Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine

E. Troja; G. Cusumano; P.~T. O'Brien; B. Zhang; B. Sbarufatti; V. Mangano; R. Willingale; G. Chincarini; J.~P. Osborne; F.~E. Marshall; D.~N. Burrows; S. Campana; N. Gehrels; C. Guidorzi; H.~A. Krimm; V. La Parola; E.~W. Liang; T. Mineo; A. Moretti; K.~L. Page; P. Romano; G. Tagliaferri; B.~B. Zhang; M.~J. Page; P. Schady

doi:10.1086/519450

Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine

E. Troja, G. Cusumano, P.~T. O'Brien, B. Zhang, B. Sbarufatti, V. Mangano, R. Willingale, G. Chincarini, J.~P. Osborne, F.~E. Marshall, D.~N. Burrows, S. Campana, N. Gehrels, C. Guidorzi, H.~A. Krimm, V. La Parola, E.~W. Liang, T. Mineo, A. Moretti, K.~L. PageP. Romano, G. Tagliaferri, B.~B. Zhang, M.~J. Page, P. Schady

Department of Physics

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248 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

We present a detailed analysis of Swift multiwavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 days after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~2 × 104 s after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and spectral properties of the plateau phase point toward a continuous central engine emission rather than the episodic emission of X-ray flares. We suggest that the observed X-ray plateau is powered by a spinning-down central engine, possibly a millisecond pulsar, which dissipates energy at an internal radius before depositing energy into the external shock.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	599-607
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	665
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/519450
Publication status	Published - 10 Aug 2007

Keywords

Gamma Rays: Bursts, X-rays: individual (GRB 070110), Astrophysics

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Troja, E., Cusumano, G., O'Brien, P. T., Zhang, B., Sbarufatti, B., Mangano, V., Willingale, R., Chincarini, G., Osborne, J. P., Marshall, F. E., Burrows, D. N., Campana, S., Gehrels, N., Guidorzi, C., Krimm, H. A., La Parola, V., Liang, E. W., Mineo, T., Moretti, A., ... Schady, P. (2007). Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine. Astrophysical Journal, 665(1), 599-607. https://doi.org/10.1086/519450

Troja, E, Cusumano, G, O'Brien, PT, Zhang, B, Sbarufatti, B, Mangano, V, Willingale, R, Chincarini, G, Osborne, JP, Marshall, FE, Burrows, DN, Campana, S, Gehrels, N, Guidorzi, C, Krimm, HA, La Parola, V, Liang, EW, Mineo, T, Moretti, A, Page, KL, Romano, P, Tagliaferri, G, Zhang, BB, Page, MJ & Schady, P 2007, 'Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 665, no. 1, pp. 599-607. https://doi.org/10.1086/519450

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title = "Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine",

abstract = "We present a detailed analysis of Swift multiwavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 days after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~2 × 104 s after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and spectral properties of the plateau phase point toward a continuous central engine emission rather than the episodic emission of X-ray flares. We suggest that the observed X-ray plateau is powered by a spinning-down central engine, possibly a millisecond pulsar, which dissipates energy at an internal radius before depositing energy into the external shock.",

keywords = "Gamma Rays: Bursts, X-rays: individual (GRB 070110), Astrophysics",

author = "E. Troja and G. Cusumano and P.~T. O'Brien and B. Zhang and B. Sbarufatti and V. Mangano and R. Willingale and G. Chincarini and J.~P. Osborne and F.~E. Marshall and D.~N. Burrows and S. Campana and N. Gehrels and C. Guidorzi and H.~A. Krimm and {La Parola}, V. and E.~W. Liang and T. Mineo and A. Moretti and K.~L. Page and P. Romano and G. Tagliaferri and B.~B. Zhang and M.~J. Page and P. Schady",

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doi = "10.1086/519450",

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volume = "665",

pages = "599--607",

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T1 - Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine

AU - Troja, E.

AU - Cusumano, G.

AU - O'Brien, P.~T.

AU - Zhang, B.

AU - Sbarufatti, B.

AU - Mangano, V.

AU - Willingale, R.

AU - Chincarini, G.

AU - Osborne, J.~P.

AU - Marshall, F.~E.

AU - Burrows, D.~N.

AU - Campana, S.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Guidorzi, C.

AU - Krimm, H.~A.

AU - La Parola, V.

AU - Liang, E.~W.

AU - Mineo, T.

AU - Moretti, A.

AU - Page, K.~L.

AU - Romano, P.

AU - Tagliaferri, G.

AU - Zhang, B.~B.

AU - Page, M.~J.

AU - Schady, P.

PY - 2007/8/10

Y1 - 2007/8/10

N2 - We present a detailed analysis of Swift multiwavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 days after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~2 × 104 s after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and spectral properties of the plateau phase point toward a continuous central engine emission rather than the episodic emission of X-ray flares. We suggest that the observed X-ray plateau is powered by a spinning-down central engine, possibly a millisecond pulsar, which dissipates energy at an internal radius before depositing energy into the external shock.

AB - We present a detailed analysis of Swift multiwavelength observations of GRB 070110 and its remarkable afterglow. The early X-ray light curve, interpreted as the tail of the prompt emission, displays a spectral evolution already seen in other gamma-ray bursts. The optical afterglow shows a shallow decay up to ~2 days after the burst, which is not consistent with standard afterglow models. The most intriguing feature is a very steep decay in the X-ray flux at ~2 × 104 s after the burst, ending an apparent plateau. The abrupt drop of the X-ray light curve rules out an external shock as the origin of the plateau in this burst and implies long-lasting activity of the central engine. The temporal and spectral properties of the plateau phase point toward a continuous central engine emission rather than the episodic emission of X-ray flares. We suggest that the observed X-ray plateau is powered by a spinning-down central engine, possibly a millisecond pulsar, which dissipates energy at an internal radius before depositing energy into the external shock.

KW - Gamma Rays: Bursts, X-rays: individual (GRB 070110), Astrophysics

U2 - 10.1086/519450

DO - 10.1086/519450

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 665

SP - 599

EP - 607

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -

Swift Observations of GRB 070110: An Extraordinary X-Ray Afterglow Powered by the Central Engine

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