Relativistic \(^{56}\text{Ni}\) Decay Lines in GRB 221009A

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Moradi, Rahim, Yorgancioglu, Emre S., Xiong, Shao-Lin, Zhang, Yan-Qiu, Zhang, Shuang-Nan, Diehl, Roland, Wang, Yu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866912960029392896
author Moradi, Rahim
Yorgancioglu, Emre S.
Xiong, Shao-Lin
Zhang, Yan-Qiu
Zhang, Shuang-Nan
Diehl, Roland
Wang, Yu
author_facet Moradi, Rahim
Yorgancioglu, Emre S.
Xiong, Shao-Lin
Zhang, Yan-Qiu
Zhang, Shuang-Nan
Diehl, Roland
Wang, Yu
contents Long Gamma Ray Bursts are thought to originate from the core collapse of massive stars that give rise to energetic broad-lined Type Ic supernovae. The brightest burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A, has been linked to a broad-lined Type Ic supernova through late-time observations by the James Webb Space Telescope. An emission line evolving from $\sim$37 to $\sim$6~MeV is detected during the prompt phase. We propose that this time-evolving line is consistent with Doppler-boosted radioactive decay of nickel synthesized in the associated supernova and entrained in the relativistic jet, corresponding to the boosted 158~keV decay branch. We also report evidence for an additional higher-energy excess near $\sim$24~MeV at 290--300~s, detected at moderate statistical significance and consistent with the boosted 270~keV decay branch. The observed kinematics and flux evolution are compatible with expectations from radioactive decay, providing direct spectroscopic evidence linking prompt emission to supernova nucleosynthesis.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_10151
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Relativistic \(^{56}\text{Ni}\) Decay Lines in GRB 221009A
Moradi, Rahim
Yorgancioglu, Emre S.
Xiong, Shao-Lin
Zhang, Yan-Qiu
Zhang, Shuang-Nan
Diehl, Roland
Wang, Yu
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Long Gamma Ray Bursts are thought to originate from the core collapse of massive stars that give rise to energetic broad-lined Type Ic supernovae. The brightest burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A, has been linked to a broad-lined Type Ic supernova through late-time observations by the James Webb Space Telescope. An emission line evolving from $\sim$37 to $\sim$6~MeV is detected during the prompt phase. We propose that this time-evolving line is consistent with Doppler-boosted radioactive decay of nickel synthesized in the associated supernova and entrained in the relativistic jet, corresponding to the boosted 158~keV decay branch. We also report evidence for an additional higher-energy excess near $\sim$24~MeV at 290--300~s, detected at moderate statistical significance and consistent with the boosted 270~keV decay branch. The observed kinematics and flux evolution are compatible with expectations from radioactive decay, providing direct spectroscopic evidence linking prompt emission to supernova nucleosynthesis.
title Relativistic \(^{56}\text{Ni}\) Decay Lines in GRB 221009A
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.10151