Multidimensional Radiative Transfer Models of Kilonovae
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Korobkin, Oleg↗
Engineering topics
Rosswog, S.
Publications and source records attributed to Rosswog, S..
Swift and NuSTAR Observations of GW170817: Detection of a Blue Kilonova
With the first direct detection of merging black holes in 2015, the era of gravitational wave (GW) astrophysics began. A complete picture of compact object mergers, however, requires the detection of an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart. We report ultraviolet (UV) and x-ray observations by Swift and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array of the EM counter part of the binary neutron star merger GW170817.The bright, rapidly fading UV emission indicates a high mass (0.03 solar masses) wind-driven outflow with moderate electron fraction (Ye ≈ 0.27). Combined with the x-ray limits, we favor an observer viewing angle of ≈30° away from the orbital rotation axis, which avoids both obscuration from the heaviest elements in the orbital plane and a direct view of any ultra relativistic, highly collimated ejecta (a gamma-ray burst afterglow).
Evans, P. A.↗
Precursors of Short Gamma-Ray Bursts
We carried out a systematic search of precursors on the sample of short GRBs observed by Swift. We found that approx. 8-10% of short GRBs display such early episode of emission. One burst (GRB 090510) shows two precursor events, the former approx.13 s and the latter approx. 0.5 s before the GRB. We did not find any substantial difference between the precursor and the main GRB emission, and between short GRBs with and without precursors. We discuss possible mechanisms to reproduce the observed precursor emission within the scenario of compact object mergers. The implications of our results on quantum gravity constraints are also discussed.
Troja, E.↗