, Xing
Liu, Bin-Yang
Levan, Andrew J.
Rastinejad, Jillian
Geng, Jin-Jun
Wang, Hao
Blanchard, Peter K.
Fong, Wen-fai
Gompertz, Benjamin
Malesani, Daniele B.
Kilpatrick, Charles D.
Lamb, Gavin P.
Metzger, Brian D.
Nicholl, Matt
Tanvir, Nial R.
Wang, Yun
Rong, Yu
Liang, Run-Duo
Ling, Zhi-Xing
Xu, Dong
Jin, Zhi-Ping
Wei, Da-Ming
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
EP241217a is an X-ray transient detected by the Einstein Probe (EP) lasting for about 100 seconds and without accompanying $γ$-ray detection. The optical spectroscopy reveals the redshift of EP241217a is 4.59. By combining the $γ$-ray upper limit provided by GECAM-C, there is a considerable possibility that EP241217a is a typical Type II gamma-ray burst (GRB), but it is fainter than the detection threshold of any available $γ$-ray monitors (i.e., $E_{γ,{\rm iso}}\lesssim10^{53}$ erg). The X-ray light curve exhibits a plateau lasting for $\sim5\times10^4$ seconds. However, the joint analysis with optical data suggests the presence of an achromatic bump peaking at $\sim3\times10^4$ s after the trigger, indicating the actual duration of the X-ray plateau may be significantly shorter than it appears. To interpret the achromatic bump, we adopt the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in a wind-like medium and encountering a rapid density enhancement of the circumburst medium, which is likely induced by the the interaction of the progenitor's stellar wind and the interstellar medium. However, this model cannot fully explain observed data, and some issues do exist, e.g., the observed spectrum is harder than the model prediction. Consequently, we conclude that the scenario of a mildly relativistic jet coasting in the wind-like medium cannot explain all observed features of EP241217a. In addition, some alternative models commonly invoked to explain X-ray plateaus are discussed, but there are more or less issues when they are applied to EP241217a. Therefore, further theoretical modeling is encouraged to explore the origin of EP241217a.
title EP241217a: a likely Type II GRB with an achromatic bump at z = 4.59
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.07233